The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-02-12

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and useless, but the development
of the water powers in the up
country and the farms of the
middle and lower sections has
opened the eyes of our people,
and they too. want to keep up
with the progressive march,
hence. they say to their repre-
sentatives not to place any OBJ
structions in the way of money
coming into South Carolina; all
of US know the truism that a
horse may be led to water but
you cannot make him drink ap-
plies to when it is sought by leg
lslation to force G, eat business
concerns to conduct their affairs
different from the policy of those
they place in charge to manage
their executive departments. All
large concerns must necessarily
have rules and regulations to
protect their share. holders, and
the money that is entrusted to
them, therefore thev cannot, and
will not permit dictation from
the outside, no more than the
government of the United States
will permit dictation from for
eign country.
The two cent rate bill spoken
of in one of my former letters is
now on the House Calendar with
a favorable report, while the
Senate committee gave it an un
favorable report. AS is we'll
known I am the chairman of the
Senate committee which submit
ted this report after very ex-
haustive hearing from the pro-
ponents of the measure and the
railroad authorities. To the mind
of the unthiuking the question
may be asked why do you report
against such a measure when it
lis advocated by the Governor,
and one of the members of the
railroad commission? Ny answer
to this is that the Governor on
the hastings advocated a two
cent rate and I have no doubt he
was sincere, but I do doubt very
much if he has at any time made
d study of railroad affairs. He
advocates a reduction in the pas
senger rate, and 50 do if the re.
ductlon can be made without sc
riously hurting the traffic. Com
missioner Richards who is advo-
eating this reduction is in a po.
sition to know whether or not
the railroads can stand a two
cent rate, he claims they can,
while his colleagues, Messrs.
Hampton and Caughman, the
latter having been member Of
the board much longer than Mr..
Richards, claim to the contrary,
each of the commissioners claim
10 have made a study of this
matter, and the two against the
one no doubt are conscientious:
| Richards may be a little politi-
cally swerved. inasmuch as to
advocate a two cent passenger
rate is popular, and he is being
| regarded candidate for Cover.
| nor, in fact, it is practically ad-
mitted that he has his eyes set
upon the gubernatorial chair and
is paving the way to build up
platform upon which to catch
the popular ear, can safely say
the two cent passenger rate will
be one of the main measures he
will stress when he goes before
the people. } be Senate commit
tee in it's policy to be shown con-
vincingly before they gave sane
ton to a measure which will af-
feet the operation of the rail
| roads heard the advocates of the
change as well as those opposed
patiently as all big questions de-
serve, and, from the showing
made by the railroad systems,
the committee was convinced that
to make such a change would not
be wise policy of the govern
| ment. Several States in tn e
Union in response to popular
demand, enacted laws which pro
| posed to force the railroads to
two cent rate, in each case the
Act was taken into the courts
and these tribunals decided in
favor of the railroads upon their
showing that such a rate would
be confscatory: even Mr.. Rich
ards admitted there were roads
in this State which could not op-
crate two cent rate with profit,
! when we considered this admis-
sion together with the decisions
of the several courts, it is easily
seen why the committee did not
give it's sanction to the reduc-
tion. The effect of Legislation of
this nature at this time would
chill the progress that is being
contemplated in railroad build
ing in this State, and there is no
citizen who would wish to lay the
least obstruction IN the way of
those who are projecting railroad
development; to reduce the earn
ings would necessarily hamper
the floating of the bonds, be-
cause when railroad builders
seek the money centers to place
their bonds, tho probable earn
inuS Of tho road muSt fionra in