The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-28
THE BONE BILL.
REPORT OF THE SENATE COM
MITTEE.
A PRACTICAL AND PoErIcAL EFFUsIoN.
rFRoM OUR own CORRESPONDENT


[FRoM OUR own CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIA, January 26.
This subject of phosphates and pho osphatic
deposits bids fair to be again what 1t was only q
few weeks since-thc chief topic OF discussion.
It will be remembered that the bills ITO grant
to certain persons the exclusive right to dig and
mine in the beds OF nayigable streams and waters
OF the State for phosphate rocks and phosphate
deposits and 'to regulate the digging Of phes-
phate deposits from the navlgable streams and
waters Of the State Of South Carolina were re-
ferrcd to tile Senate Committee on lncorpora-
tions, To lay the committee made lengthy re-.
port.
rs the bill to grant the exclusive right is dcslg-
mated IN petition now before the Senate, was
first grated by the committee, and an attempt
made to take the sting out Of the snake, alleged
in the same petition to be coilcd up in the "bcd Of
roses'' aforesaid.
The committee (of which Frank Arnim is chair
mani recommended that this exclusive right bill
do not pass because il Is In the nature OF a
monopoly. granting to few individuals the ab-
solute and exclusive right for all time to take
whole people, an article OF primary and general
importance to the farmer and planter, and devote
il to their own personal benent II gives these
individuals the power 10 reguate tnc supply anu
nrice OF the article TO make 1t dear or cheap,
nlenty or scarce, and, consequently, the price oil
agricultural products, and OF the food OF the peo-
ple. Having the power to control the price OF the
article, they can FIX the amount Oh Tax thcy VIII
lew on every iarmcr planter or individual who
uses 1t. The collection and removal OF the mate
rial Will employ many thousand luborers in the
different portions OF the State where territory
has been granted to this corporation, VINO VIII 3c
solely under Its control as to determining their
wages and deciding who shall be employed and
who shall be discharged Ender the domination
OF this gigantic monopoly, an influence may he
exerted which would render the cendltlon OF the
laboring man little better than that Of serf, and
less desirable for himself and family than the
thradom from which he has been so recently
emancipated.
FILING Ur AND PULLING DOWN.
Aside from the questionable right OF the Legis-
lature to confer such dangerous powers upon
corporation there can be no doubt OF the impollcy
of the measure in the minds OF all who are OPP
posed to a relrograde movement In the path OF
progress and civilization so recently entered upon
by the people OF this State. The policy indicated
was the elevation OF the individual man from the
condition Of servitudc and debasement in which
he was formerly held, into free, intelligent and
responsible citizen, entitled to all the fruits and
advantages OF his own labor; tlat ne snou!u oe
propcrty, with the comforts and blessings OF
home, OF family ana friends, OF education and re-
lIrion; and even at this present time there Is q
bill before the Senate approprlatns half q mil
lion of dollars for the purchase Of lands, In pur.
suance Of this laulablc policy, which Will place
thousands Of our laboring men IN the position OF
owners, enabling them TO realize that great
conservative sense Of properly, that there
struggle for; and prompting. the man up.
ward and onward In the path OF prosperi-
~ and independence. And, with such policy.
approved and entered upon, we are asked by this
bill to bcsiow on a company OF individuals phos-
phatcs worth many millions OF dollars. belonging to
the State the collecting and removal OF which WI!
employ thousands OF laborcrs, congregateu
together in large numbers, working under tue
direction OF overscers separated from the health.
full influences Of home subjected TO all tile banelul
and degrading abuses which have heretofore
characterized, and which are always consequent
upOn, such system Of labor. strange inc0n-
sistency would be thus presented IN our icghsta-
tion, of approprIating money from the treasury
TO build up one system OF labor, Wnlle NJ the
same time, we ere giving immense wealtn, az,
ready in the treasury, 10 corporation, the result
OF which will he TO encourage anu promote an
antagonistc scheme or congregatet labor, asslinl-
lating, In its material and moral disadvantages,
10 the repullated curse OF slavery. with but lew
advantages over it, except In name.
Eyr1SGrIsHMENT OF THE STATE DEBT.
The iustice and eXpedicncy OF the measure may
also he questioned, in Its aspect OF taking from
the available resources Of the State such IN I'M
mensely valuable property, when she Is strug-
Cling with pecunlary einIlrrasslnents, anu the
Deonle are groanlng and disconnected under the
weight of taxation necessary to support the gov
ernment and maintain its credit Under proper
and judcious management, 1t Is believed lnat tne
revenue from this very properly may delray y
considerable portion OF the current expenses OF
the State; or, II devoted to sinking fund, would
in few years extinguish entirely the State debt.
This point is especially worthy OF notice IN decd,
ing upop q measure which proposes TO nch the
pa1rlmony OF whole people, destitute and I'm
poverished from the custody OF the Stare IT'S con-
stitutional guardian, and consign u TO tle hanGs
OF few wealthy individuals, VINO are apparently
I'm no wise distinguished from their lellow-c izenS
for public services or public sacrifices. AS the
sole equivalent for these obnoxious features OF the
bill, it proposes to give the state q royalty OF
twenty cents for every ton oil phospnales coliec.
ell by the cOrporatOrS, q sum utterly nslSnlHchnt
In proportion to its value, and which wouid
scarcely dcfray the expenses OF It's collection.
PREGNANT FACT
that Is we'll worthy Of consideration Is that, IN
this magnificent donation OF public properly, III
which all classes OF our citizens nave an cqual
right. there Is not single individual of the col
ored race among the cOrporator', and yet the Ia
borcrs 10 mine anu dig the phOsphate5 VIII almost
exclusively be taken from them Th!s TACT tie
rives especial significance from the remark recent
Is of a DenOcralic newspaper In Charleston, When
cllcua ing upon The political chances In tllat c0u-
ty in tile cOmiug political struggle, tia tile uuor-
crs in the phosphate beds would probably vote
with those who employed them. THIS lnfluloils
discrimination against our fel0w.cifiZens WHO
colnposc q large majority in this State, and the
nolitical purpOsc to which it may be prostitued,
are not calculated to recommend the measure 10
the favorable consideration OF the Legislature.
GORGEOUS PROSPECT.
With n view to prepare plan for mining and
digging tue phOSphates. which should avoid the
odi0us objection OF monopoly, and do Justice u
the various interests involved the committee nave
sought for such Information as would guile them
i'm making proper estimate OF the extent anu
value of our phosphate depoSlts; Oh lhc COST OF
Notwithstanding our efforts were but partially
successful, we have ascertaned enough 10 induce
us TO estimate them as OF immense value, anu as
calculated II judicously managed, 10 become
most important source OF revenue 10 the STATE,
and of wealth TO the nation. few short mouths
only have interrened since their discovery, ana
the Carolina phosphate beds are already recog-
niZed as the pr .pal aud most available source
of supply in the world for fertilizers. IL only re.
uNires judicous legislation, and in brief period
will witness the vessels OF every cline
thronging the harbor of Charleston In quest
of this valuable substance. Already mas IL
induced the novel spectacle ON Ashley t1Ver, nj q
single wharf, some ten miles above the City OF
Charlcston. OF seven ocean steamers era In quest
OF phosphates alrrigliing, with the sllrl shrek OF
their engines the deer the turkey, and other
tmid deniZens OF those sylvan glaaes Wnicn
were but recently their only inhabitants. Norarc
facilities wanted for the accommodation OF lhls
suddenly augmented commerce. Comm0dous
warehouses; and capacious wharveS have ap-
pcared as If by magic; anu frequently during
the summer months, when nnacclllnateu captains
and crews have wholesome dreall oil malarlal
disease, Il vessel las come up from tile city to the
companys wharf at O'Clock In the morning, has