The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-01-22

by the Adjutant and lnspector-Gen-
eral, which I trust will have your en-
dorsement. A military convention
was held in this city on September 10th
last, at which full attendance of
officers was had. A full report oftheir
proceedings is published in the report
of the Adjutant and Inspector-General,
and I respectfully call your attention
to the same.
STATE BoARI OF HEALTH.
The State Board of Health presents
an interesting report in reference to
the sanitary condition of the common
jails and prisons of the State. There
is no doubt of the fact that this mat
ter needs your attention. Jails, as a
general rule, are for the confinement
of culprits and not for their punish
ment.
Often the officers are actuated by a
desire to make money out of dieting
prisoners and have little considera'
ton for their health or comfort.
I would commend this report to
your earnest consideration, and ask for
the continued appropriation, of the
small amount asked for.
attended one of the meetings of
the Board in Charleston, and person
ally inspected the Quarantine Station
on James Island. Il is admirably
equipped. and DR.. Lebby, the physi-
clan in charge, is to be congratulated
upon the excellent condition in every
particular of the station.
RAILROADS.
The railroad situation in the State
has been changed and greatly i'm
proved by the reorganization of all
roads in the hands of receivers and the
release from the actual guardianship of
the United States Court. The entire
mileage of the State may be divided
up among three corporations, as the
minor lines are either owned or con-
trolled by them. They are the South
ern Railway, the Atlantic Coast Line,
and the Seaboard Air Line. These
three may be said to be rivals for the
control of the interests in South Caro-
lima. The greatest and most powerful
among them is the Southern Railway
This is foreign corporation, and ex-
actly what it's status is as to this State
or the United States have never been
able vet to ascertain. This much is
certain, however: that it is fast be-
coming a most dangerous monopoly
for the Southern States. 1t owns and
controls over 5000 miles of roads, and
it is still grasping for competing
rivals. Under the laws and Constitu-
vion Of our State no foreign corpora
ton can do business or own or control
other railroads in tho State without
first becoming corporation in this
State. T am satisfied that this COM
pany has no legal status within the
State, and I am determined to use
every means within my power to pre-
vent it's further absorption of our do
nestle corporations. My attention has
been called to the recent sale of the
Port Royal and Western Carolina Rail
way Company and its probable absorp-
ton by the Southern octopus. The
time has not yet arrived when l can
take hand in the matter. If, how
ever, find the road being operated or
controlled in violation of the Consti-
tuition of this State, I shall feel I'M
PEELED to interfere. I would urge upon
your honorable body the appointment
of Commission to examine INTO the
status of the Southern system in this
State, and, if necessary to release the
roads now under their control within
this State, and 1 would respectfully
recommend that the charters of ali
such roads be Immediately repealed.
The Investigations of such committee
should not be confined to this corpora
ton alone, but to any foreign corpora
ton conducting or exercising uncon
stitutional powers or business within
this State.
Several years ago the General As
sembly repealed the charter of the
Port Royal and Augusta Railway Com
pany for the reason that the same was
owned and operated by foreign cor
porations against the interests of the
people OF this State. The case has
been in the State and United States
Courts ever since, and Tam satisfied
that ulterior motives are keeping 1t
there. I have conferred with tha
Attorney General and agreed upon q
line of policy which I hope will result
in speedy determination of the cause
and the restoration of this important
artery Of trade to our own people.
The Railroad Commission has recently
made an effort to relieve the people OF
the unjust and exorbitcnt rate charged
upon fertilizers by the roads in this
State. They have been governed by q
sense of equity and justice to both
parties and have fixed rate no lower
than that in other States which ship
less than South Carolina. I regret to
see the old disposition on the part OF
the railroads break out afresh and an
effort 10 DEFY the State authorities by