The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-02-13

substitute Unless such rates shall b,
! thereafter determined upon appeal t.
J be unreasonable.
Mr.. PattOn's substitute was adopted
by vote of 43 to 80.
} The bill as amended was then or
dered to its third reading as follows
Section l. That no railroad compan.
chartered and doing business In thi
} State shall charge any higher rates
for the transportation of passenger
and freight within this State thar
those already or hereafter fixed by the
Railroad Commission, unless such
rates shall be thereafter determined
upon appeal to pc unreasonable.
violating the provisions OF this Act
shall thereby forfeit It's charter, anG
the Attorney General Is hereby au
thertzed and directed to proceed forth
with to have such railroad corporation
liquidated according to law, and tC
institute all proceedings necessary ir
consequence OF the forfeiture of such
charter.
Section 3. This Act shall 20 into
effect Immediately upon It's approval
by the Governor.
PASSENGER FARES.
| Mr.. Garris's bill making tho first
class passenger fare on railroads three
cents and second class fare two and q
contended that this bill ought to pass
in order to give the Commission power
to enforce their rates.
Mr.. Thomas moved to strike out the
enacting words. The Commission has
tho power now to regulate tho rates
and they have ample power to enforce
the rates provided they are just and
reasonable.
Mr.. Miller said he was q friend of
railroads, but he wanted the rates
made definite and fixed and for the
Railroad Commission to have power to
enforce them. Other Southern States
see no reason why old-established roads
In this State should charge four.
MIR. Gadsden spoke Of the fact that
none OF the railroads are paying divi-
dends, and the property is unprofitable.
There was no instance where roads
had resisted single passenger rate of
the Commission. Then why this bill /?
He was glad to be representative of
the railroads. They have spent enor-
nous sums in the State, have built it
up and pay taxos, and they have rights
just as much as anybody. The time for
hostile railroad legislation had passed,
|
tected.
Mr.. Garris said he had no idea OF
depressing the roads, but was glad to
stand on this floor AS the Representa-.
tive of the people.
Mr.. B. J. Johnson said the reason
the roads didn't make money was be-
cause they were buying up other roads
and are forming gigantic corporation
to oppress tho people.
q. Mr. TnwnSand IN ayp1 oil IN T.,
vorable report on the bill, went on tx
take the Southern Railway as an exam
pile, showing that three cent rates wer,
charged in North Carolina and Geor
gia, and they couldn't see why the sam,
thing could not be done in South Caro-
lima. 1t is a legislative question, ant
does not become a judicial question
until the rates were made 80 low as t,
amount to a practical confiscation. III.
held that mono Of the systems in South
Carolina we're poverty-stricken and
they can operate under this rate and
still make money.
Mr.. Bacot said he was always opposed
to what is known as governing by In.
junction, but 1t was just such iron. clad
measures rs this which enabled those
opposed to us to resort to it.. He went
on to say that unless our railroads are
fostered and protected they would be
bankrupted and our people would be
deprived OF these advantages in con-
Quoting business.
Mr.. l.. j. Williams, while expressing
sympathy with the measure, thought
1t was wrong, because he thought the
tors. The law passed. last night on the
subject Is amply sufficient to accom-
plish what was wanted.
Mr.. Caughman in speaking of the
poverty Of railroads, said they would
always be poor If they kept up their
present tactics. They should conduct
themselves on the same business prin-
ciples as farmers and merchants.
Mr.. Sturkie favored the law because
he could see no reason why we should
pay more than the people of North
Carolina and Georgia.
Mr.. Patton said he didn't believe in
doing work that properly belonged
to the Commission The bill was then
ordered to the third reading. The bill
roads:
Section |. That from and after the
passage Of this Act the rates for the
transportation Of passengers by rail
road companies chartered and doing
business In this State shall be, for
first class fare three (3) cents per mile
every mile travelled, and for second
class fare two and one-half e l-2)
cents per mile for every mile travelled;
and shall sell first and second class
tickets: Provided, This rate may from
time to time be altered and changed
by the Railroad Commission, as to
any railroad or railroads, as in the
judgment OF said Railroad Commits.
sion tho circumstances OF such rail.
road or railroads may warrant or re-
quire.
Section 2. Any railroad company
charging higher rates for passenger
transportation than those herein fixed
or such as may be hereafter fixed, by
the Railroad Commission, shall suffer
all the penalties provided by law.
Section 3. Nothing herein contained
shall prevent any railroad company
from selling excursion tickets and mile
age tickets OF not less than one thous
and miles for lowor rates than those
herein fixed.
Section 4. All Acts or parts OF Acts
inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed.
THE "JIM CROW" CAR BILL.