The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-02-19

| fertilizer business. and not for the
State to engage in the business itself.
\ sufficient answer to be made to the
arguments in favor of the bill, is that
! the State hasn't got the money to en-
gage in the business.
Senator Raysor said he would be
willing to do anything to relieve the
people of the State from the thrall-
dom Of the trusts. but he did not be-
!ieve the Mayield bill should pass, be-
cause there was not sufficient data at
hard to show that it is the proper
thing to do. He thought, though,
that the resolution providing for a
committee to investigate the matter
should pass. SO that at the next ses-
sion we can act intelligently. Then
if it is found necessary or desirable
we can go into The business. Some
might say it would be an idle junket-
trip. but he thought the matter one OF
sufficient Importance to warrant the
appointment OF the committee.
Senator Barnwell thought the thing
which during the coming year the
farmers should have good seasons,
make. good crops and fix up some
scheme by which cotton would sell
next fall at y to Is cents per pound.
If We can do this it will solve the
whole matter. Seriously, he was as
founded at the proposition for the
State to 60 into this business, espe-
cially after her experience in the other
business she has engaged in. But we
are not to monopolize the whole fer
tilizer business, but to engage in COM
petition with private parties. What
a proposition! And that, too, in a
business that has been abandoned by
nearly everybody engaged in it. He
reviewed the history Of the phosphate
business in this State during recent
years, and affirmed that he didn't
know of a single concern that is max
ing money. AS to the proposition tc
appoint a committee to Investigate
the matter, he saw no practical good
to come out Of it, but there would
probably be very little harm done, and
it wouldn't cost much. These COM
mittees have been appointed OFF and
on for 20 years, and he had never seen
any practical good come from any Of
them.
Senator Ilderton then entered into
the discussion. This Is no new scheme,
he said. Senator Connor introduceda Ia
DILL Of this kind, several years ago, he
said, and if that bill had passed the
State would not now be in the grasp
Of the trust. He thought the Mayheld
bill should be passed without the ap-
pointment Of any committee. II the
committee should be appointed and
make a report to the next session there
would be scores Of lawyers on hand to
fight the bill then. The opposition to
the bill would be stronger and more
insidious at the next session than at
present. He was confident that the
State would never lose any money if
the plant should be esta ablished, and
the farmers would be saved many tens
of thousands Of dollars every year:
Senator Goodwin favored the bill.
He Said shere said there is a demand
by the farmers Of the State for the
State to take charge Of the phosphate
beds and convert the rock into fertil-
izer. He did not regard the plan as
impractical. He said that within the
walls Of the State penitentary were
two manufacturing plants owned by
private parties and they hire the State
convicts and make money. Would it
not be better to have the convicts
working in the interest Of the whole
people, rather than for private cor
poration? He favored beginning on
a small scale and not on one that
would bankrupt the State. If cir
cumstances warrant the plant could be
increased.
Senator Mayfeld then made some
further argument in support Of his
measure. He said the appointment of
the committee would sidetrack the
whole matter-what is wanted is &C
ton. The time has come for the State
to say whether she will give the farm
ers the relief they need We can get
the money to go into the business If
We decide to do so. There can be no
question about that. We gave So
600 to the exposition in Charleston,
We spent nearly half million in
equipping Clemson college-shall we
now say that we haven't got the
money to give the farmers relief from
a trust that bIeeds and crusheS our
people? In reply to question he said
that the money to start the plant
could he raised by special levy,
which would not be more than two
mills.
The vote was then taken on the
question Of striking out the enecting
words. The vote stood % to 10, and
the enacting words were stricken out
as follows:
Ayes-Aldrch, Appelt, Barnwell,
Blakeney, Bowen. Brice. Dennis, Glenn
Graydon, Hay, Henderson, Herndon,
Hydrick, Manning. Mower, Raysor,
Sharpe, Sheppard, Kulliyan, Talbird,
Walker, Williams-20.
NoeS-Caughmen, Douglass, Gaines,
Goodwin, Hough, Ilderton, Mayteld,
SarTatt, Stackhouse, Standland-l0.
The vote was then taken on the pas
sage Of the resolution to appoint COM
mittee. The resolution was killed by
a vote Of 20 to u.
Da,th oc RanresnnfntiVo TheuS,