The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-06-14
SENATOR BUTLER REPLIES
To Alliance mans Criticism cf Hts Letter
80 Cha}rmou MtJCheil

To ANiauc. mans Critlcism cf Hts Letter
80 Chs,rmaa Mitchell.
Editor Register: In your issue Of |
May 81 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.
lie says the subtreasury has been
abandoned, but fails to give the time
"nen 1t was abandoned"
IC seems to me "Allianceman" gives
MS case away when he impliedly ad-
inlts In9t the Constitution must be
amenaeo an to make the subtreasury plan
GonstlCutlonal, and confirms nv view.
IL is graClty1nR to be reinforced in nv
OPINION Dy Dy"Allianceman," who ia evid
enIIy man or intelligence. and, | as.
sumed, speaks by authority.
n regard 10 the abandonment Of the
subGreasury, 1t is only necessary TO state
what will not be disputed, that two
subtreasury bills were introduced in the
House IN tue Fifty first Congress. which
were never reported from the commits.
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 a subtreasury bill have
failed to hear Of 1t. l think, therefore,
was Justified In saying 1t had been
abandoned.
Further along "Allianceman" says:
III
ment owning and operating railroads
except by the government buying
those already IN existence. Of course
1t has never occurred to the versatile
Senator that the government has the
rlghC 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 year. Oh, no; the
Senator Is too ogood railroad attorney
to see any other way Of having govern
ment railroads except by purchase of
ms 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."
Or course If the government Is going
into the business of buildsng railroads,
to. give employment to millions Of
iaborers,' a very different proposition
IL presented. My observations were
Dased upon the assumption that one of
the Alliance demands was that the nat
lonal government should own and op-
erate all the railroads and telegraph
and telephone lines, now inexistence,
or hereafter to be built. Such, at least,
was my understanding Of it. 1t seems,
however, "Alltanceman" proposes to
change the issue and have the govern
ment "build and equip such roads as
are needed" Has 1T occurred to cal.
lianceman" 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. in
time OF peace2 In time Of war the gov
ernment might build railroads, as a
military necessity, hut L should doubt
whether 1t 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 railroad attornev
10 see any other way of having govern.
ment railroads except by purchase of
MS clients property at enormously in
Hated valuation Of watered stock.
Perhaps 1t will surprise "Alliapceman"
to be told what Is a fact, that I never
mad a railroad for client in nv life,
except on two occasions, many years
ago, and then for very short time. It
has usually been my fortune to be on
the other side in railroad cases. 80 that
my cllentage of railroad could not have
been very heavy, and could not have
very large interest in the purchase of
railroads by the government. Let GAL
llanceman" "pick his flint and try it
again." Very truly yours.
M. G. BUTLER.
WaShiDgtOn Juna 9