The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-02-14
STANDS FOR TWO
CENT MILEAGE RATE
cav. RLEASE SENDS SPECIAL
MESSAGE TO LEGISLATURE.
Saws He FavOrs Flat Two Cent Mile
age-In Interest of Poor
People.

Special to The Herald ana News
Columbia, Feb. 13.-Governor Blease
on Tuesday sent a special message TO
the legislature reiterating his opsl-
ton in favor of fat two cent mileage
rate on the railroads of the State for
messengers. He argues strongly IN
favor of the passage of such law.
The following is the full text OF MS
special message:
Message No. -.
The State of South Carolina
Executive Department.
Gentlemen of the senate and mouse oi
Representatives
l have been reliably Informed that
certain persons are using the argu-
noent in reference to the measure re-
Gently introduced reducing the passen-
GER rate on railroads to 2 cents mlle'
that l recommended it but that 90
not favor it.
wish to say to you, gentlemen, rat
I do favor it; that the poor pen''. OF
South Carolina favor it, and that,
aside from the railroad attorneys
aside from the railroad officials, tock-
holders and employees, including
railroad attorneys, some OF Wnom
are members Of your mousse
and some others who are either
been misled by the 'raii'3las, be-
lieve the entire people of South Caro-
live the entire people of South Cure
lima favor it, and l ask every man Hh
the floor of the house aud seaaia who
is my political friend, - vote foH t
and to lend his efforts - the paseaSr
of one bill that will &c e" some b7i"ht
to all the people oi be STATE.
The railroads take nearly all ne
money that they make in .>ou>a caro-
lima. if we are to judge by conditions
here, and use it in improving their
trunk lines, leaving us, if 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 OK cart style which the rail
roads may see fit to furnish.
If the railroad companies would at
tend strictly to railroad business IN
stead of trying to attend to the
business of the agricultural de-
nartment of the nation by
sending trains and agents all over tn
country advertising agricultural eX-
hibits, ETC., and by their presidents
treveling raound to make speeches.
on agriculture and other sub
jects foreign to railroad manage
,nent and take the same large sums
of money which they exDend for these
purposes, and the same money and
energy they are now using in trying
to fool the people, and use it in de-
veloping their tracks and rolling stco
they would relieve themselves of the
numerous wrecks and damage sulIs
resulting therefrom, with which they
are now burdened, and would easily
be able to haul the people Of South
Carolina for two cents mile and
make larger profits than they are now
making.
Now. gentlemen, I make one last ap-
peal to you: Please give us fiat
two-cents rate, and every man, woman
and child in South Carolina not con-
nected with the railroads, and free
from their influence, will say, Thank
You.
| hope those members or the gen
eral assembly who are attorneys in
the employ of the railroads, will. when
this bin comes up, be frank enough
20 state that they are so employed,
and ask to be excused from voting
thereon. And, l hope also, that this
message to you will settle, once and
for ALL any question as to whether I
favor a two-cents rate. If you want
to test it, pass two-cents rate bill
and send it down to my Office, and l
promise you that as soon as it is re-
ceived and placed on my desk will
afix my signature to it and send it
over to the secretary of State. and al
so send you a message advising you
that it has been signed and thanking
YOU fer your eGcrts n placjag I'll tae