The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-03-05
THE PUBLIC SERVICE
BILL CAUSES DEBATE
Senator MaGhee Vigorously OPP
poses Bill Which Is Of Far
Reaching Effect-Senator
Moore Offers Amend.
ment

ment
Columbia, March 8. (SpeciaD-
The Senate tonight took up the
public service bill. Senator Shep-
pard said that, in view Of the con-
ference with Governor Cooper, he
moved that the compensation for the
railroad commission be fixed at $40
per day instead of $4,000 per year.
The chairman Is to be paid $500.
The idea is to cut the total appro-
priation from 100000 to $4,000.
Senator Laney explained the situa-
ton on the bill. He explained that
he understood the bill was entirely
acceptable as it came from the House
except to the Southern Power Com
pany.
Senator Watkins, Of Anderson,
wanted to dischss the bill in detail
His interest in the adoption Of the
amendment was in no way due to
the Southern Power Co., except that
this corporation has done so much
for his entire section. His interest
was due to the development to The
whole Piedmont. He had no in
terest whatever in the Southern Pow
er Company. He said that there was
no demand from the public that the
private contracts involved be open
ed to the public. He understood
that the two companies whose secur-
tiles were weak wanted this bill as
coming from the House.
Senator Duncan said that the bill
was very far reaching and more i'm
portant than most people realized
and he thought that the bill should
be continued and he so moved.
Senator McGhee said that the bill
should be continued for two reas-
ons. First, because the bill shou ID
be killed, and, second, the bill was
so far reaching that it would affect
every man, woman and child who
read by an electric light, every one
who bathed in water furnished by
the company. The bill affected the
largest interests in the State. He
was opposed to the bill wholly. 1t
was wrong in principle.
In a colloquy which occurred SEN
ator Laney declared that there were
no poor farmers in Chesterfield coun-
ty. It was only the doctors and the
lawyers that were poor.
Senator Young said he thought
the bill very important one and
should be passed and at his request
Senator Duncan withdrew his mo-
ton to continue the bill.
Upon a motion being put on the
amendment the amendment was lost.
Senator McGhee said the bill was
too important to pass without CIV
ing it more consideration than had
been given to this bill. He thought
the bill the worst that had been
passed since the old dispensary days.
He represented no power company
but he did represent his town and
his county.
Senator Butler said he represented
no one but his constituents but he
was opposed to theis far reaching bill.
He saiG that may be one company
opposed the bill because it feared
that it's rates would be reduced and
another company favored the bill
because it hoped to have its rates
raised. He thought this bill would
cause the rate to cotton mill en-
ployes to be raised. With the chang
/ ing industrial conditions there is no
telling what would be the effect OF
this bill. His people believed the
bill to be vicious piece of leglsla-
tion. He was opposed also to the
! corporations to be regulated paying
! the salaries of the commissioners.
He was opposed to the bill amended
or unamended
Senator Moore offered an amend
ment putting the 1ItieS imposed DE
the bill on the rail,oa bill.
Senator Rogers opposed continuing
| the bill. He believed that the power
companies were discriminating IN
,.tes and they shou1 lie regulated.
He had the kindest feeling for the
company. He had liTH] in the Fled-
mont country when it was poor. lie
had seen the Southern Power CCm-
par,y come and bIi!d UP the coun-
try a,.d his people felt kindly toward
if
Sustor Rogers SAL the State LAO
nc.I Ct a public service comm!=s'' j..
lie Lid seen contracts made in his
'ion of the state which 0"
th.rcht unjust but there was nc
commission to which appeal could ne
made, and such a commission should
| be established. g,
On q tie vote of IS to g the vi
was not continued. Dcba.e was
adjourned until this morA'!'%
! II o'clock
The senate met this morning at