Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1914-08-05
CONGRESSIONAL HONORS.
Congressman Byrnes Gave Ac-
count of his Stewardship.
MIR. Mixson Presented
His Record.

and Hon. r. NJ. Mixson, addressed
about 100 voters in the court house.
The meeting was presided over by
Hon. B. Z. Nicholson who present
ed Mr.. Byrnes as the first speaker.
He called attention to some local
matter which concerned the people
of the district directly. He secured
an appropriation for the purpose OF
erecting a bridge in the lower part
of Beaufort county which enabled
the farmers of that section to mar
ket their produce in Savannah. He
also secured an appropriation of
100000 for the improvement of
the internal waterways along the At
lantic coast, enabling those residing
along these streams to secure cheap
er rates for transportation. Mr..
Byrnes secured for this dl.trlct
$4,000 for the improvement OF
public roads. Of this sum $40, 200
were offered to Edgeield but sutfi-
cient money cou ds not be raised
locally to comply with the condl-
tions imposed by the government.
Mr.. Byrnes has established % rural
routes in the End district during the
past three and half years, enabling
$500 families to have their mail de-
livered at their doors. Mr.. Byrnes
stated that he worked for the nomi-
nation of Hon. J. VIM. Thurmond
for position of district attorney for
South Carolina, and that he was
greatly disappointed when the
president announced bis decision to-
nominate some one else for the po-
sition. He explained why he voted
to repeal the canal toll exemption
act, thus saving the government
s2,5OO,OOO annually The first
speech he made in congress was up
on the repeal of the duty on farm
ing implements, bagging and ties
and other necessities of life. He
spoke at some length of the tariff
legislation and what it has accom-
plished. He. stated that the loss of
revenue incident to the decreased
duty has been made up by the en-
actnent of the income tax law,
causing the burden to fall on the
rich man. Mr.. Byrnes then went
into a discussion of the new cur
rency law at some length. He then
referred to his efforts to secure
funds for the improvement of the
public roads. A bill carrying an ap-
preparation for road Improvement
has passed the House and is now in
the senate. If this becomes law it
will provide about S45o,000 for the
roads of South Carolina.
In concluding Mr.. Byrnes referred
to the prestige that the South has
won by keeping congressman i'll
Office for a long term of years. This
policy has enabled the southern
states to control most of the impor-
tant committees.
The second and last speaker was
the Hon. R. H. Mixson of Barnwell
county. He stated that it was a
pleasure for him to come as farm
er before the people of old Edge
field, be having been engaged con-
in farming since he don
ned the red shirt in 1876. He made
a hurried review of his work as
of the general assembly in
1918 and 1914. His initial bill was
one providing that all supplies for
public institutions be purchased in
open market from the lowest re-
sponsible bidder, claiming that this
effected a saving of at least 10 per
cent. Mr.. Mixson also referred at
some length to the fight which he
made in the house In the interest of
education, especially the common
schools. He also introduced and Sc
cured the passage in the house of a
.wo-cents rate bill, this measure
meeting death in the senate. He
in the house a senate bill
to require Clemson college to fur
nish hog cholera serum to farmers
free of cost. Mr. AiIson favored
the passage of bill abolishing the
hosiery mill in the penitentisry and
the payment by the state
of sum to the operator of the mill
for alleged damages sustained
through the violation of the con-
tract made by the state. In discuss
ing the question of good roads, Mr..
said that the public high
ways cannot be improved by taxa
ton. Such large sum would be
required that it would bankrupt the
people to raise the necessary amount.
He strongly urged government aid.
Ha also advocated the dairying of