Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-14
THE Two.cENT RATE BILL
Governor Rlease Defends His Sincerity
in the Matter.

Governor Blease on last Tuesday
sent to the general assembly the fol-
lowing message numbered % on the
two-cent rate bill. ... .
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House
of Representatives:
I have been reliably informed that
certain persons are using the argu-
ment, in reference to the measure
recently introduced. reducing the pas
senger rate on railroads to two cents
a mile, that I recommend it but that /
do not favor 1t. ..-.
1 wish to say to you, gentlemen, that
do favor it: that the poor people
of South Carolina favor 1t. and that,
aside from the railroad officials, stock
holders and employees, including rail-
road attorneys, some Of whom are
members Of your house, and some
others who are either not informed
of conditions, or have been misled by
the railroads, I believe the entire
people Of South Carolina favor 1t, and
ask every man on the floor OF the
house and senate, who Is my political
friend, to vote for it and to lend his
efforts to the passage Of one bill that
will be of some benefit to all the peo-
pie Of the state.
The railroads take nearly all the
money that they make in South Car
olina, if we are to Judge by conditions
here, and use 1t in improving their
trunk lines, leaving us, II we ride on
railroads in South Carolina at all. TO
ride on rotten cross ties, on old, cheap,
small rails, in old coaches that have
been discarded from service on the
main lines, behind old engines that
have been worn out pulling northern
tourists to the south and back, or In
any other ox-cart style which the
railroads may see fit to furnish.
If the railroad companies would
attend strictly to railroad business,
instead Of trying to attend to the
business Of the agricultural depart
ment of the nation by sending trains
and agents all over the country ad-
vertising agricultural exhibits, ETC.,
and by their presidents travelling
around to make speeches on agricui-
ture and other subjects foreign to rail-
road MANAGEMENT, and take the same
large sums Of money which they ex-
pend for these purposes, and the same
money and energy they are now using
in trying to fool the people, and use
it in developing their tracks and roll
ing stock, they would relieve them
selves of the numerous wrecks and
damage suits resulting therefrom,
with which they are now burdened,
and would easily be able to haul the
people Of South Carolina for two
cents a mile and make larger profits
than they are now making.
Now. gentlemen, I make one last
appeal to you: Please give us flat
two-cents rate, and every man, wo-
man and child in South Carolina not
connected with the railroads, and free
from their influence, will say, thank
you.
I hope those members Of the gen.
eral assembly who are attorneys IN
the employ Of the railroads, will,
when this bill comes up, be frank
enough to state that they are so en-
ployed, and ask to be excused from
voting thereon. And I hope also that
this message to you will settle, once
for all, any question as to whether
favor a two-cents rate. If you want
to test 1t, pass a two-cents rate bill
and send 1t down to my office, and
promise you that as soon as 1t is re-
ceived and placed on my desk 1 will
affix my signature to 1t and send II
over to the secretary Of state, and al
so send you a message advising you
that it has been signed and thanking
you for your efforts in placing all the
people Of South Carolina upon the
same footing, so far as railroad fare
Is concerned.
Very respectfully,
Cole. L. Blease,
Governor.