The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-12-10

be done, point out the defects and leave
TO Won the remedy. There is one aspect
of the case to which l direct your atten-
ton. The constitution of 1868 gives
Charleston county TWO Senators. ana 1t
was clearly by reason ofitS large area and
population Now if that county is dlvid-
ed and new county created the Question
arises, shall the same area and population
have three Senators by reasons or >uch
division, and if so, what part OF the coun-
" shall retain the name of Charleston
and thus hold its two Senators. 1t Is lust
as easy, lust as lawful and just as right
for that part not containing the city to
claim and be given the name as the other.
and I am, therefore, clearly of opinion
that the division of that county carries
with it the loss of :, Senator to that part
which retains the name, else injustice IS
done to the rest Of the State. Here is a
most pressing reason for a constitutional
convention, for don't see how else the
mud6le is to be settled, without ordering
new election in that county.
RAILROAD LAWS.
ssThus far, matters which required out
Law and increased expenditure, or from
which no income is derived, have been
discussed. I will next touch on the
means OF saving the peoples money, re-
duciug and eeualiZing taxes and increas-
inc the States income from the phoS-
phate royalty. There is nothing which
will save the people more money than a
good railroad law, administered by an
honest, impartial, fearless commission.
The people have demanded relief from
the imposition and injustice of these pow
erful corporations. Hitherto all efforts to
-, haholf f,i1al I,n
cause the railroads have welded an un-
due influence with our General Assem-
bly,. With the present body l am sure
the only question is as to what is best to
he done and after such investigation as
have been able to give the subject, l un-
hesitatingly advise that a law similar to
that OF Georgia be enacted. The people
of that State are perfectly satisfied with it
and the railroads must be because our
sister State leads in the miles of new road
constructed. Whether the choice of the
mmissioners shall devolve upon the
people, the General Assembly or the EX-
eculive, is for You to determine. Our
platform demands that it te given 20 the
people but an Immediate reorganization
of the commission is desirable, while cur
next election is two years off, and if pro-
per men are selected, am sure that the
tit. OF one thing am certain the divi-
sion Of the State into sections from which
the commissioners must be drawn is
wrong in principle and in policy. We
need the best men for the place. let them
come from were they may, and let US
hope tnat as there was absolute oblitera-
ton of the line between Glow country
and up-country' in the last political cam
paign and the reform wave swept froin
the mountain to the sea. so may the dem
ccrats who won and those who lost, bear
and forbear with each other, and locking
shields again as becomes brethren and
Carolinians, forget and forgive the bitter
ness which has been ergendered. Let
us, III future, know no sectional line in
the State and in selecting men for posi-
tions Of honor, or trust ask not whether
a candidate is a ''retorrner" or not, but
whether he is the best man for place.
Democracy and fitness alone should de-
termine the matter. \ law may be eve!
SO good and wise but If it is not properly
administered, it will fail to give sat!st:,c-
ton.
The General Assembly may enact tie
Georgia law, but if it falls to obtain the
right men there will be no relief to the
people. We must get men like the Geor-
gia commissioners, able honest and fear
less, or we had better abolish the com
mission and make no attempt at con-
trolling the railroads at all. In this cen
nection it may be well to say that in seek
ing to control railroads and other corpo-
rations strict regard should be had for
their rights and interests. Corporations
are not public enemies, although tiev
are, if unbridled, apt TO be oppressive.
Much of the material development and
progress of the age is the fruit Of corpor-
ale effort and many men acting under
che head and guided by one will, have
done for our country what no Individual
could haye possibly accomplished.
Therefore we should carefully watch to
see that nothing is done to injure our
railroad or manufacturing companies.
Let rs protect the people against their
greed, but let Us be just and fair in our
dealings with them.
EQUALIZATION OF TAXEs.
'.The question Of equalizing taxes is
one Of the most important and perpleX-
ing with which we have to deal, and
while the Jaws ale defective their admin
istration is equally 1T fault. I vii! touch
on the later trouble first.
Under the law, auditors and treasur-
ers are appointed by the Governor and
their work is supervised by the Comp
troller General. In addition, we have
County and State boards Of equalization
ny whom the work revised. The audi
tors appoint the members of the county
ard, and the chairman Of the re-
spective county boards constitute the
State board. Assessments are made un-
der oath of property at its real mar ket
rYSt