The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-06-13
SENATOR BUTLER REPLIES
To Al1anceman's Criticism cf His Letter
TO Chairman Mitchell,


Editor Register: In your issue of
May 81 a correspondent signing him.
self "Allianceman," referring to my
letter in reply to Mr.. Mitchell, says: "Sen.
ator Butler thinks the subtreasury plan
is unconstitutional, and, of course, it
never occurred to the learned Senator
that the Constitution might be amended.
He says the sCbtreasury has been
abandoned, but fails to give the time
when 1t was abandoned"
1t seems to me "Allianceman" gives
his case away when he impliedly ad-
mits that the Constitution must be
amended to make the subtreasury plan
constitutional, and confirms my view.
1t is gratifying to be reinforced il my
opinion by "Allianceman," who is evid-
emily man of intelligence. and, l as
81 med, speaks by authority.
In regard to the abandonment of the
sub treasury, 1t Is only necessary to state
what will not be disputed, that two
subtJ easury bills were introduced in the
House in the Fifty-frst Congress, which
we're never reported from the commit.
tee, and therefore never acted on. in
the last Congress there were number
of members belonging to the Alliance,
and in the present Congress there are
quite number, four or five from
South Carolina. If any one of them
has introduced subcreasury bill have
failed to hear of it. I think, therefore,
| was Justified in saying it had been
abandoned.
Further along "Allianceman" says:
"he can see no way of the govern
luent owning and operating railroads
except by the government buying
those already IN existence. Of course
1t has never occurred 70 the versatile
Senator that the government has the
right to build and equip such roads as
are needed. Millions of laborers would
be glad of the job at very reasonable
wages to be paid in legal tender green
backs-building two, three or five
thousand miles a year. Oh, no; the
Senator is too good railroad attorney
to see any other way of having govern
ment railroads except by purchase Of
his clients property at enormously
inflated valuation of watered stock.
But the people have been thinking
along this line little 10 the interest
of the people rather than of the rail
road Wreckers and manipulators.
OF course if the government is going
into the business of buildsng railroads,
to give employment to millions of
laborers," a very different proposition
is presented. My observations were
based upon the assumption that one OF
the Alliance demands was that the nat
ional government should own and op-
crate all the railroads and telegraph
and telephone lines, now inexistence,
or hereafter to be built. Such, al least,
was my understanding of it. It seems,
however, "Alllanceman" proposes to
change the issue and have the govern
ment "build aud equip such roads as
are needed" Has 1t occurred to AL
llanceman" that the Constitution
might have to be amended to enable
the Federal government to "build and
equipt" railroads through the States,
without the consent of the States, IL
time of peace? In time of war the gov
ernment might build railroads, as
military necessity, but | should doub'
whether it had this constitutional
power in time of peace. at least 1t is
an open question, with the weight OF
the argument against it.
"Alllanceman" says, "Oh, NO: the
Senator is too good a railroad attorney
to see any other way of having govern
ment railroads except by purchase OF
his clients property at enormously in.
lh.ted valuation of Watered stock.
Perhaps it will surprise "Alliancenan'
to be told what is fact, that / never
had a railroad for client IN my life
except On two occasions, many years
ago, and then for very short time. II
has usually been my fortune TO be CT
the other side in railroad cases, so that
my clientage of railroad could not have
been very heavy, aud l could not have
a very large interest in the purchase OF
railroads by the government. Let GAL
IlIanceman" ""pick his flint and try II
again" Very truly yours.
NJ BUTLER.
Washington, June 9.