The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1883-11-08
Can't Risk Being BOssed Over by The
Railroad Commissioners.


den, have had some correspondence
with the officers of the Sea Board &
Roanoke r. R. Co., inquiring as to
what they propose doing toward
building the road from Hamlet, N. c.,
on through Camden to Columbia, S.
c., for which they obtained charter
from our State at the last session of
the Legislature. We are permitted
to make the following extract from
the reply of j. NJ; Robinson, Presi-
dent, to the inquiries of Council:
Our companies or our friends do
not contemplate building in South
Carolina under any circumstances so
long as laws prevail which prevent
railroad companies from managing
their own property. Doubtless your
railroad commission is composed OF
an excellent set of gentlemen, but /
imagine none Of them are very con-
versant with railroads. Be this,
however, as it may, l imagine no
body of individuals would be willing
engage in the operations OF mill
ing, manufacturing cotton, establish
ing machine shops, or, in fact, en-
gaging in any other enterprise where
their business has to be managed by
other people, and where the State un-
dertakes to dictate what charges
should be made. If a State through
a railroad commission or otherwise
has q right to dictate one rate OF
charge, it has right to dictate an
other, and railroad companies could
at any time be made utterly unprotit-
able to their owners, and even be
made to default in their bonds.
fully recognize the right of emi-
nent domain, and in granting a
charter, where condemnation of land
is necessary, believe that a State
should only do so for public good !;
but at the same time think that
State should protect and guarantee
protection to the rights of those who
put their money in such enterprises.
| think q State, where deemed neces-
sary, might properly have a board of
commissioners to see that railroad
companies comply with the require
ments of their charters, but your laws
amount practically to possible con-
fiscation Of property.
trust you may be right in think
ing that the commission laws OF
South Carolina may be modified or
repealed. In that event, think il
South Carolina is disposed to grant
charters properly protective to rail
road property, that railroads will be
built BY others than her own citizens.
The first question that arises now
is, which would be of the most benefit
to our State-to abolish the office O!
RsrFoad Commissioner and haye
railroads built through our State, or
keep up the Office and lose the rail-
roads We know what the answer
from all intelligent men and well
wishers for the prosperity of the
State will be-abolish the Commits
sion. We are willing to allow COM
petition to regulate freight and pas
senger rates, and regulate all abuses
that may arise. The Commission
has been tried, and has proven
failure. Facts prove that our asser-
tions are true, and no explanation of
the Commissioners or their friends
can contradict these facts.
1t stands as fact that our freights
are much higher now than they were
before the Commissioners tinkered
with them. 1t is tact that capital
lists have refused to invest money in
railroads in this State as long as
their money was to be subject to the
whims Of disinterested parties. It
stands as fact that all the laws that
have yet been enacted by the national
Government have not done near so
much in forcing social equality upon
our people as the Railroad Commits
sion, through its acts. has done. We
know they will deny this charge, but
The tact cannot be overcome by denial
or explanation. The glaring proof
of it is before US every day.
We have no doubt at all but that
the Commission meant we'll, as they
are all gentlemen for whom every
one has the greatest respect but in
fh;c cose thtir work has prOven q