The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1884-01-04

I'VE learn in tho most positive manner that
first. class imparters ct cotton tr"m America have
found scattered about through the interior of the
bale, sometime. boxes nnl .mctimys hunchcS Of
matches mgnifc-uiy put there Intentionally.
Tie case is new. one hat in our times the in
vcuiioHS ur new criilcs is not new. Cotton is
not now generally embarked in the dry state
necessary To prevent the development Of Il GER
tain heat inside the tightly packed bales, which
remains suppressed ot spreads according To the
condition Of the cotton On the changing atmuS-
phcric vicissitudcs to which it is exposed. Up
10 the pres 1T these have been regarded AZ the
only causes OF such frequent conilagrations at
sea even in the most rapid passages 10y steam.
Not to speak Of the Sr0"cD, the i"Him1 and
others, see the most recent case 0t the steame,
Spccrman which, after rapid passage, was
forccl tn stop at Key West on account OF n seri-
ous confederation on board on its voyage from
Galveston to Genoa Besides the old causes Of
Sucn cautagrutiuuS il becomes necessary 20 in
ycstirltc if crime does not add new and more
dangerous one, and if matches are the source
of fires which once staricdarc difficult to eXtin-
gu>h.
IL tic i,h1vc n C3narl, or can II be true :
We're the poucr that contains this not II most re
spectablc commercial paper, with no possible
motive for iuvcntnG such a story, should at
once pronounce ii a scandalous invention. On
the other huul can il hc possible that there Is
S.unlo cotton grower in the South SO utterly
bales of cotton for the purpose Of setting il Oh
fire. rrrhars ut sea- with the most serious dams
rrl.to many lives. in addition to the loss Of
property? Hitherto the RUSSIAN "Nihilist
and Irish Dynamitist' sCcmc' to hear away
the palm for utter depravity. wickcdr"Ss and
cruelty. But if n Southern cotton pinntcr can
be found wicked AMI cruel enough to intentions
allv ru, matches in bales Of cotton for the pur
nos. of kindlug "A contiagratiHn nj some unccr-
tain tiu,c, perhaps a, sca, should say his crime
was still worse than that Of "Nihiiist or"Dyn
lmitSt.'
But aside from the wickeduCss of the thing
IN itself, you can we'll imagine the injury II
would hc to our cotton interests to have it sup.
posci that matches were put i'll the bales OF
cotton t. kindlc cOntligration. Ships would
he afraid to transport it, and insurance compa'
nics would not insure it OK land or water except
at ruiunuS rates. simply report the case with
these few remarks. ~, irthc allegation has any
truth in it whatever, it seems t" me to he very
grave affair and TO merit serious consideration.
Cor. NcwS AMI Courier.
Tur Gisr uy THE NEW RAiru>n Ilw.-Thc
Proceedings Of the Legislature on Saturday.
contained little OF public interest beyond 'hc
action Of both Houses on the Railroad biil OWING
;u the many amendments made to the bill in
the Senate the public, no dcUht, have " very
iinrcrfcct i,ica of the effect of the new bill as
,,r>Sv,i on the Railroad law aS it now stands
The following synopsis Of the bill gives clear
and intelligent view of the changes which nave
been made in the law and their effect on the
railroads and on tho public
Nil those sections Of the late law giving the
commission power to iix rates are repculci.--
The railroads are to submit their rates to tic
commission for approval or modification before
putting them il to effect. III the commission
approve. they go into effect almost Immediately
If the commission disapprovc and mn"niy AFTER
Lcarin- argument from the roads, and the roads
will rot accept the commission : modification.
they have the right TO appeal to the circuit
judge of Eichand County. or in his absence to
some other rircu, Judge selected 10y the Chief
Justice The evidence taken bet"ic the com
mission il submitted tn him and he must decide
,hc case within ten days his decision to hc lnai
During the rcnieucy Of the appeal, the rates III
fui cc ut the time the change was proposed by
the roads shall remain in force and he eni'rcei
uuti the question at issue shall hc adludicaicd.
The rates to be submitted 10 the commission
iy the roads include through and JOINT rates
The commission have the right, if they consider
;hc ic- in force unreasonable or diScrimInaiivc
to change :hem to iGst ami rcasonnhic rates. II
the roads refuse 20 consent To such notifications
they can appeal to the Court III the mannc'
provided above. The attorney genera conducts
nll cases for the commissioners.
The sections against discrimination remain
in the law. Provision l. made for SPECIFY
adjudication upon suits for discrimination
brourit Ivy parties against the roads. nc conn
missiuncrs acting II mis- for the parties sung
The Penalties for discrimination or unjust
charges are quite heavy
The provisions as to passenger rates, remain
unchanged. Provision is there uladc Tor scc"n!
cl,- fares The Bnrnwcil Hallway Is to be con,
silcrci an indcl clcudcut roa'l.-Cor. Nc"% amt
t,y1r
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