The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-28
TIlLMAA ON LEGISLATION.
SENIOR SENATOR STOPS AT
GREENWOOD.
Discusses The Passenger Rate-short
and Poor Railways Should Not OPP
crate ON Same Basis With Larger
lanes.

thhHiin, VINO arrived mere today
from Atlanta. where he has been since
his appearance at the asylum inves-
ugation In Columbia. gave out this
statement this afternoon.
II have just returned from Atlanta,
where 1 have been for the benefit
Of my wife's health principally, and
incidentally. of my own. The rest
has done us both lots of good. 1
shall return to Washington as soon as
possible. but want to go by home to
plant my vegetable garden before
leaving the State.
Il have tried as best / could since
the legislature met to keep In touch
with what IL has been doing. but the
two things which have interested me
most are the asylum investigation
and the cent fiat rate for rail-
roads. i want To say something about
this latter for the benefit of my fell
low citizens. / am not very hopeful,
however. OF IL having any effect what
ever on the legislature. because 1t is
perhaps too late; but 1 can see the
ear marks OF the railroad lobby. One
branch OF the general assembly, the
house. has passed the fiat rate, with
out making any exceptions.
This Is unjust and never ought to
have been done. 1t is not right to
compel the short, poor roads. Of
which there are 10 or 20 In the State,
with only one or two passenger trains
day and these with very inferior
cars. to carry passengers at 2 cents
per mile. IL should not have been
thought Of and the bill ought TO have
been amended in the house TO pro-
vide for the exemptions that are nec-
essary IL the law is to be just one.
But notice that there Is an effort
I'm the senate to kill the bill on ac-
count OF these exemptions not hav-
fng been made. and every device and
parliamentary trick is being employ
ed TO accomplish this result. Why
don't the senators who want to serve
their constituents the people. amend
and Just and send 1t back TO the
house instead OF killing 1t and doing
nothing as the railroads want them
to do?
why do not the legislators look
after the rights and privileges of
those who have bought railroad
mileage over the through lines. but
can not use 1t in South Carolina at all
from point to point within the state?
Why Is not the railroad commission
given power. IL any more be needed
than IL already has. TO regulate this
matter Of exemption? How long will
railroad attorneys. inside and outside
or both branches OF the general as
sembly. be permitted to manipulate
our law making machinery in the in
terests OF the railroads and TO the
detriment OF the travelling public?
IT have not kept up with the
debates and do not know what names
TO specify. but unless my health fails
or quits improving my purpose is TO
investigate the journals Of both the
senate and the house and see who
is to blame for this condition of af-
fairs. and so help me God. i will let
the people know who are their faith
full servants and who are traitors to
their interests before the next pri-
mary.
II can not make any speeches on
the stump or anywhere else, but can
dictate To a stonographer and sign
what / write In that way. II makes
me sick, old and decrepid as am. to
sec how cunning and subtle and un-
scrupulous the roilroad lobbyists are.
and how cOwardly and corrupt the
peoples servants are becoming, how
the people are bamboozled and are
being debauchcd by demagogues high
and low.
The governor bawls for a 2 cent
rate and the house votes il. fiat, with
out any exemption. and his conscience
Is clear. lie knows. as well as Il
do. that n 2 cent fiat rate is not right
and every sensible man I'm tho State
knows II Is not right To allow the long
and rich roads like ths Southern
Seaboard and Atlantic Coast Line to
do as they are now doing and Will
continue to do until the people arouse
themselves and hold their servants To
account"