Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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?JMraP. WATCHMAN. Consolidated Auk. 3,1 PaaMfehey hMiimUr ud Sntawtley ! ~*Y? NTEEN PUBLISHING COMPANY suMTm a a II It per ir?n?*%?In adfsaeax a^rearexsanpaanps t S?Mur% Int hMOrtssa.Ii i? try *?w 'vm( tmaerUoe- t? for ihr*? WIM m??lo at AM sesasaaataatlsne Mm privat? tatst aehi will be rw ae adisiti??iaaa?b fJBJbnerMo aad arlhuta? of ?MI few thArg^ for. BW st?he SPIE?dI KAI1.IH ? \ i? IKol IU I rKoiiM.I,!. TMK(>\ (.lloUT NATION. De* lare? W>lk-oM( 1? Inaur fwtk?, and Threaten* (Ytminal Jlloi, of liw.tigator?. Oct 12.?The strike of the eaUroad men which threatens to I saaread throughout France was de? nounced today by Premier Brland aa *sawurrocttun purely, built upon crim? inal foundation*." The premier declared that the strike was called while negotiations going on through hin.. ?if and minister of public works for an adjust mint A grievances, and he prom teed that the instigators would he criminally prosecuted. The river Piene, whoh in January ahvaatened to destroy Pars. now looms up In the role of savior. The government has made arrangements I to rush food supplies to Paris from tha sea, requisitioning all tugs, boats sad bargee to meet the crisis brought shout by the stoppage of the railroad service and eaae the food market, which M already hard hit. The employee of tne Eastern and Aha Paria Lyons and Mediterranean rail roe de have not yet. to any appre? ciable extent, responded to the lead em call to strike, and the govern saaat's weapon of mobilisation has ante ef those employed on MeeajMm rairrand to return to 1 poet* Nevertheless, the North glha and Wee tern railroads are pros haMed. The call to the colors has a Ignored by the large majority aad at mass meetings b-id today the strikers reiterated their determina? tion not to respond to the call. Much destruction has been wrought ) On the Western system, where the Strikers and their supporters have held up and derailed trains, blocked trains, destroyed signal*, ripped up tails and cut telephone and telegraph ? Hails. The government has ordered Osa arrest of a score of the strike leaders and Instruettona have been Issued wherever occasion requires. Thousands of persons living In the suburb*, but who are employed In Parle, massed this evening around tha depots. These they found closed aad silent, with soldier campa In front. |> True sportsmen and with trie Parialan galty. they laughingly start? et to walk home, perhaps a distal five or ten miles. Tramways, cabs. ?mobilen and other riOOVSysnOSS ST M Paures. leader of the s lalMM ia the chamber of deputies, today an 9 OMOred Premier Hrland. charging that railroad policies of the govern It were responsible for the pre* nt }[.. 11? ? i ir? ? 1 th it the Schern? of the mllltarltion was dangerous1 aa It waa certain to weaken military dasclpline anil Increase antl-mllltar rill-; ll\NI> OF KS At'. Tangent (orameat on fwmlrr Ilat?? Petition. The reaolution adopted hy the bual oasa men of Humter in the matter of freight ratea smack rather of the hand of the railroad man. We I Meve In standing by the railroads In ail matters of rlgh? and Juatlce. but we know that the same men who are \% tha owners of the railroads, and who reap the profits from them. If any profit* are ma'ie. and they generally are, are the aame men who are at the bottom of the tariff, which |M tha root of the high cost of living aad therefore the reason why the ' ratea ahould not be lowered, la re Im? ming In a circle Make the men who are responsible for this condl tion relive the people of the burdens that they are forced to bear, and all other matters will idpi-d themselves. ?Florence Times. I if anything could remind the hfeaj Vork Democracy .?f old Ljriwv irds. It would be the political resurrection of Alton II Parker.?San Francisco Chronicle i _ 881. LICENSE ORDINANCE PASSED. CTTY I \ I UI Ks HOLD LONO SES? SION AND ACT ON MANY MATTERS. Bid for Septic Tank Accepted?Pin- j dar Parchrrs Must Stay off The Street* ? City Attorney Resigns, Bat RoUguaiiou In Not Accepted. | The City Council held one of the longest sessions In Its history Tues? day night and as a result, peanut parchers must come off the street af? ter January 1 and no gasoline tanks will be allowed on the sidewalks. I The bid for the septic tank and cer? tain curbing on Church and Hamp? ton avenue has been accepted, the J dty haa a new license ordinance, thereby increasing the revenue of the city from this source considerably, the city attorney resigned, but his reetgntalon was not accepted, and many other matters were settled for the time being. Council met at 8 o'clock with the mayor and al! aldermen present, except Aldermen Wright and Hhame, Mr. Wright coming in later, after the meeting had been going on for some time. Council Immediately got down to work so as to dspose of the busi? ness that was before them as soon as possible, for it was seen from the first that it would be a long session. Mr. Epperson appeared on behalf of cltliena who had signed a petltiou asking that the gasoline tank be al? lowed on the sdewalk In front of his office. This was received and coun \ oil decided to act on it in the regular order of bualnees. Capt. Warren asked, on behalf of the Sumter Light Infantry, which, he stated, is in the beet of condition and very enthusiastic in its work, that it be granted the annual ap? propriation of $300. This was grant? ed. The different committees then made their reports. It was shows thta the work of placing the curbing ! on South Sumter street had been completed and that the city engineer was no** preparing to place the curb I sag on Oakland avenue. The finance eosnmittee reported that the clerk's ho*, had te? l?p*c?d and that they showed an Increaee of expenses over last month. On the report of the Are committee it Pt moved and seconded that the Are committee Investigate the ex? penses of the Are department and re? port back to council, and, along with this, It was moved that the chairman of the fire committee make out an itemised account of the things necJed by the fire department and hand this account in at the next meeting of council. The fact that the city bad hired an engineer for the fire engine for one month and that he had been receiving a salary ever since that time brought up and it was de* elded that the clerk should look in? to the matter and see if he could get back the money paid after the first month.. Mr. Olenn then brought up the fact that tire extinguishers were need? ed in the Academy of Music at once, while the season for plays is on. It was shown that council had ordered these extinguishers bought several months ago and it was decided to order them at once. It was also deemed advisable to buy four (or as many as the tire committee thought necessary) lire extinguishers for the lief department and it was ordered that these be purchased. The tax ordinance was then read by the clerk and ordered approved a* it stood. It was brought up that the city had never enforced the pen? alty on delinquent taxes and the matter of imposing a one per cent, penalty after December 1 was discuss? ed for some time, but no action was taken in the matter. The question of the rent paid for the store used by Mr. Hultman in the city hall build? ing was raised, and it was decided to notify Mr. Hultman that after January 1, be must pay a rent of ISO.00 per month or vacate the prem? ises, it being required that he let ??'?uncil know thirty days prior to the first of January whether or not he desired to remain in the store. A petition from Mr. Frank Telcher. i? the effect that he be allowed to repair an Old store on Harvln str?*?'t and remove his dwelling house from ?b.? corner of Marvin street and Hampton avenue further up Hamp? ton avenue. was read and reports 1 cm adversely by the fire commltt.-", as to the repairing of the store, as the store was in a dilapidated con? dition and would necessarily tumble dOWM in a short time Me was allow - |a move his house so that bri< k store ? out i be built on the . orro r. The matter ??r the contract for tie ?SWaragS work was tfceg brought U] and Major Lee, eltv engineer, sub Knitted bis report lb- stab I thai to JTJMTER, 8. O., 8ATURI had sent the revised contract for the sewerage work to Herghaus & Mof- j fatt, whom It will be remembered had offered to do the work at a cot- j tain reduced rate, for them to sign, ! but that he had not heard from them j until the day before, when Mr. Rich- j ardson, the agent of Mr. Berghaus, i had written him Inquiring why he i had not heard from Major Lee. Mr. Lee had then called him up over the ?phone and after finding out that the revised contract that he had sent had not been received, he had prepared another contract exactly like the first, and sent it to Berghaus & Mof fatt. lie had not heard from them yet, but he expected to hear at any time. As council could not act in this matter until Berghaus & Moffatt were heard from the matter was dropped until the next meeting. In regard t.o the work on the sep? tic tank. Mr. Lee stated that he had written to several of the former bid? ders who seemed to want the con? crete work and that he had received bide from four of them. He said that the bid of Mr. W. A. Weathers, of this city, was the cheapest for the septic tank, but that the bid of the Charleston Engineering and Con trading company was the cheapest for both the septic tank and the curbing. Mr. Booth, the clxairman of the committee on public works, then re ported that he had looked into the matter and he advised that the bid of the Charleston Engineering and Contracting company be accepted. Mayor Jennings wanted to know If the bid of Mr. Weathers for the sep? tic tank was the cheapest, and the bid for the curbing work by the Charleston Engineering and Con trading company was the cheapest, why the two could not be separated. Mr. McCormack, who was present on behalf of the Charleston Engl neering and Contracting company, said that the work on the curbing alone was not enough to bring him up here, and he would not accept the curbing by itself. Mr. Lee then said that he thought that the hid was reasonable and that he advised that it be accepted. A motion was then made to this effect on condition that he company put up bond for the work to be done properly. Major Lee arranged with Mr. Mc Cormack for the contract to be sign ed at once. Mr. McKelver then stated that as all bid? were rejected, except that of Berghaus and Moffatt? he moved that the $50 security pu^ up at the time the bids were made be returned to the contractors at once. The bid as finally received was for the building of the septic tank, for the laying of the curbing on Church street and Hampton avenue, and also for laying paving on Hampton ave? nue, the amount being $3,132; $2, 650 for the septic tank; $150 for the paving and $432 for the curbing. Council then took up the matter of adopting the license ordinance which was read and adopted, with few changes from the original sche? dule which had been prepared by the committee. The rates for licenses were so ar? ranged that there would be no dis? crimination, or as little as possible, and so fixed as to give a home man the advantage. If possible, over any OUtaidc competitor. In most cases the licenses were raised considerably or er previous years, so that the city would be able to raise more revenue from the licenses. In cases where it was to the advantage of the city to lower the license it was done, though this occurred but rarely in the or? dinance. The committee who were appoint ed to revise the license ordinance re ported that in coming to their de visions they had consulted the license ordinances of various cities of this and other States, and that they had dona what they thought best for the city in every case. Great credit is due them for their zeal and indus? try in preparing the new license rates. This committee consisted of Messrs. Jennings. McKeiver, Wilder and Khame. who were assisted by City <'lerk Hurst. and City Attorney Ktrauas. In going over the ordinance each item was read and discussed separ? ately, most of them calling for short comments from members of council. The first item on the schedule to call forth adverse comments that amount? ed to anything was tho license for billiard and pool rooms Mr. Cut? tim? moved that it be made $100 in? stead of $Ti0 and his motion was set onded. but after the matter was dis cuaied fully it was decided to let Mm license remain at the price nan ? d in the ordinance as scheduled) ?*.".<> The license for carnival shows ? ailed lor considerable adverse coin men! from several members of coun? cil Oho wished to raise it. The Ib ens, of $|<> per day was allowed to stand and ; ?rt M fc* t*7 0??Mi|'?, T%J QMt >AY, OCTOBER 16, 1?1C When the question of the license for cotton buyerB, other than merchants, was brought up Mr. Olenn spoke strongly in favor of changing the original ordinance schedule to read, "cotton buyers or receivers." He said thut ho was not at all opposed to cotton buyers paying a license but he did not believe in discrimination and that there were persons In town whose sole business was to receive cotton for merchants from else? where and that occasionally cotton receivers from elsewhere came here for the purpose of receiving cotton and that, generally, they bought cot? ton while here. It Was here that the unpleasant? ness occurred that caused the resig? nation of City Attorney Strau.m Mr. Strauss was opposed to making re? ceivers pay a license on the ground that It would injure Sumter as a cot? ton market and that he thought it was better to have Sumter a good cotton market than to make the re? ceivers pay the license. Mr. Glenn again took the floor and stated that he wanted Mr. Strauss to remember that he was not a member of coun? cil and that, while he did not mean to be rude and begged pardon for seeming impoliteness, he wished Mr. Strauss to understand that he had no right to take part in the debates of council. Mr. Olenn then contin? ued his statement, saying that he though that receiving cotton was as much a business as was buying cot? ton. In the meantime Mr. Strauss wrote out his resignation as advis? ory attorney for the city and handed it In to the clerk, the resignation to take effect at once. Mr. Hurst called attention of council to the fact that he had received the resignation and it was read. Mr. Booth at once mov? ed that the resignation be not accept? ed, wihch motion was carried unani? mously. Mr. Strauss then stated that he had been employed by the city as advisory attorney and that he had been up till after midnight with the committee framing the schedule of licenses, that he had been asked to be present at the meeting of city council to give advice, and that if he was not to be allowed to give it, and was not lstened to when it was given, that he did not care to be an advisor for the city. Mr. Glenn stat? ed that he had not meant to be im? polite but that he was trying to win his point and that he did not wish any one to take part in the debate who could not vote, and he thought that Mr. Strauss was offering advice that had not been called for. The matter was discussed for con? siderable length of time, finally be? ing settled by Mr. Wilder's motion that the item read, "cotton buyers, other than merchants or receivers," $20. or " receivers $1.00 per day." which was not thought to be enough to keep any receiver away or in any way to injure the cotton market. Few other items on the scehdule created much comment, those on insurance companies, Pullman cars, and merchants caused more than any others, but the license was not changed from the original ordinance schedule. The matter of licensing peanut pearchsrs and gasoline tillers was taken up last, there being consider? able discussion as to whether or not they were desirable adjuncts to the streets, and whether or not they were signs of progress, council being di? vided on the question. Mr. Wright moved that the gasoline tank on the pavement in front of Mr. Epperson's office be allowed to remain on the street, Mr. IfcKslver seconding his motion. Mr. Wilder stated at length his reasons for not wanting the filler on the sidewalk, saying that this .vould be a precedent and that he thought that if the tank were allow? ed to remain on the sidewalk other persons would want to place other such stands on the sidewalk and that j if one w as against the city ordinance I all were. He therefore moved that Mr. Wright's motion be tabled. Mr. Cuttino seconded this motion. The matter was discussed for a consider? able time before the question was called for. When Mr. Wilder's mo? tion was put three were in favor of it and three were opposed to it, Mr. McLaurln having left the hall a few minutes before the matter came up. Those In favor of tl e motion were: Aldermen Cuttino. Wilder and Glenn, those opposed. Aldermen Wright, Booth and IfcKeiver. The mayor east the deciding vote in favor of the motion, and it was ordered that the gasoline tiller be removed from the sidewalk. As soon as this question was settled. Mr. Booth moved that the plnder parchers go the way of the gasoline tiller. it was sh< wn that the plnder parchers had paid their licenses up to the first oi January, so it will be tWO and a half months more before they are banished from the streets. I While council worked hard to gel UB TNI R.1 HEARING MUST PROCEED. OTATE COMMISSION REFUSES TO GRANT CONTINUANCE. Yesterday's Session of Railroad Hearing at Columbia Taken Up with Petitions to Postpone Case of Proposed Freight Rate Reduction-. Petitions Denied ? Hearing will Proceed today. Columbia, Oct. 12.?Reconvening after the dinner recess today, the South Carolina Railroad Commission announced that it would dismiss the several petitions filed for continuance of the hearing on the proposed revis? ion, of freight rates. After consulta? tion the railroad representatives pres? ent asked for a recess until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, which was grant? ed. It is the hope of ihe Commis? sion that the matter of the proposed revision of freight tariffs can be dis? posed of entirely for the present on or by November 15. Practically all the arguments made so far related to the advisability of postponing the hearing ordered for today. Tomorrow the tariff itself will be discussed. There were incidental ref? erences to it today, Freight Traffic Manager Brand, of the Atlantic Coast Line, saying that casual inspection seemed to indicate that in the cose of his company the new tariff would effect a reduction of 30 to 40 per cent, in revenue on Inter-State busi? ness. Mr. Brand said further that its adopt' y.i would seriously compli? cate rates on long hauls and Inter State traffic, to what extent he could not say until the voluminous and com? plicated compilations necessary could be made. Just now there is a most interest? ing railroad situation in this State. The railroad commission of South Carolina has issued a general and sweeping change in rates. The pro? posal of the commission is to revise all rates and practically to establish what is known as a five-mile break, instead of a ten-mile break. At pres? ent railroad rates are figured on ten mftv jumps or breaks, and the pro? posed schedule is upon a five mile of the proposed schedule and the statement was made today that in certain Instances the proposed schedule involved a 40 per cent reduction. There was an over? flow meeting today. Commissioners Jno. VI. Earle, J. M. Sullivan and Bank L. Caughman were all present, and Commlssloner-to-be McD Hamp? ton was at the hearing. Among those at the hearing were: L. T. Nichols, of tho C. and N. W.; E. F. Held, of the C. and N. W.; Jno. B. Cleveland, Charleston and West? ern Carolina; J. R. Anderson, Blue Ridge; P. A. Wllcox, J. W. Perrin, R. A. Brand, Jno. F. Livingston. Ernst Williams, of the Atlantic Coast Line; Wm. H. Lyles, Jno. B. Lyles and L. E. Challenor, of the Seaboard; Lin? coln Green, R. B. Pegram, Claude Northrop, S. C. Nefier. of the South? ern Railway; R. A. liurroughs, of the C and L.; Mr. M. P. PeBruhl. assistant Attorney General; R. H. Jackson, of the Charleston Freight Bureau; Thos. Wilson, of the Short Line Railroad Association; Mr. H. J. Haynesworth, representing the Cotton Manufacturers' Association; D. A. Henning, of Greenville; Paui W. McLure, Greenwood; J. A. Rus? sell, Greenville; A. Mel\ Hamby. E. Campbell and J. H. Weil, of Co? lumbia, and J. W. Smith, of the Co? lumbia Boat Line. The railroads today unanimously asked for more time in which to prepare and present the data that will be necessary for the compari? sons. The Atlantic Coast Line and Southern wants three or four months and the Seaboard wanted six months in which to analyse the earnings and get the exact figures for the South Carolina business. Mr. Jno. B. Cleveland urged that this was a most serious situation and the commission could not well act without full and accurate data. The through and it was half past mid? night before its members adjourned to go to their?no not downy beds? respective homes, they enlivened the meeting with frequent jests and jokes at each others' expense. Mr. McLaurln, for instance, stated that he would second any motion put. and seconded several to show his willingness to expedite things. When the license for lumber dealers came Up and Mr. Booth moved that the license be made $100. Mr. McLaurln was stumped and decided that he would withdraw ids statement. When the license for lawyers was read, it was moved that this be made fl"'*. which motion the Mayor refused to put before the council. And so on it went from 8 o'clock until long al? ter midnight. are In terror I lOUTBBOX, ?MaMtahed June, IM? Vol. XXXI. NO. 16. FREIGHT BATE HEARING. RAILWAY OFFICIALS WIN OUT ^ IN FIGHT FX>R DELAY. * Alleging Tliat They Are Unpr - x To Present Evidence for T aj jAr Hearing on Propose x>" Re duction Was Postpone^, .tequost Of Railroad Attorneys. Columbia. Oct. 13.?Pleas of un preparedness, on the part of rail? way officials to present evidence for their side, brought to a sud? den termination Thursday after? noon the hearing before the Railroad Commission, commenced Wednesday, upon the commission's rule requiring the Railroads to show cause why the proposed standard tariff, publish? ed August 10, should not be adopt? ed. The railroad men allege the re? vision suggested would effect a re? duction in their revenue on Inter? state business of 25 to 30 per cent-. The commission does not attempt to show that a reduction will not be effected. The meeting was adjourn? ed with the understanding that be? tween now and November 15, at which time the commission at pres? ent expects to make up its mind, both sides will submit documentary evidence. The only testimony offered today consisted of copies of the published tariffs of several other States, offer? ed by H. J. Haynesworth, attorney for the Greenville Board of Trade, which favors the proposed tariff. J. T? Gray, manager of the Colum? bia W. U. Telegraph Co., office for 18 years has been promoted to the recently created position of district traffic chief with supervision of the entire State. railroads have nothing to conceal and the public as well as the com? mission is entitled to ihe fullest data. There is often protest against delay, but there should be no undue haste. The Southern Railway, through its counsel, Mr. Northrop, urged that the people are clamoring for better ser? vice, more and better trains, and In? stead of figuring on lower rates, higher rates could well be consider? ed. He relates how all articles and labor used by the railroads have been increased and there has been no in? crease in rates and the tendency has been steadily downwards in rates. Mr. H. J. Haynesworth opposed any delay or postponement. The railroads are now required to furnish an annual report, and that is not in? tended to be an idle and incomplete returns. The railroads ought now to have the data that they say they cannot supply without months of research. Increased business, he urged, would follow lower rates. All the data that fs wanted ought to be in the official reports now on file. This is not a sudden thing and the commission has studied the matter. It an injustice is being done. the sooner a change is made the better. Mr. P. A. WUlCOX, State counsel for the Atlantic Coast Line, insisted that the Coast Line had filed every report that was required and they were all accurate, but the reports li led do not give the data that the railroads and commission require to analyze the earnings in South Caro? lina. Mr. Willcox detailed how com? plete and suggestive the proposed figures would be. The idea was to show the exact earnings on every commodity from every point in rhe State and the earnings on these rates and the effect of the proposed rates. The sole purpose was to get the ex? act and absolute facts, and that was the sole and only reason asking for delay. Mr. Brand for the Coast lAne, and Mr. Green, for the Southern, and Mr. Challenor, of the Seaboard, in addition to their formal affidavits made full and interesting statements regarding the difficulties of analyzing the data as to rates. The cotton mill product rate was not taken up directly, biu is indirect? ly involved. It looks like a long drawn out and interesting contest on the entire question. Mr. Nichols asked that the short line railroads be heard as it gets the bulk of its business from connecting roads. Mr. Lincoln Green's affidavit was read by Mr. Claud Ian B. Northrop, a former Charlestonlan. He amplified the affidavit with a forceful talk on the struggle that the railroads are having to meet the Increased tost of labor and material. Mr. Jos. Berry Lyles, a> counsel for the Seaboard Air lane, read the affidavit of Mr. L. B. Challenor, of the 8. A. L., and supplemented it with an argument against precipitate action and urged the Importance of full < onelderatlon.