The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-07-17
For the HERALD
A LETTER FROM COMMISSIONER
BUTLER

ZULU MBlA, y. ", ouhJ IL, O1'
Dear Sirs In closing my letter
to Col. Johnstone, published in
your last weeks issue, I said that
owing to my Affections l could not
write more extendedly then. l
would have done so, however, if l
had supposed that what wrote
would have been construed as re-
fecting upon those gentlemen who
had previously published state.
ments, as coming from me, in ref
erence to Col. Johnstone.
l have always entertained the
kindest feelings of friendship. for
Col. Holloway and for Mr.. Sligh
and would not, under any cir
cumstances, do either Of them an
Injustice, and it is for this reason
that will trouble you to allow me
space in your paper for a few more
lines in regard to this matter.
l desire to explain more fully
than ] have done the statement
made by me, upon which Mess.
Holloway and Sigh made their
statements, and I will 10 this as
briefly as possible and I hope sat-
isfactorily.
A bill was before the Legislature
proposing to give certain powers to
the Agricultural Department, in
connection with the phosphate in
terest and that in my opinion we're
necessary for the proper develop
ment of the phosphate territory.
This bill was recommended by Mr..
E. L. Roche, the Special Assistant
of the Department, and who is in
immediate charge Of the phosphate
interests, and had my approval. 1t
passed the Senate and went to
the House; was reported favorably
by the House Committee on Mines
and Mining; and had two readings
in that body. On the third reading
it was opposed by Col. Johnstone,
upon whose motion it was referred
to a special committee and he was
appointed Chairman. This COM
mittee reported adversely upon the
bill. I wa; very much surprised at
this action as I supposed that the
bill would commend itself to at
least majority of the committee,
and enquired the objections to it,
and was Informed that MIR. john
stone had used the argument before
the committee that the Department
Of Agriculture was seeking powers
that it ought not to have and that
unless it was restricted it would
have to be throttled. I was very
indignant because l felt that this
was an unwarraated and unjustifa-
BILE attack upon theDepartment and I
We Immediately to Mr.. Johnstone
an>. liked with him about it. He
did not deny using this argument
then land in talking with Mr.. Jos. l.
Keitt recently repeated this state
ment and told him that I did not
suppose that Mr.. Johnstone would
deny it now.
At the time this matter occurred
in the Legislature, and subsequent
ly, l talked with some of my friends,
among them Mr.. Sigh and Col.
Holloway about. it and doubtless
showed some feeling in the matter
because from the information I had
received believed that it was an
effort to lessen the usefulness OF
the Department, and this I regarded
as detrimental to the agricultural
interests of the State. l have since
talked with Col. Johnstone and he
has assured me that he had no such
intentions and I have regretted
that in my own mind and possibly
by what | have said, did him an
injustice.
regret also that my Language
was such as to mislead Mr.. Sigh
and Col. Holloway, and I desire to
add that 1 know they did not in
tend to misrepresent any thing that
was said.
Respectfully,