The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-01-21

question OF free tuition in State col.
ileges could be settled on some basis
which will be just and uniform and
permanently satisfactory IL would be
greatly desired.
DIR. Edward s. Joynes, one OF the Trus-
tees of Winthrop College, made an I'M
speotion of the leading Industrial
schools for women in Germany and In
Paris. His interesting and valuable
report is appended to the report OF this
college.
RAILROADS..
The railroad situation In the State
has been changed and greatly inn
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
n the Seaboard Air Line. These
three may beusaid 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 q foreign corporation, and ex-
actly what Its status Ia as to this State
or the United States [ have never been
able yet to ascertain. This much Is
certain, however: that 1t is fast be-
coming u most dangerous monopoly for
the Southern States. Towns and con-
trolls over five thousand miles of roads,
and 1t Is still grasping for competing
rivals. Under the laws and constitu-
tion of our State no foreign orpora-
ton can do business or own or control
other railroads in the State without
frat becoming o corporation in the
State. L am satisfied that this
has no legal status within the State,
and i am determined to use every
means within my power 10 prevent its
further absorption of u domestic
corporations. My attention has been
called to the recent sale Of the Port
Royal and Western Carolina Railway
by the Southern octopus. The time has
not yet arrived when L can take q hand
In the matter. II, however, / find the
road being operated or controlled in
violation of the constitution of this
State, l shall feel impelled to inter
fere. L would urge upon your honor
able body the appointment of o COM
mission 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 all such roads be
Immediately repealed. The inves-
LEGATIONS Of such committee should
o be confined to this corporation
alone, but to any foreign corporation
conducting or exercising unconstitu-
tiOnal powers or business within this
State.
Several years ago the General AS
sembly repealed the charter of the Port
Royal and Augusta Railway Company
for the reason that the same was
owned and operated by foreign corpo-
rations against the interests Of the peo-
pie of this State. The case has been
in the State and United States Courts
ever since, and am satisfied that ul-
terror motives are keeping it there.
[ have conferred with the Attorney
General and agreed upon a line of
policy which 1 hope will result in a
speedy determination of the cause and
the restoration OF this important artery
OF trade to our own people. The Rail
road Commission has recently made an
effort to relieve the people of the un-
just and exOrbitant rates charged upon
fertilizers by the roads in this State.
They have been governed by a sense
of equity and ~justice to both parties
and "a fixed q rate no lower than
that in other States which 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 and 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 Commits
sion will be sustained, and this litiga-
ton is purely vexatious and intended
TO prevent the people from obtaining
the benefits of the reduction until the
the case with as much zeal as lies
within u power. | would recommend
that you enac the rate established by
the Commission into @ statute, pre-.
scribing penalties and forfeiture OF
charter OF the companies failing to es.
tablish them. | would suggest to the
Commission that in future their re.
ports be condensed. l see no need oil
republishing from year TO year matter
that has already been published in the
General Statutes, nor can l see the ne
cessity for publishing the correspond
dence of the Commission In full. | com
ttSLa OoJSo % hS1ucIdU1 Unlt
volumtnous document, herewith trans
mitted to you.
THE D~IsPENSARY.
On account of the great demand made
upon me for information and statistic.
in reference to the Dispensary law
} coming not only from our own State
} but from all parts of the world, | have
concluded to treat this matter In a sep
l arate message, which will be duly
transmitted to your honorable body il
time for your careful consideration.
, CHICKAMAUGA COMMISSION.
Under and by authority of the Ac'
approved December 22d, 1894, to selec
designs, ETC., for the monuments pro
posed to be erected on the battle field
of Chickamauga by the State to hel
soldiers who took part in that memo
rable struggle, l appointed Gen. G. /
, Walker, Col. j. ID. McLucas and Col
y. *. Henderson as such commission
, No appropriation was made to carr,
! out the object of the Act, but these
gentlemen, with commendable yea
and patriotism, have al their own OK
: pense performed the duties required
OF them. The commission met in Co
lumbia on November 14th, 1895, for the
purpose of opening bids for which the,
hau previously advertised and invited
From. those submitted they selected
that of the Muldoon Monument Com
pany OF Louisville, Ky. 1t is ropose
by the commission to erect the monu