The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-01-10
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
A Synopsis of the Remarks Of Mr.. E. B.
Murray In tho House of Representatives
in favor Of Modifying tho Powers Of the
Railroad Commission.

In favor Of Modifying tho Powers OF the
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, MIR.
Calhoun favored the abolition of the
protective tariff and 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 was
twitted with the taunt of inconsistency
by those who did not agree with him, and
his answers, embodying one of the
grandest sentiments of human nature,
has become historic. He said: 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-
sidering-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 Commissioner in South Caroli-
ma. They seek to dwarf this important
question into a personal issue. We are
not here, sir, to try the question of the
consistency of any member o. this House,
but, in the idea of Mr.. Calhoun, We are
here to seek the right, and act upon such
information as ne can command to guide
US in reaching a conclusion. 1t is, MIR.
Speaker, question of too much impor.
tance to the people of South Carolina to
be narrowed into the compass Of a person.
al debate. Despite this fact, if ono
had listened to the 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'
tions of the gentleman from Charleston.
They have my unbounded contempt.
The Speaker, interrupting: ~ sup.
pose the member from Anderson does
not intend to transgress the rules OF the
House relating to personalities in
debate?"
Mr.. Murray: "No, sir p
The Speaker: ~ suppose the member
does not apply the term he has used to
the member from Charleston 2"
Mr.. Murray: 81 mean to say, MIR.
Speaker, that I do not choose to follow
the gentleman from Charleston upon the
low plane of personal abuse that he has
seen fit to pitch this discussion upon.
Were l disposed to 60 into mems motives
upon this measure, I could show perso-
nal reasons why the member from
Charleston may be opposed to the pass.
age of this bill, but personal vituperation
is not argument, and feeling that have
substantial reasons for the advocacy of
this bill, I 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 the personal
attack that has been made upon me in
this debate. And first, Mr.. Speaker, my
friend from Marion reads the speech l
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 as we'll as the gentleman
himself that I 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 d
Greenville Railroad, and have been
elected since the passage of the existing
Railroad Law, to the enactment of which
1 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 director was
published in the daily papers last Spring,
and my reelection was again published
since this body met, and only few 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, l
may be pardoned for saying that there is
nothing connected with it, in any par.
ticular, that / would desire to withhold
from the public. The circumstances
under which I accepted the position were
simply these: Some time last Spring |
received telegram from Col. j. Fl. Rion
asking if I would serve as director of
the Columbia & Greenville Railroad. l
conferred with some of my friends, who
concurred in the opinion that | must
either accept the position rendered or
cease my criticism Of railroad manage
ment, for the position offered vas one in
which I could inform myself upon
railroad matters, and that it was my duty
to either so inform myself or cease my
criticism, I telegraphed reply that 1
would accept. Several of the prominent
business men of Anderson, every one
with whom I have conversed about the
matter, also advised me to serve as direc-
tor upon the ground that they would like
to have some one interested in the pros.
perity of our city upon the Board of
Directors. There was absolutely no
conference or agreement of any kind
whatever as to my acceptance, and l
have been, and still am, perfectly un.
trammelled by this position. 1t is not a
source of profit, and l have not dollars
interest in retaining it. These are the
circumstances under which I am before
you as director of the Columbia &
Greenyille Railroad. If it be culpable
to have acted thus, then am liable to
censure for it. Now, Mr.. Speaker, it is
intimated that l do not represent my
people, but that I favor the railroads in
advocating this bill. 1t is 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 1 rep
resent: