The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-11-25
McLAURIN SAYS HE
WON'T USE SALARY

for His Expenses. Statement to the
Public.
Columbia, Nov. 21.--John l.. Nc
Laurin, State warehouse comimssion-
er, In q statement to the people Of
South Carolina today asking for CO.
operation in inaugurating the State
cotton storage sytem says that he Will
not take a cent of the salary allowed
him under the Act and only asks for
his expenses. Nc. McLaurin has com
pleted tho machinery and Is now busy
putting the system into operation.
The commissioner promises to give
In later statement something OF the
results Of his efforts towards making
the warehouse receipts LIQUID coliat-
era!, saying, II hope to have, some
Information later as to the use Of State
warehouse receipts as collateral, nut
do not wish to make statement until
can speak advisedly." His statement
1t Is believed, will prove Of great in
terest, especially to the farmers and
the merchants. The interest taken In
the warehouse system is reflected in
the great number Of letters which
reach Senator McLaurin on every mail
from all parts Of the State.
The statement OF Warehouse Com.
missioner McLaurin says:
Columbia, s. c., November 20, 1914.
ITO the People Of South Carolina:
I have completed the machinery to
put the State warehouse system into
operation. Application blanks may be
had from this office, also the form of
contract. Under the Act l Gun only
pay rent after all operating expenses
are met; consequently, am forced to
take the warehouses that are offered
at nominal rent, and require Tho
owners to pay all chagres and ex-
penses, including cents per hale per
month to the State, to meet the cost
Of postage, telegrams. express, travel
ling expenses, printing the receipts,
tags and other blanks. find that the
charge does not cover the cost, but |
VIII use the appropriation as far as It
Will go, and submit the matter to the
next General Assembly. I 10 not ex-
pect to use cent of the salary givcn
me, unless there Is further appro-
priatiOD, as all the money will be need
ed to continue the acceptance Of ware
houses. l only want my actual ex-
penses, and no receipts will come in
until cotton Is taken out, which may
be year, while Insurance. etc, Is laid
In advance.
IL hope to have some information
later as to the use of State warehouse
receipts as collateral, but do not
wish to make statement until can
speak advisedly. Or. Wade Stackhouse
submitted the receipts to certain cap-
talists In New York, and his report
was that the State receipt would be-
preferred by them to that OF any Drl.
yate or corporate receipt for cotton on
storage.
This Is a new departur elm both
finance and government. 1t will take
time and patience to inaugurate 1t,
and / especially ask the farmers OF
this State to give ME their confidence
and support. Don't expect miracles
am not a mirale man., as one OF
the newspapers intimates, nor the
man who found a shoe string and
built factory.
II notice In the morning paper OF
today decision by Associate Justice
Gage, which further emphasizes the
decree in the warehouse case OF 1912
No jurist has In clearer language set
forth the principles upon which such
legislation as the South Carolina
Louisiana and Texas Warehouse Acts
are based. Judge Gage says:
Cotton, and that includes It's seed
Is the staple product Of the State and
Of the South; in this year OF grace the
frightful collapse OF It's price, incident
to a well-nigh universal war, has
shocked two continents; the whole
policy Of the State is bound up in the
growing, the sale and the manufacture
Of cotton
"The individual cotton grower is
powerless to protect himself. If we
can unite the units we can control the
situation. Cooperation spells success
We will never get this except through
our State Legislatures. If our expert
ment fails, then no other STATE will