The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-08

CHAIRMAN RAILROAD CONMIS.
SION is DISAPPOINTED.
Richards Says Mileage Decision Makes
Enactment Of Two Cent Rate Law
Necessary.

Columbia, Nov. 6.--'"The interstate
commerce commission, as l was afraid
it would, has sustained the railroads
in their discriminatory and unreason-
able mileage book regulations and
have perpetuated as far as possible
a system that is nefarious and we'll.
nigh unbearable," said ]. G. Richards.
Jr., chairman Of the South Carolina
railroad commission. last night.
I'VE made the best fight for relief
possible under the circumstances"
said Mr.. Richards, "but the railroads
have won and the people are made to
suffer.
while this question was purely L.
local one, the interstate commerce
commission Of it's own motion asso-
ciated the entire territory east of the
Mississippi and south of the Ohio and
Potomac rivers in the fight" Mr.. Rich
ards continued, although throughout
this territory there was practically no
complaint on the part Of the people
and conditions were and are entirely
dissimilar from those existing in
South Carolina. Lawyers represent
ing the railroads from Washington to
the Gulf Of Mexico were thus permit
ted to appear and South Carolina was
forced to make the uneven fight
against tremendous odds. Gen. Lyon,
who represented the State in this case
during the latter part Of his admins
tration. and Mr.. DeBruh, who repre-
sented the State for the present at
torney generals office. discharged
their duty with faithfulness and abil-
ity and they deserved to win.
THE people Of South Carolina have
been given a raw deal. To say the
least, We had every reason to expect
that the interstate commerce commits
sion would have ordered the railroads
to honor their own mileage books over
their own lines, whether the holder
f the book was making an interior or
intrastate journey, but they do not
seem to have even considered that
phase of the question. Mr.. Marble
Is unfortunate in his quotations from
the evidence of the witnesses for the
State and seems to have selected ex.
cerpts that would create the impres-
| sion that the request for relief was
based upon the selfish desire of a few
men whose individual comfort had
oeen disturbed by the present mileage
system.
This is an entirely erroneous i'm
preston. The fight has been pressed
by the travelling men Of this State and
at great inconvenience and expense
from patriotic motives, and for the
purpose OF getting relief from an out
rageously burdensome system-relief
not only for themselves but for all
classes of our citizens who use mile
age in travel, and the evidence shows
that about % per cent Of the travel
in this State is by mileage.
while do not hesitate to say that
1 am disappointed at the decision, it
may turn out to be a blessing In dis
guise, for it brings us face to facs
with the question, Shall the people or
the railroads rule? and once the peo-
pie are aroused have no fear as to
the result. While was a member Of
the legislature and since I have been
member of the South Carolina rail-
road commission and on the stump
and off it I have contended for n
2-cent fiat rate and shall continue 20
do so. / appeared before the commit
tee of the last legislature and urged
the passage of such q law.
The people Of the State are en-
titled to a lower rate than they now
have and from the financial statements
made by the railroads and filed in the
commissions office, they can stand the
reduction in their revenue anG still
declare handsome dividend. I hope
that the effect of this decision will
be 20 arouse the people and that the
demand for 2-cent fiat rate will be-
come so strong that it will soon be a
law Of this State. With a 2-cent rate
the mileage book question will te-
come Of little consequence"