The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-01-10
THE RAILROAp QUESTION.
a Synopsis OF the Remarks OF Mr. +. Is.
Murray In the House of Representatives
In favor OF Modifying tho Powers of the
Railroad Commission.

In favor OF Modifying tho Powers of tho
Railroad Commission.
In 1916 one Of the most noted debates
In the history of our country occurred in
Congress, over the establishment Of the
American system, or what is more famil.
iarly termed the system of protection TO
American industries in other words, the
protective tariff. In this debate Mr..
Calhoun advocated the tariff, while the
great Webster opposed it. When the
question again was agitated in 1928, Mr..
Calhoun favored the abolition cf the
protective tariff aud Mr.. Webster favor.
ed its continuance. Thus each of these
great men had changed his position on
this most vital Of all the questions Of ma.
tional policy. IN consequence OF this
change OF opinion, Mr. Calhoun Tas
twittcd With the taunt of inconsistency
by those who did not agree with him, and
his answers, cmbOdying one Of the
graudest sentiments of human nature,
has become historic. lie aaid 81
would rather be right than to be consis.
tent" And yet, Mr.. Speaker, We find
men here to-day members Of this House
on this very bill that we are now con-
sidcring- -taunting men with the charge
Of inconsistency for having changed their
| opinions in a measure upon the question
of what powers should be granted to the
Railroad Commissioners in South CARROLL
ma. They seek to dwarf this important
| question into a personal issue We arc
not here, sir, to try the question of the
consistency of any member Of this House,
| but, in the idea Of Mr.. Calhoun, We are
here to seek the right, and act upon such
| Information US we can comma:.i TO guide
US in reaching a conclusion. 1t is, Mr..
| Speaker, question Of too much irpor.
tance to the people of South Carol. Ia to
be narrowed into the compass OF q person
| al debate. Despite this fact, if one
| had listened TO tho TRADES which emana.
ted from some of the members of this
House on yesterday, they would have
imagined that the gentleman from An
derson was on trial here instead of the
railroad law of the State Icannot con-
descend to notice the baseless insinua.
tons of the gentleman from Charleston.
They have my unbounded contempt.
The Speaker, interrupting "I sup
pose the ,nember from Anderson does
not intend to transgress the rules of the
debate?"
Mr.. Murray: "No, sir"
The Speaker: 81 suppose the member
does not apply the term he has used to
The member from Charleston ?''
Mr.. Murray: 81 mean to say, Mr..
Speaker, that | do not choose to follow
the gentleman from Charleston upon the
low plane of personal abuse that he has
seen lit to pitch this discussion upon.
Were disposed to go into mems motives
upon this measure, | could show perso-
nal reasons why the member from
Charleston may be opposed to the pass
age Of this bill, but personal vituperation
IL not argument, and feeling that l have
substantial reasons for the advocacy of
this bill, shall not on my part attempt
TO lug any irrelevant subjects into my
remarks. In the beginning Of my re-
marks shall make reply to tho personal
attack that has been made upon me in
this debate. And first, Mr.. Speaker, my
friend from Marion reads the speech
made in this hall last winter upon the
railroad bill. In doing so he compli-
ments me over much, but he gives no in
formation to the members of this body,
who heard that speech for themselves,
and who know rs we'll as the gentleman
himself that | now favor taking away
some Of the power which we then confer
red upon the Railroad Commissioners
and the gentleman from Charleston, as
though he were unearthing some hidden
attempt at deception, tells the House
that am director Of the Columbia &
Greenville Railroad, and have been
elected since the passage Of the existing
Railroad Law, to the enactment of which
| contributed my support last Winter
The facts stated by him are true, but
there is nothing new to the public in
Them. My election as s. director was
published in the daily papers last Spring,
,and my reelection was again published
since this body met, and only = fen days
since. Therefore, The members Of the
House know that was director before
the gentlemen from Charleston told them
of it. AS this dictatorship has been
made the occasion of comment here,
may be pardoned for saying that there is
nothing connected with it, in any par
ticular, that l would desire to Withhold
from the public. The circumstances
under which accepted the position were
simply these: Some time last Spring
received telegram from Col. J. II. Rion
asking if would serve as director of
the Columbia g. Greenville Railroad.
conferred with some of my friends, who
concurred in the opinion that must
either accept the position rendered or
cease ny criticism OF railroad manage
ment, for the position offered was one in
which l could inform myself upon
railroad matters, and that it waa my duty
to either SO inform myself or cease my
criticism, 1 telegraphed reply that I
would accept. Several Of the prominent
business men Of Anderaon, every one
with whom l have conversed about the
matter, also advised me to serve as direc-
tor upon tho ground that they would like
to have some one interested in the pros.
perity of our city upon tho Board Of
Directors. There was absolutely no
conference or agreement of any kind
whatever as to my acceptance, and I
have been, and still am, perfectly un.
trammelled by this pos;:iol. Il is not g
source of profit, and have not dollars
interest in retaining it. These are the
circumstances under which I am before
you as director Of the Columbia &
Greenville Railroad. If it be culpable
to have acted thus, then am liable to
censure for it. Now, Mr.. Speaker, it 10
intimated that do not represent my
people, but that favor the railroads in
advocating this bill. 1t lie true that do
not represent my people fully in this
matter, for they favor total repeal OF
the existing law. These resolutions,
which ] will read, express the sentiments
of the business center ofthe County Irep.
resent:
ANDERSON, 8. c., Dec. 6, 1888.