The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-22
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
GCoNTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

IHE GUFEkNUkS iMEOOAGE.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
during my administration to order out
the militia in different parts OF the
State. They have invariably re.
sponded promptly and have performed
their duty as becomes we'll organized
militiamen. I have in compliance
with the law remunerated them for
their services out of the governors s
contingent fund.
| RAILROADS.
The railroad situation in the State
has been changed aud greatly i'm
proved by the reorganization of all
roads in the hands of receivers and the
release from the actural 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 its status is as to this State
or the United States I have never
been able yet to ascertain. This much
is certain, however, it is becoming a
most dangerous monopoly for the
Southern States. It owns and con-
trolls over five thousand miles of roads
and it is still grasping for competing
rivals. Under the constitution and laws
of our State no foreign corporation
can do business or own or control other
railroads in the State without first
becoming a corporation in this StateY
I am satisfied that this company has
no legal status within the State and I
am determined to use every means
within my power to present its further
absorption of our domestic corpora
tions. g.. ..
WILL FIGHT THE P. R. & W. O. SALE.
My attention had been called to the
recent sale of the Port Royal & West
ern Carolina railway company and its
probable absorption by the Southern
octopus. The time has not yet arrived
when I can take q hand in the matter.
If however find the road being oper-
ated or controlled in violation of the
constitution of.this State shall feel
impeled to interfere. I would urge
upon your honorable body the appoint
ment of a 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. would respectfully
recommend that the charters of all
such roads be imm adiately repealed.
The investigations of such committee
should not be confined to this corpora
ton alone, but to any foreign corpo-
ration conducting or exercising I'm
constitutional powers or business with
in this State. Several years ago the
general assembly repealed the charter
Of the Port Royal & Augusta Railway
company for the reason that the same
was owned and operated by foreign
corporations against the interests of
the people of this State. The case has
been in the State and United States
courts ever since and I am satisfied
that ulterior motives are keeping it
there. have conferred with the at
torney general and agreed upon a line
of policy which hope will result in a
speedy determination of the cause and
the restoration of this important arte.
ry of trade to our town people. The
railroad commission has recently
made an effort to relieve the people of
the unjust and exorbitantrate charged
upon fertilizers by the roads in this
State. They have been governed by q
sense of equity and justice to both par.
ties and have fixed a rate no lower
than that in other States who ship less
than South Carolina. regret to see
the old disposition on the part of the
railroads to break out afresh and an
effort to defy the State authorities by
an appeal to their old friend end ally,
the United States court. Judge Simon
ton has recently issued an order of in
Junction restraining the commissioners
from enforcing the order. am salts
| fed that the position of the commission
will be sustained, and this litigation is
Ipurely vexatous and intended to de
feat the people from obtaining the
benefits of the reduction until the fer
lti)izer season is oyer.
N THE DIsPENsARY.
| On account of the great demand!
made upon me for information anc
statistics in reference to the Dispense
ry law coming not only from our owr
State, but from oil parts of the world
II have concluded to treat this matter
in separate message which will bt
duly transmitted to your honorable
bodies in time for your careful consid
Grafton. ...
i COUNTY GOVERNMENT. .
| The system of county government
which was inaugurated in the yea
1894 was regarded as an experiment
and in order to see with what success!
the law had met had prepared anG
forwarded to the various counties O
the State the following circular lettel
the answers to which are herewith
, given for your information.
THE CHICAGO EXPOSITION.
Chicago will hold an exposition il
that city in September, 1896, to b.
known as the Chicago and Southern
States Cotton exposition. The objee
of the exposition is to show to tn,
West the extent of the development o
manufacturing in the South and tn
natural advantages possessed by tn
South for further development in thi
line thereby encouraging direct trade