The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-12-16

sioners aud the attorneys represent'
ing the several railroads, made in
Charleston l think he gave it to
me from memory. after consulting
with several of his colleagues. | had
my written protest, and find in my
speech published my copy, which
varied in words. but not in substance,
and I cbeerfully give you the original
signed by Gen Henderson, to be
used against myself. Turn about
is fair play y now respectfully
ask you to furnish me with a copy
of the minutes of the meeting held
by yourself. Mr.. Wilburn and Traffic
Manager Emerson. of the Atlantic
Coast Line, in the railroad commits
sioners' Office; of which meeting |
was not advised, and you made no
record of the same in our official min
utes. When you, without my knowl'
edge or consent. did prevail
on Mr. Emerson to a second time re
duce the fertilizer rate, against which
protested, from 81 70 to So so, in
the congressional district in which
YOU were then candidate for Con.
gress, and made no reduction any
where else. as can be seen by reference
to Supplement No 8, number 1907,
Atlantic Coast Line, joint freight rate
effective Feb I, 1896. Very respect
fully youas.
".u. R. THOMAS,
8. Railroad Commissioner
Personally appeared before me,
William Barnwe,l notary public for
the State of South Carolina, Railroad
Commissioner Fl. R. Thomas, and
made oath that the joint rate Oh the
Atlantic Coast Line, put in effect Feb.
7, makes blanket rate Of 81 so per
ton on fertilizer from both Charleston
and Columbia, delivered at stations
on the Cheraw and Darlington rail-
road, Florence railroad, Latta branch,
Wilmington. Columbia and Augusta
railroad, below Florence. without
regard to distance. This rate was
fixed without calling the board to
gether for that purpose, as is the Gus
tom, and without my knowledge or
consent. Chairman Evans refused to in.
form me why that extraordinary
manner of rate making was pursued
in that particular territory, which
does not obtain in. any other separate
congressional district in this state.
II. r THOMAS,
Railroad Commissioner.
WM. BARNwELE U.s.
Notary Public for South Carolina.
This is another unique and novel
way to make s'just and reasonable
rates as required by law, where
neither Attorney General Barber nor
myself were consulted. Commits
sioner Evans got indignant when l
asked him last February to inform
me how he came to reduce the ferti-
lizer rate in this particular congress
sional district and nowhere else,
without my knowledge CT consent.
The people will remember that the
News and Courier advertised during
the last campaign that Commissioner
Evans was in the race for congress
to the finish. gave Congressman
McLaurin the above information, and
also informed some of Commissioners
Evans friends, and the next thing
knew he was out Of the race.
don't know whether the reduction of
the fertilizer rate had anything to do
with his withdrawal or not, but l do
know that this extraordinary manner
of rate-making was for the politica
benefit Of Commissioner Evans for
the political benefit of Commissioners
Wilborn, who was introduced to my
fellow citizens at Manning as the
man who reduced the fertilizer rate,
which rate he now acknowledges is
unjust and for the benefit of Secre-
tary Duncan. who sold $500 tons OF
fertilizer at about Is cents ton
above the Charleston competitors, for
which the interior mills paid him as
agent SO cents tcn +; this manner of
rate making did not commend itself
to my sense of Justice and right, and
| refused to touch it For these rea-
sons | protested against the reduc.
ton of the fertilizer rate. I have re-
fused to allow myself to be used for
the personal and political advantage
of my colleagues against the interest
Of the people and the laws of the
State. l know l am right, and l ap.
peal to the people to support aud
maintain me, so long as | do my
duty. and am faithful to the trust re-
posed 10 me. Commissioners Evans
said in his reply in State papers De-
cember 5, 1896, "that the Manches.
ter and Augusta railroad, the road
which was selected by the railroad as