The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-02-11


, and they have ample power to euforc
the rates provided they are Just an
reasonable.
Mr.. Miller said he was q friend {
railroads, but he wanted the rate
made definite and fixed and for tn
Railroad Commission to have power +
enforce them. Other Southern State
have q three cents fare, and he coul
see no reason why old-established road
in this State should charge four.
| Mr.. Gadsden spoke of the fact tina
none OF the railroads are paying divi
dends, and the property is Improbable
There was no instance where road
had resisted a single passenge rate o
the Commission. Then why this bill
He was glad to be representative o
the railroads They have scent enor
nous sums in the State, have built L
up and pay taxes, and they have right.
! just as much as anybody. The time fol
hostile railroad legislation had passed
and they should be fostered and pro
tected.
| Mr.. Garris said he had no idea o.
expressing the roads, but was glad tC
stand on this floor as the represents
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 corporations
to oppress the people.
Mr.. Townsend, In explaining the fa-
vOrable report on the bill, went on to
take the Southern Railway as an exam
pie, showing that three cent rates were
charged in North Carolina and Geor-
gia, and they couldn't see why the same
thing could not be done in South Caro-
lima. 1t is legislative question, and
does not become judicial question
until the rates were made 30 low as to
amount to practical confiscation. He
held that none of the systems in South
Carolina were 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 it was just such iron. clad
measures as this which enabled those
opposed to US to resort to it. He won't
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
it was wrong, because he thought the
Commission should act in these mat
ters. The law passed last night on the
subject is amply sufficient to accom-
plish what was wanted.
MIR. Caughman in speaking of the
poverty of railroads, said they would
always be poor il thoy 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.
MIR. Patton said he didn't believe in
doing work that properly belonged
to the Commission. Tie bill was then
ordered to the third reading. Tho bill
roads:
Section 1. 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 q 1-2)
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 the circumstances Of such rail
road or railroads may warrant or re-
Quire.
Section g 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
ali the penalties provided by law.
f,ir
shall prevent any railroad company
from selling excursion tickets and mile
age tickets Of not less than one thous-
and miles for lower rates than those
herein fixed.
Section 4. All Acts or parts OF Acts
inconsistent with this Act are hereby
THE "JIM CROW CAR BILL.
Mr.. Outs lin crow" car bill was
called up. The House had passed it
last year and sent it to the Senate,
which body killed it. The bill was re-
ported unfavorably.
Mr.. Skinner thought it would infict
on the railroads.
DR.. Wyche said that the constitu-
tiOnal convention had emphasized the
fact that the two races should he
kept apart. He had voted against the
Oil, uuU pFOpOSeu 10 VOIS lOr lU now.
The State should enact such laws as
would forever keep down social equal
ity in this State.
Judge Townsend said number OF
railroad men had come before the COM
mittee and he detailed the disadvan-
tages that would arise under the ope-
ration of the law.
Mr.. b. j. johnson said 1t would cost
little to make the necessary changes
and the fair women would not be sub
ject to humiliation by compelling them
TO ride in the same car.
MIR. OTIS said the bill had been dis
cussed and passed by this House on
more than one occasion and 1T Is un.
necessary to go over the argument
again. He called for the ayes and
noes on ordering the bill to It's third
reading. The result was, ayes So; nays
80.
SUNDAY FREIGHT TRAINS.
Mr.. Johnson's bill to prohibit the
running of freight trains between IL
Saturday night and IL O'clock Sunday
night, came up, and Mr.. Manning
moved to strike out the enacting
words.
MIR. johnson said that the law as'it
now stands Is q dead letter and he
wanted to amend it so as not to allow
any freight train to run on Sunday
whether there is perishable fruit tc
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