The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-23
sSamidation Of the affairs Of those com.

sIanlination of the affairs Of those com.
panies. r " &
Mr.. Lyon: State It fair, sir. Upon The
ground that there was an irreconeilable an
tagonism and inevitable competition between
the two lines.
Mr.. Cochran: Yes, sir. The committee,
when was present Monday night, only de-
cided to hear Mr.. Lyon and afterwards to
decide upon the relevancy Of the matter.
Mr.: Lyon But what was decided at the
meeting before that, when Senator Taylor
was In the chair. s1~
mir. Cochran: don't reeoilect; was not
here.
Mr.. Lyon: You were here. .
MIR. Cochran Only part of the time.
Judge Crump: What is the object of these
questions? l..
Mr.. Lyon: To require answers and extort
the truth=-cXtort the truth! -,
Judge Ct!tmp: When was ever man be.
FORE in any cotirt, committee, or other
body, allowed to propoufd thirteen ques-
tiOns at once, each question accompanied by
dismraging comments on the witness eyaul-
ined, and the whole prefaced with prealf,-
BILE that calls his honesty In question? Why
did not the committee stop these questions
and exclude them? Does the gentleman
control the committee? Does he carry this
committee in bis brcecheS-pocket? He has at
tackled Mr.. Robinson without let or hindrance.
He has spent his time, indeed, in assauIting
the Robinson family, their acts, and their
motives. The time will come when we can
90 iuto an investigation and commentary
of the motives OF the other side and We will
do it fully; we shall do it in no spirit of spite
and unfairness, as seems to have actuated the
of plc OF bo iafar-
mine the competency of these thirteen ques-
tions before the first one be put. The commit
tee has heard Mr. Ragland, and his only charge
was that the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad Company had obstructed
him in his efforts to establish through rates.
AIR. Robinson has told the committee that he
Ia ready to pro rate What, then, is the OBJ
ject OF all these irrelevant questions? They
are intended to raise prejudice here and else
where against the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg end Potomac railroad, in which the
State has a large interest, and to induce this
committee to report faYorably upon the
pending bill, the passage of which will put
it in the power of the Petersburg Com
pany and those who control it to
annoy and injure the Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac Railroad Com.
pany, and ,ieopardIze the interest which
the State holds in that corporation.
Mr.. Robinson has already answered many
questions which his counsel thought he
ought not to have answered, and he answered
them truthfuly. | say he has answered
truthfuly because it has been said that his
reply to the question in regardto the profits
of the old Bay line was q cooked anStrer.
What is meant by tnat phrase? The gentle
man who employed it has testified to his
confidence in Mr. Robinsan'S veracity, and
that if he answers a question he will answer
truly then, why this diSparaging epithet
If it is intended to impeach the veraclty OF
witness, Il bolder and more direct course
should bc pursued. The point now before
The committee is the competency of these
thirteen questions. / ask you to declare
them irrelevant and throw them out.
Mr.. Holaday: shall first put the ques-
lion whether this series of thirteen questions
are proper. and
Mr.. Terry: Mr.. Chairman, recognize the
Issue raised by Mr.. Ragland and counsel to
he that the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad Company is obstructive,
and desire, and think the committee needs,
all the information it can obtain that will
serve to throw light upon the matter. | do
not care how this information may be elected,
so that il be information that will the better
enable US to understand the main question
before us; and as these questions proposed
ny MIR. Lyon. il answered, will certainly as
sist us in coming to just conclusion, | am
of opinion that the questions should be fur
uished to Mr.. Robinson in writing for him
to answer or not, as he choUses.
Mr.. Oucsenbcrry: Mr.. Chairman, my mo-
ton to furnish Mr.. Robinson copy Of the
questions and to allow him reasonable time
10 answer i! the first in order and should
be first put.
Mr.. Holladay the chairman) then put Mr..
Ouesenberry's motion, and it was adopted
unanimously. ....
Mr.. Lyon: will furnish written copy
of the questions at once, and hope the gen
'leman will reply at once, OF with as little
| delay rs possible. ....... ...
NIr. Dauiel: We have sent for books and
| papers, and hope to be able to answer on
Friday morning next 49,.
Mr. Lyon: My anxiety is such to save
expense to the State and get through with
| Robinson cannot answer all the questions of
the thirteen, | may content myself with re-
Spouse to some Of them, although Iconsidcr
| them all important. And as to the expenses,
we have paid in to the State S5,047.50 to
cover them.
Judge Crump Give lis all the questions,
emitting none.
Mr.. Lyon | will do so.
The committee then adjourned till 10
o'clock Friday morning the oath instant,
when Mr. Robinson Is expected to submit
| bis answers to Mr.. Lyons iuterrogatories.