The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-28
James River Company-Stockholders
Meeting.

The special meeting of the stockholders
Of the James River and Kanawhs Company
commenced its session yesterday. rms
meeting q is called, as our readers know 10
look into the affairs of the company, ana
dcterm;ne what Is best to be lone WIN
tho m,mproyement. The report of the pro-
ceedincs~ill be found In the local depart
ment of this days Dispatch.
sbould the stockholders determine "o'
to make any change in the mode o. :,
;zat;on and operating the impro.en.p'
we..re snre they will, a president VIII
80 - he elected. This matter is en-
,;roIv in the hands of the State, whose
rn,e Is a unit, and whose strength in the
general meetings is hree.ffths of the
whole. 1t is, therefore, q matter Of forp-
nothing more-for the private stockhold-
ers to appear in the meetings Of the com
pany. This is, perhaps, not to be re-
cretted. 1t is better that the State or the
stockholders should have the predoni-
nance 50 completely that partisanry may
be kept down, and the administration DC
preseryed from the errors and mismanage-
ment which grow out of the passions en-
gendcred by partisan strife. The State
being so entirely possessed of control,
some system may be steadily and ener-
cetically pursued without being weak
ened by compromises or thwarted by per-
covering opposition. We trust that some
system may be wrought out from the long
experience with this most important m
movement which will promote its eff
cheney and success. The State has the
matter in its power, and cannot fail be-
aus of the difficulties from opposition.
While on the subject, we AXE occasion
10 refer to the action Of the Board OF Pub
lie Works with regard to the old Board OF
Directors. Their summary election upon
the eve of an investigation, which it was
generally known was about to take place
in their administration was, it appears 10
rs. not exactly in order. 1t was like con-
yiction before trial. We have no idea that
the Board of Public Works put any such
construction upon their act of changing
the directors. But it was quite natural
that its effect should be cause of complaint
from the respectable gentlemen who were
thus turned out. They are gentlemen OF
the highest standing, who have been Tor
very many years devoted friends OF the
work. One of them has been its ardent
advocate for some forty years.
The Board of Public Works understood
the sentiment of the Legislature to be In
favor of reform, and that its action was
tantamount to instructions to them to
change the administration Of the company.
The old directors would cheerfully have
acouiesced in such construction, and 1t is
a pity the Board did not afford them the
opportunity ESQ: to acquiesce in a grace
full manner They could not have we'll
retired in the face Of an ordered investl-
cation of their administration; but as
soon as that had taken place, we are sure
thew would have withdrawn without heSita-
ton.
We speak as the friend of both parties.
There could not be intended any retiec-
ton upon the old directors in their re-
moyal. And while We suggest that the
same result might have been reached in
a different way, we have no doubt that
change in the administration was expected
by the Legislature and the public. There
was a want of confidence, and that, when
widely existing, requires change. The
Board of Public Works have certainly
chosen most capable and fitting successors
to the old directors, but it is due to these
latter to say that the James River improve
ment numbers among its friends none
more devoted, while they are gentlemen
of worth, capacity, great experience IN the
administration of public works, ana un-
Improbable integrity.