The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-02-25

to the pleadings Of those who
are in a position to know, rather
than to follow those who make
these demands without being
possessed of knowledge to the
contrary.
I note that Senator Tillman,
who has been clamoring for this
two-cent rate, nov admits it
be would unjust to require the
short line railroads to operate a
two-cent rate; when he made
this admission, he virtually
broke down his contention for
the rate altogether, because, if
it is true, that it would be ruin.
Gus to the short roads. and I
agree it will be, then how will
he get around the fact that it
will be equally ruinous to the
other roads that are compelled
to operate with vastly more ex.
pensive cars. enginesa trackage.
etc., and besides, if a hundred
mile road in this State would be
ruined on such a rate, would not
the same ruin come to the trunk
lines operating in this State for
one hundred miles? 1t will not
do to argue the trunk lines
make up any loss they would
entail in this State by the in
terstate traffic, because when a
court is called upon to consider
this question it will not consider
what a system is making on the
entire system, but what are the
earrings within this State, nor
will it consider the freight earn.
ings. each department of rail-
road system will be considered
and distinct. There
fore, if a railroad is making a
large profit from it's freight
earnings, and not making a rea-
sonable return on it's passenger
earnings, it would hold such an
Act to be null and void, as has
been decided in a number Of
cases already. I am not going to
cast my vote to reduce the pass
enger earnings, but should the
opportunity be given me, with
the proper evidence, Ishall vote
to bring about a revision of the
freight tariffs, and shall also
vote to force the railroads to
spend money in such improve
ments as will give to the travel
ling public better safety appli'
ances and more comfortable
coaches.
The Fortner bill has not yet
been acted upon by the senate,
I think it will be reached the
early part of next week. I think
it will be passed, but not in its
present form; some amendment
will be offered which will not
make it so drastic, at the same
time, will have the effect its
proponents desire. I wasIshown
an amendment that has not yet
been fully developed, which
proposes to make it unlawful for
any teachers to teach in the
schools Of the opposite races
without first obtaining the per-
mission of the County Board of
Education. Such an amendment
would leave the regulation of
this matter entirely in the hands
of tee several county boards in
the State, in so far as the pub
lie schools are concerned, but l
oubt if it could affect t he pri'
vate schools. I also doubt If the
Fortner Bill, even though pass
ed as 1t is written, can have any
effect in the regulation of the
private schools. I am IN receipt
of a letter from friend in Clar-
endon, whose post Office is Lake
City, urging me to vote for the
passage of the Fortner Bill.
This friend, evidently IS anxious
that I do not cast a vote which
would be detrimental to my pol
itical future; as he cautions me
that if I do not support this
Fortner measure, 7 twill have
to do a bunch of explaining
should you ever offer yourself
in a political way" I appreciate
the solicitude Of this gentleman,
but I must insist upon respect.
ing my own Judgment and con-
science in a matter of this kind,