The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1908-03-25
Wednesday, March Is, 1903.

Wednesday, March 25, 1903.
M Southern jrstiaable.
We believe that the Southern Rail-
ways action in Withdrawing its de-,
pnssits from the State of Georgia and
placing them in the banks of adjoin-
ing States because of the many gar
sIiishments fled against its funds in
Georgia banks, was, to our mind,
iustifiable move. It will create
among the people especially in the
State of Georgia where there has,
been an unceasing fight against the
railroads for the past few years.
more generous regard for the rights
ofthese corporations which have done
more for the development and up
building Of our country than all other
enterprises combined.
The withdrawal of the Southern's
tHnds from Georgia has already had
its effect upon the great dailies of
that State, many of whom have here
tofore been vigorously fighting what
has always been eroniously called
orporation rule,n are now inclined
to give the railroads, a square deal, if
we are to judge from some Of the re-
cent editorial utterances of the At
Ianta papers. Along the line of gar
nishment The Journal very aptly
ssys:
= 1t must be borne in mind
that the interests of the general pub
S lie aresto be considered first of all,
and that we should not ask the rail-
roads to do the impossible. If the
funds intended for payroll accounts
q and other current expenses are tied
upin the banks and the railroads have
to give surety ia double the amount
before these funds can be released for
use in carrying on business, the ques-
ton arises if this does not work a
hardship upon the public which would
Justify all amendment to the garnish-
ment law.
1.-THE interests of litigants must be
protected and their remedy for any
wrong must remain adequate, but the
public welfare is of supreme impor-
tance and it is entirely possible that
the railroads are really embarrassed
in their efforts to render the public a
proper service when their working
capital is subject to garnishment. It
is entirely possible That this is one of
! the instances in which the interests
of the people and of he railroads are
Identical and that in behalf of both
the garnishment laws might wisely
3 be amended.
SIT had been hoped that the rail,
roads entering the State Of Georgia
would be able to render a service to
the general public by keeping in the
State the money that is earned in the
State, and yet in common fairness
we can hardly ask them to do SO
when so doing would be eto embarrass
them in meeting payrolls and other
current obligations because of the
multiplicity of garnishments issued
against these local deposits.
An equitable way out Of the diff
Guilty should be found and it is hoped
that the matter will receive the atten-
ton of the legal minds in the general
assembly.
Is will readily be seen from the
above that The Journals must
every other right thinking person
recognizes the fact that it is unjust to
expect more of the railroads than you
would of other corporations or
private individuals. It is indeed a
healthy sign, and we reassert that the
Southern's move was a just and
righteous one..
s il is q deplorable fact that the av-
erage person looks upon railroad
company as a gigantic monster, seek
ing at all times to rample upon the
rights OF private individuals. What a
false idea! Nothing is more foreign
to the minds of the high officials of
the Southern Railway. Take the two
highest officials of that road, Mr.. w.
W. Finley, the president; and that
prince of good men Col. A. B. An
drews, the first vice-president. Both
Of these gentlemen are Southerner's
OF the highest charaeter-men who
believe in the right and dare to do
the wrong. We mention these two
because their utterance and acts are
known to us personally, but we have
every reason to believe that all the