The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-09-14

mcnt; anu nave been authorized to
say that every dollar which has been
suspended for the benefit of tie vii.
mingion road, has been paid by the
transportation of the mail as it has
fallen due. When we look little
into the history of the law in regard
to rail rocd iron, lattcr myself that
gentlemen will not be disposed here
to oppose this bill; because 1 assert
the fact that there has never been
the first dollar granted in the way of
tavors by the legislation Of this Gov
crnmcnt to planters of South or
North Carolina, unless it be by the
little indulgence given to the vii
mington Railroad Company two years
ago. while the main arteries Of north
crn communication were all con.
structed during the existence cf laws
which entirely repealed duty upon
rail road iron. In 1882, the duties
upon rail road iron were repealed.
III 1896, the duties wict s7ett
paid to kcntucky and Gno laii roads
were refnndcl to them, upon the
ground that they We're to be made
equal with those having the benefits
OF the law passed in April. 1892.
Mr.. Stevens, Of Pennsylvania -
Does not the gentleman know that
the rail road companies who made
their roads while that law was in en-
istcncc, paid nearly double the price
which rail road iron row costs
Mr.. McQuccn. | am not able to
answer The question as to the precise
amount Of the prices Of iron, but |
tell the gentleman this, that although
iron may cost moro than now, it will
always diminish i'll price as greater
number of men engage in its manu-.
sacture: but that does lot justify, i'll
my opinion, an act imposing duty
of thirty per cent. upon the cotton
planters ot' The South ior tie beuc-
ri ,N11ir u ~ it.on -tonnt4Ga;;~s2.a e -f,e.
Norl., v..,n they lave been ggli.ed,
often. to 81 their cotton for less than
half the prlcc thry formerly GOT for
it. The duty Was refunded, III S3S.
TO the New orE and Harlem Rail
road Company actually paid out Of
the Treasury, by special act Of Con
grcss. In the same year, the duty
was refunded to the Baltimore and
SusQuehanna Rail road Company,
and by the same act the duty Oh tas-
Jennings and spikes, even vas re-
pcaled, and the duty on them for.
mcrly pai by the Georgia Rail road
Company refunded. In 1850 the
duty was refunded to the phladcl.
phia, Wilmington, and Baltimore
Company. In 1912 iron for rail
roads was allowed to be imported free
Of duty, until March, 1913, and
then duty imposed upon it, and in
this interval. all the roads which
we're built, as | maintain, (cxccpt
one which was built in South Carroll
ma, for which the Company never
asked rciundmg Of the duJy,) we're
! allowed to have their iron free Of du.
ty. In 1913, an act was passed al
loving &. Day and Co. to import
steamships, even free OF duty. These
arc facts, compromising the history
Of the legislation Of the country upon
the statute books Of Congress. We
do not ask in this instance, one dol
lar out Of the Treasury; We do not
| propo1 here to procure legislation
By Which We shall pr one fmt.ng in
our pockets. mcarmc ult ! man
Of the planters, who are interested III
this rail road, have had, directly or
indirectly, a dollar out Of the Trcasu-
ry. | will 70 further, and express
the opinion that not man in my
Congressional district has ever had
a dollar Of money in his pocket out
Of the Treasury, as a bonus. We
know tins Government from its taxes.
We have not asked for its bountics,
nor do ask for its moneys or its
lands. / am asked what is the length
Of the road ? 1t is one hundred and
sixty miles long, aud about sixty
miles Of it arc already built and the
cars running upon it, and it is rapidly
progressing towards completion at
both ends. ! have been asked this
summer by gentlemen connected
with the Post Office Department,
how soon we will fill up the gap, SC
that they can put the great Southern
mail upon this route, i'll order to avoid
the dangerous and uncertain sea
navigation, by Which it is subject tc
constant failures.
| am told by the honorable gentle
man Mr.. Penn. who reported thi:
bill from the Committee, that, fol
several years, while he was connect
cd with the Post Office at New Or
leans, he was well satisfied that nine
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