The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-10-04
They Nay Accomplish Much.

We print elsewhere co;aniu!i;ca
tion fron, .; ;un,er Farmer" to the
item. in which the railroad commits
sioners ere commended for action
that has contributed in raising the
price of cotton in Sumter County.
TIE correspondent says: cit is fre
quentiy said that the raiITosd comnis'
sioners have done notbicg but draw
with regularity their salaries l
dom. concur in this view They
have done much to equsize and
am1dera,e the carrier charges. Z th-
out going into particulars wish
simply to draw attention 10 the fact
hat they have done much for the
farmers by the recent reduction in
the freight rates Oh cotton - We
do not intend 70 discuss the merits Of
the particular case cited by the cor
respondent, bu: merely to take this
opportunity to emphasize the in port-
ance of the obligations which rest
upon the railroad commissioners Of
this state at all times. The ou.cry
that has been made against rate dis
ordinations in South Carolina mas
been ioog herd, and comes from no
one particular quarter. That dis.
ordinations do exist there can be no
question 10 the mind of any one, and
that they are great menace to pro-
gress and prosperity is equally as
certain No one mao, or calling, or
locality is the sufferer. The Sumter
farmer and The Charleston merchant
are interested alike in demanding
that the rate schedules of the State
shall be made upon fair and equitable
basis. That this will uot be done
unless a judicious but sharp espoin
age is exercised over them by some
oue outside Of the railroad Offices has
been sufficiently veil demonstrated oy
cur past experiences From year TO
year it has become more and more
apparent that the people have to look
to their railroad commissioners for
relief and protection, and it IS 10,
improbable that the legislation Of
the future viii tend TO increase
rather than diminish the power
which is now placed in their hands
But even as matters now stand toey
enjoy large measure Of authority,
which. If administered judiciously,
is susceptible of being utilized to the
grea. industrial advantage Of the
territory over which they have super.
vision We are not ignorant Of tee
obstacles against which they have tc
contend they are numerous and ase
raised by opponents who resort TO
many devious methods to accomplish
their own end hu, for al that it is
in the power Of railroad commission
ers more than in tina: Of any other
public officials 90 contribute 20 the
success Of the farmer. the merchant
and the tradesman of every calling
The Inevitable consequence OF the
methods which have been employed
by railroads in the past is a more
rigorous public supervision of their
operations in the future, and 1t is to
their railroad commissioners that the
people will look for the enforcement
Of whatever measures to which it
may become necessary to resort. In
the meantime the commissioners may
find large field of usefulness in a
close study Of local traffic conditions,
and in providing remedies for the
evils that exist ; they may. if they
will, find occasion to win the CON-
mendaticn of the business men OF
almost any town or hamlet in the
State. just as they have done that of
the farmers OF SuDter News and
Courier