The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-02-17
day as follows:
The Fifty Car Bill

people" would be that Mr.. Graydon
is not speaking his own convictions,
but that would degrade a question of
public policy to one of imputation of
motives. We prefer to assume and
do assume that Mr.. Graydon is an
honest, Independent and high-minded
representative of the people, moved
solely by a sense of duty, however,
he denies The State the benefit of a
similar assumption.
"Groundless as the charge is, let us
concede, for arguments sake, all that
Mr.. Graydon suggests as to the bias
CT The State, let the General As
sembly take his warning about The
State at face value, and again let us
consider:
"Is freight train Of more than fifty
cars unsafe? Then, regardless of cost
to the public, it should not be-, tol-
Grated, as The State said yesterday.
"Can a freight train Of a hundred
cars be operated more cheaply than
cne of fifty cars? If so, fifty car
trains mean higher freight costs to
railroads and the people.
"Do two trains involve more danger
from collisions than one? If so, fifty
car trains increase danger of col
lision as compared with longer trains.
Do two trains mean more danger
at grade crossings than one? Then,
by shortening the trains, so increas-
ing their number, danger to high
way travellers at grade crossings is In
evitably increased.
Would the fact, were 1t the fact
(Which 1t isint), that these sugges-
tons of The State are inspired by
railroad attorneys, make them less
true?
Have fifty car trains been found
dangerous by experience Of other
States and have they enacted such
limitations? If not, why not?
Is the interstate commerce COM
mission against which railroad COM
panies are necessarily complaining)
advising this legislation? Is it, too,
unfriendly to the workingmane
"Is the South Carolina railroad COM
mission, members elected by the peo-
pie, charged with supervision of rail-
road operation in respect Of safety,
pressing for the bills passage? If
not, why not?
"Of all American railroads, the
Pennsylvania is the best in opera
ton. It's trackage is of the best and
heaviest construction. So are its To-
comotives. Pennsylvania has no fifty
car limit to trains. The substan-
tial character of the Pennsylvania
railroad, primarily required for the
hauling of long and heavy trains, con-
tributes directly to its most excep
tional record in conserving the safety
IF passengers and operators. VIII
that be disputed?
Did Governor Manning recommend
the fifty car bill? If so, we have
never heard of it,
Was it included in the demands of
organized labor submitted to him
from Charleston before his election
and which he indorsed? The records
10 not show 1t.
"Did the proposal figure in the State
lcampaign along with scores Of issues
There is no record that 1t did.
The Governor will speak for him
self as to the measure, as he chooses.
The State is not his spokesman.
The State does assert that reduction
| n length of trains, reducing auto
matically the weight Of locomotives
necessary to draw them, would re-
suit in less substantial construction
of roads by removing necessity for
It, because the assertion Is of a selfev-
dent truth. If that Is being a
l;'prophet," make the most Of it.
An argument that the proposed bill
would give employment to larger
number Of men is exactly as sound
rs one that a law. prohibiting all
wagons save one-horse wagons on
he public highways would incfeass
the number of jobs for drivers.
Railroads are public service cor
porations. They are not operated for
the benefit of their owners. man
ayers or employees in separation from
the public interest. If the people OF
lSouth Carolina wish this measure
passed, with the certainty Of increas-
ing cost of freight operation and con-
|seuuent increase of freight rates that