The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-12-15

VII " iaih Ill WIN CldlulS dll INC calves
and colts, and no objection is made by
the old man until the calf or colt is
sold, and you always find that the
Old man takes the money.
Now the owners of these prop rites
have not heretofore objected to the
people claiming the railroads. but they
do object to any further control or de-
struction Of them, and while l will not
| undertake to discuss the constitutions
ality of the bill as it stands, Gas no
doubt it has been adroitly drawn to
avoid, If possible, constitutional uues-
tion). but my friends, whether it was
submitted without regard to constitu-
| tlOn%l consideration or not, | am free
to say that if it passes in my opinion,
1T will cause a CONSERVATION in Imam
cial circles, followed by endle5 litiga-
tion for our State and people.
we can always get on with the peo-
pie for they know that we are giving
them as good service and as low rates
as Is given in any State in the South:
and they read in the reports made up
and published by the officers of the
State, that we are not robbing them
that we are not paying expenses at
pre- sent rates, and on the contrary, are
losing money steadily. You have put
us already in such condition, that we
|
fat, and are barely able to survive,
much less do any new work looking to-
wards the Improvement or betterment
OF the property.
| Nearly every railroad in the State is
now in the hands of Receiver. This
bill is closely modelled on that of Geor-
gla, and we may reasonably expect that
under it, all of our roads will soon be
in the same fix as those of Georgia, Tor
he last one IN that State has Just sue
cumbed and fallen Into the waiting
arms of the United States Courts.
| IT we had the people to deal with, d.
rectly, and their common sense and
fairnesa to depend upon, we might
struggle on, hoping for better times,
but you are now asked to push us right
to the wall-and for what? | ask YOU
to consider that question--what for! :?
| what have we done or has ANYBODY
done or suffered to make such legisla-
tlon nect ssary or excusable. So far as
can see, we are having no differences
with the people, and on the contrary
are getting along with them nicely; and
there Is no agitation for any stringent
laws to hold the railroads in check, and
so far as a political agitation on this
subject is concerned, South Carolina is
the only State which under the laws,
|
ries and expense of the Commission.
But there is no political faction or
political party, who has had the cour-
age to saddle this expense on the State
or to acknowledge It's injustice against
the railroads, from the fact that as soon
rs this additional expense is added tc
their tax list, the people would wish tC
know what individual advantage the
Commission is to them; but they have
been hoodwinked by corporation claI
trap, and not allowed to discuss the in
Justice OF the law; yet, there is not All
honest man in the State who will say
that the railroads should pay the ex
penSe OF the State Commission, This
whole Railroad Commission business,
gentlemen, was started as a matter of
political provender, but it has grown
into a machine for property oppres-
sion, ana now you are asked to make it
in instrument of confiScation.
90 not know who your Commission
ers may be under the new law. ] hope
you will select the best men you can
get, but as l understand it, they are to
be CHOSEN, not for any qualifications of
experience or ability, but for certain
geographical advantages they may pos
sess, as if there were some peculiar in
Splratlon for railroad work to be drawn
|
sections Of the State.
do earnestly hope. however, that in
your choice, you will find to take charge
or this immense property. men who can
AT least compile q just and equitable
rate shetland l shall not beRrudge
their salaries, for If you can find men
competent to conduct the business of
all our railroads successfully, | will
guarantee them ten thousand dollars
each.
But submit to you that it is hard.
ly fair or in accord with business Drin-
clples TO make men who have hundreds s
or thousands of dollars invested in
propertleS-menw who have studied and
laborGd for years from the lowest place
10 the hlgheSt-mere tools 10 run their
trains up and down their tracks under
the direction OF three men picked ND
any where, three men. who, perhapS,
have failed in the management of very
small enterprises, who will undertake
TO control and direct the thousands of
men, and hundreds Of complicated af-
fairs Of big railroad systems, at fifteen
hundred dollars per year. Think Of il,
gentlemen! Look at it as practical
men! Is there q farmer who would be
willing to surrender the management
of his farm on which he depends for
his llVlnR, ana which he has bought
and paid fOr-to three strange men,
and let them say when and where and
what he should plant, how he should
feed, manage and run his stock, and
what arrangements and trades he
should make with his merchants or
neighbors, or say what prices should
be paid for their products
Now gentlemen, l have said q good
deal more than | first intended; but as
talk and think more of this subject. I
teel more deeply the wrong, (and with
al respect for you and all concerned, |
say it would be a bitter, outrageous
wrong) it is sought to do us, and the
danger threatening the State of which
| am citizen, and which | have as
much right and reason AS any man
lore, to love.
| have had my say. have done my
duty TO the interests | have the honor
to represent, and to the State. The re-
sponsibility is on you. You can not
cvadc 1t or get away from 1t. You can
not shift it on the three Commissioners
to be chosen under this law, and hold
them TeSDOnSible for anv mjschiaf to