The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-06-13
SENATOR BUTLER REPLIES
To Allianceman's Criticism Of Els Letter
10 Chairman Mitchell.

Editor Register: In your isaue OF
May 81 a correspondent signing him
self "Allianceman," referring to my
letter in reply to Mr.. Mitchell, says: :"Sen'
ator Butler thinks the suotreasury plan
is unconstitutional, and, of course, it
never occurred to the learned Senator
that the Constitution might be amended.
He says the subtreasury has been
abandoned, but fails to give the time
when it was Abandoned
It seems to me "A.llianceman" gives
his case away wher he impliedly ad-
mits that the Constitution must be
amended to make tie subtreasury plan
constitutional, and confirms my view.
1t is gratifying to be reinforced in my
opinion by "Allianceman,'' Who is eVid-
emily man of intelligence. and, I ss-
sumed, speaks by authority.
In regard to the abandonment of the
sub.reasCry, 1t is only necessary to state
what will not be disputed, that two
subtI easury bills were introduced in the
House in the Fifty-frst Congress, which
were never reported from the commit
tee, and therefore never acted OF. IN
the last Congress there we're 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 subtreasury bill have
failed to hear of it. I think, therefore,
l was justified in saying it had been
abandoned.
Further along "Allianceman" says:
"He can see no way of the govern
ment owning and operating railroads
except by the government buying
those already IN existence. Of course
it has never occurred to 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 in the Interest
of the people rather than Of the rail
road Wreckers and manipulators. s."
OF course if the government is going
into the business of buildsng railroads,
to give employment to millions OF
laborers," 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 cp-
crate all the railroads and telegraph
and telephone lines, now lnexistence
or hereafter to be built. Such, at least
was my understanding of it. 1t seems
however, "Allianceman" proposes to
change the issue and have the govern.
ment "build and equip such roads as
are needed" Has 1t occurred to "Al.
Ilanceman" that the Constitution
might have to be amended to enable
the Federal government to "bul!d aud
eguipt" railroads through the States.
without the consent of the States, 10
time of peace? In time of war the gov
ernmsnt might build railroads, as q
military necessity, but [ should doubl
whether it had this constitutional!
power in time of peace. at lesst it i:
an open question, with the weight Of
the argument against it.
"Alllanceman" says, "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 IN.
haJed valuation of Watered. stock
Perhaps it will surprise "AlliaDceman'
to be told what is a fact, that l never
had railroad for client in my life
except on two occasions, many years
ago, and then for a very shert time. Ii
has usually been my fortune to be or
the other side in railroad cases. so thai
my clientage of railroad could not haVs
been very heavy, and l could not have
a very large interest in the purchase OF
railroads by the government. Let "Al
nanceman""pick his flint and try II
again." Very truly yours.
N. G. BUTLER
WASHINGTON Juna 2