The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-02-06
PASS HOLDERS.
a SENSATION SPRUNG IN THE
HOUSE FRIDAY.
Nr. Carson introduces Bill to Find
Out Who Carries Rail-
road Passes.

l
the House:
BE it resolved by the House O,
Representatives, the Senate concur
ring, That committee of six be ap
pointed, (shree OF whom shall be sp.
pointed by the House and three by
the Sanate) to inquire and report
back the games of all members OF the
House and Senate, who are employed
by the railroads in this State in any
capacity; and the names Of all mem
bers who use OF have free trsusporta.
tion for Themselves or their families,
either In payment OF services OF
otherwise, and that the said commit.
tee proceed further to make the in.
Vsstigstion herein required"
When the House met Friday night
Mr. Harley moved to strike out the
enacting words OF the resolution. MI.
Dixon favored the resolution In very
vigorous speech.
MI. Harley said that when he was
elected to the House he considered 1t
an honor. but he took this resolution
to indicate that to be q member was
dishonor. He had never spoken to
curry favor with his home people or
any other section. He was not an at.
torney for any railroad and did not
have pass, but he objected to any
such resolution, which seemed to
question the honesty and integrity Of
the members. II the lawyers who
represent railroads accept passes it is
a business proposition. By this 1eso.
luton the lawyers axe exsmpt,s but
the character and integrity OF the
others are questioned. It Is cIimi-
nal offence to accept pass while q
legislator, and this resolution places
the members under suspicion OF being
criminals.
MI. Werner said he disagreed with
Mr.. Harley. II any one thinks any
one has a pass the best way is to find
it out. he had been on the railway
committee for slx years and In that
time had voted for only two railroad
bills, but If any one thought he had Q
pass be wanted them to find out the
truth.
Mr.. Henphill said he occupied . pc.
cuIiar position. He had In the past
represented the Southern Railway,
but he belonged to the State Of South
Carolina and not to the railroad, and
he had tried to be honest. This reso-
luton impugns the honesty Of every
member. He thought the roll shoald
be called and let every man answer
whether be was guilty OF not. He
didn't give a continental damn, SO far
rs be was concsrned, but be had con-
tempt for the little nlncompoops who
think men with more brains than
they have can be bought. he had
never concealed his connection with
the Southern railway, but be had
been fair and honest On every cues.
tion. -
Mage son, the author Of the rsso.
lutt glass Id he had no Ill feeling
agaibbles, ~ one In introducing the
resolution There was talk OF graft.
On all sides you hear Of graft In this
Office and that cf3ce. 1t Is against
the law for legislators to ride Oh
passes. He had nothing to say against
any railroad lawyer who received ,
psss as part Of his pay. he accorded
him honesty, but the man not en-
ployed by q railroad, whether lawyer.
merchant, or anything else, was ncs
honest If he rode on . pass. BE had
not expected the resolution to be dis
cussed. There Was no use to discuss it.
Mr.. Nichols said: "Mr. Carson,
have you any information on which to
base this resolution"
Mr.. Carson: mo, Sir; J have bean
thinking about this for several years.
I want to see II all the graft is in the
State dispensary; that there is so
much talk sbout,"
MI. Nichols: Don't you think If
any man Is bought with pass be will
lie about it?"
MI. Carson: mo, sir; I wouldn't
do ii, and I don't believe you would
do it,"
a vote was then called for which
resulted In the adoption Of the resolu.
tion by a vote Of 6S ayes to 20 nays.