The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-13
THE ROYALTY ON PHOSPHATE.
Bonds-Seyenty-five Thousand Dollars
Must be Raised from the Royalty.
Especial to News and Courier

COLUMBIA, S. c., September 9.-"I
won't do it," That's the way Governor
Tiliman expresses himself, and usually
when be says such things he means it.
He means that he considers the State
pledged to raised S75,C--0 year from
phosphate royalty towards q sinking
fund for the new issue of State banks,
and that he will Lot consent to any
arrangement by which such revenue
will not be raised.
It would not, he thinks, be keeping
faith with the bondholders. He would
rather let the fields lie idle, and if such
occurs there will be no violation of con-
tract or any bad faith on the part of the
State. This morning, after stating
what I understood to be the position
of the phosphate men, Governor Till
man consent-d to give his views. He
said that he could not make any con-
tract and that all that he could promise
to do would be to try and get the board
of phosphate commissioners to pass
resolution reducing the royalty to so
cents per ton, provided the amount so
raised amount ! to S75, co.
This would be subject, of course, to
the action of the egislature and it was
his further idea that the royalty should
be made to operate on I. sliding scale.
If the price OF rock became better the
royalty should be proportionately
raised. s'1f all of the miners stop work
we cannot help it, and suppose we
will have to get some one else to mine
in the State property. I certainly do
not feel warranted in helping these peo-
pie to such an extent as to make the
State break its faith with its bond
holders.
SUFFICIENT ROYALTY OR NOTHING.
"Before I'll see the rock bring
ruinous royalty I'll consent to let it lie
derive less than $4,000 royalty I'll let
it lie there. The State will not then
have broken faith with anyone. Ihave
every disposition to help these people
in their trouble. The State is in a kind
of cooperation with them and it is to
their interest to help them.
THEY SHAN'T MINE ON THEIR OWN
TERMS.
II have no desire to drive them out
OF. business, but Pm afraid they think
nat we are so poor that we are COM
PEELED to let them mine at their own
'erms; but we have not got there,
My idea was to get an account of the
amount of damages sustained and then
by reduction Of royalty let them get
that back. There is now about 10000
tons of rock on hand, which would get
the benefit of any reduction of royalty
if we make one"
One thing is certain, Governor Till
man IS going to stick to his idea that
the phosphate companies will have to
raise the S75, 900, even if they have to
pay the present $lC0 royalty, that is if
f5,0C0 tons are mined. lf50, 900 tons are
mined the $4,000 have to be raised
according to his plan. The State can
make no agreement which would look
to a smaller revenue and still keep
faith.
The phosphate men look at things
differently. They want something
definite. They want a fifty cent roy
atty for term Of years. They do not
want any sliding scale" in theirs.
They do not want to run the chances
Of making up any deficiency by the
retirement of any company and in the
end pay 81, when they expected to psy
so cents.
WORK STOPPED AT CoosAW.
The Coossw people were so much dis
satisfied with their conference that
they have ordered work stopped. IF
what the miners say is true, they are
not too anxious to go back into business,
and it will only be done provided the
State shows disposition to help them
out and to do so in no uncertain way.
The board viii meet in Beaufort Thurs
day evening. Friday will probably be
spent in visiting the phosphate works,
and that night final action will ne
doubt be taken. - g.
It is Governor Tillman's intention
after he visits Beaufort to make his
way up to Charleston by boat and visit
the islands between Beaufort and Char.
lesion.