Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-02-05
PENDING LEGISLATION.

PENDING LEGISLATION.
The state senate having adjourned
last Saturday morning until Monday
night Senator ]. s. Brice spent Sun
day/and Monday in Yorkville, having
come up to look after his private bus
iness and to get information as to the
views and desires of his constituents
on certain pending legislation. During
Monday he talked with many Yorkville
people and with others from different
parts Of the county, who were here on
account Of salesday. He also kindly
gave THE ENQUIRER an Interesting In
terview for the benefit Of It's readers,
on the subject Of the proposed bill
merging the South Carolina and Geor-
gia Extension and other lines with the
Southern, the bill fixing salaries for
county officers, the pension bill, and
other matters.
Speaking of the Hydrick bill to au-
thorize the Southern to lease the South
Carolina and Georgia Extension, Sena-
tor Brice said that he finds there is
much interest in the matter, not only
in Yorkville and Rock Hill; but also In
Blacksburg and Gaffney, and In the
other towns along the other roads af-
fected.
"As to whether the bill Is going to
pass or not" said Senator Brice, "of
course, 1 cannot say; but I have no.
hesitation in saying that with the lights
now before me, am in favor Of 1t.
think it the best thing to be done IN
the interest Of the people living along
the line Of the South Carolina and
Georgia Extension, and do not see
how anybody is to be hurt one way or
the other.
1T Is commonly reported that the
Southern already has practical con-
troll Of the South Carolina and Georgia
Extension. The understanding is that
Parsons forced 1t to take this property
when he sold it the South Carolina and
Georgia. Although do not doubt this
to be fact, there Is no way Of proving
1t, and consequently the Southern can
not be held responsible for the South
Carolina and Georgia Extension. II 1t
Is a fact, also there Is no reason to
hope for the Improvement in the condi-
ton Of the South Carolina and Geor-
yia Extension, and no reason to hope
that any competitor Of the Southern
can get hold of this property. Under
all the circumstances 1t seems to me
that the best thing to be done is to al
ow the Southern Ito assume open re-
sponsibility for the South Carolina and
Georgia Extension, and then the prop
erty can be put in better physical con-
dition. Not only this; II the bill should
be passed, 1t would follow after awhile
that the assessment Of this property
for taxation might be materially rails
ed.
IT have letters from Rock Hill on
botn sides Of the question. Some pro-
test vigorously against the proposed
consolidation, on the ground that 1t
will destroy competition and leave the
town. at the mercy Of the Southern.
Others take the view that there is no
competition now, and that the consol-
ldation can certainly not make matters
worse. Besides, there is the seaboard
Air Line within eight miles, and If nec-
essary 1t can be induced to run spur
track into Rock Hill.
1.-THE Blacksburg people seem to fear
that the consolidation will result In
the tearing up Of the competing line to
Gaffney and the removal Of the shops
from Blacksburg. AS to how 1t will be
about the removal Of the shops, I can
not say; but have no idea that the
line to Cherokee Falls will be abandon
ed. It is not improbable that fears Of
the removal Of the shops are also
groundless."
us 1t not a fact that the constitution
prohibits the ownership or control OF
one competing line by another?"
Yes; but the supreme court has been
very liberal in It's construction Of this
provision Of the constitution, and the
Southern people will have no further
apprehension after the passage Of the
Hydrick bill. They will not hesitate to
go ahead and make as many improve
ments in the property as they may
deem desirable. The principal object Of
the bill, as see it, is to forestall pos
sible litigation"
"Well, suppose this bill is killed, and
the Southern gets sick Of its holdings.
what about the probability Of the At
lantic Coast Line buying the South
Carolina and Georgia Extension prop
erty?"
Colonel ]. T. Barron, general coun-
sci for the Atlantic Coast Line, has
advised me that he was authorized to
say that the Atlantic Coast Line does
not want the property and would not
have it."
Asked about the re-districting bill,
Senator Brice said that measure would
come up in the senate one day this
week. There is pretty general satis-
faction with the bill as 1t passed the
house; but there may be some changes.
districts so as not to include any two
seaports in one AS to whether this can
be done without disturbing the whole
present arrangement, remains to be
seen. The people who live in the Fifth
congressional district seem to be very
well satisfied with it. Fairfield was
anxious to get in, and 1t is content.
Greenville is trying to get out Of the
same district with Spartanburg on the
ground that there should not be two
large cities in the same district, and