The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-20
VOL. Xiv.

mlttee. OF this complaint? MIR. Ragiand's
alleged grievance Is that he cannot get cot
ton to the North on fair terms, because,
among other reasons, Mr.. Robinson manipu-
latcs the rates at Richmond and York river
Even il Mr.. Robinson did everything which
Is charged or hinted against him, how would
such acts interfere with Mr.. Ragiand's desire
to send cotton to the Norths Does any man
in his senses pretend to believe that the Pc
Iersburs railroad or its managers, with the
advantages at City Point, would send cotton
from Petersburg 10 Richmond or to York
river for the purposes of transportation.
even if Mr.. Robinson d lid not manipulate the
rates? If Mr.. Robinson kept himself and
his tourniquet away would cotton in its route
uorthward seek Richmond or York river?
What is this, again, but false clamor? OF
what signicanceis 1t to any party in Peters
burg whether Mr. Robinson manages the
rates at Richmond and ut West Point, or
docs not manage them? Richmond and
York River rates, whether high or low, are
as immaterial 10 Petersburg cotton as the
SHOWS on the Union Pacific. But this clamor
is made still falser by the fact that the Rich
mond and York River rates are not higher
than those from Petersburg.
Mr.. George b. Roberts has been brought
into this controversy. We have heard his
statement of the declarations made by MIR.
Moncure Robinson. Now, whatever may be
said about the latter gcntleman's railroad
management, 10 man, either in the State or
out of it, has ever ventured to impeacb his
personal honor or integrity. So far from
that, Mr.. Lyon himself, more than once
during this investigation, has borne his tcs-
timony to bis high personal character. l
don't know what is
Mr.. RoEBRTs's REPUTATION FOR vERACITY
or candor where he is best known; but l
do know of some little personal incidents
connected with him which are not well cal
culatcd to elevate him to the highest stand
ards. Mr.. Roberts asserts that Mr.. Robin
son demanded four millions for the Frede-
rcksburg road, estimating the road itself ut
three millions aud its freedom from taxation
at one million. Now, if there were no posi-
tive contradiction on the part Of Mr.. Robin
son, such a statement would be difficult Of
belief. Mr.. Robinson is not the man to talk
about selling out stock that docs not belong
to him. and especially the interest held by
the State. He does not hold the Legislature
In what The gentleman has chosen TO. call his
"side.pocket." lie has made an affidavit in
which he declared that Roberts's statement is
n falSchood; that at certain time, when he
did not know the purposes of the parties
who approached him, he did offer to sell the
stock which he CONTROLLED on the basis of the
value of the road. Now, that sounds like
Mr.. Robinson. and very differently from what
Mr.. Roberts alleges. 1t is for the COM
mittcc Ia determine which Of these two to
believe. do not think you will have much
difficulty in reaching your conclusion. |
know that it is not altogether safe TO rely on
Mr. Rohcrts's promises. Some Of the gen.
tlcmcn of this committee We're present
when Mr.. Roberts was examined before the
House committee two years ago. He then
said that the policy of the Pennsylvania
Central. which they intended to adopt on
the road he then asked the privilege Of
building, WAS one OF low local rates. lie
first grew eloquent and then G,cctious. He
declared, under oath believe, That il nothing
else could be done to induce people along
the line of his road to ride i'll his cars he
would carry them for nothing. And then,
warming with his theme, he said if that
failed lie would pay them 10 ride. Now,
what is the fact: In n newspaper q short
time ago saw an angry complaint from
some one on the line OF his road from Guam
tico to Alexandria to the effect that pa>Scu-
gers were charged six and quarter cents
per mile for transportation. Alter CT ting
rdicule upon the Fredericksburg road be-
cause Of It's local rates, lie verified al least 50
r.r;, one railroad official is concerned, the
declaration of Mr. Lyon that uo confidence
can be placed in the promises OF railroad
managers, by charging on the Quantico road
higher rates than those which he had de-
nounccd.
CAyS0T Buy THE FREDERICKSBURG ROAD.
At one time Mr.. Roberts could have
bought Mr.. Moncure Robinson's stock, but
that WAS before the uterior purposes of Alr.
Roberts and his party were discovered. Now
he cannot buy it ut any price. Mr.. Monclre
Robinson freely admits that nc and other
stockholders Of the Fredericksburg road who
agree with him in his views Of railroad pol
ley have united their interest for the pur-
pose Of cilcctually preventing the Pcnnsyiva-
MIA Central, or the Southern Security Com
pauy, or any other dLiGS born Of the same
parcntasc, from purchasing the control of
the Fredericksburg road. These foreign
companies may as well know the fact at once.
They cannot acquire this stock on any terms,
no matter how high they may bid. 1T will
never fall into the hands of these mOnopu-
lists as long as he lives. Now that the plan
-
been more fully disclosed, the people of this
Commonwealth should applaud this deter
,, mination aud bid him stand firm. For
one. | AIN content that the combina-
ton to which | have referred, and at the
head of which stands Mr.. Moncure Robin
son, shall be contra>tcd with that other COM
bnation or ring of which we have heard so
much, and in the front of which MIR. Rag
land appears. One is breakwatcr against
the sweeping flood of 4 foreign invasion "A
league to protect the cities t Virginia anu
develop tue trade and commerce of the State;
while the other was combination to accom-.
pIish what was, when the very best is said OF
it, Il questionable private job. MIR. Robin
sou and his friends are content that this COM
mittec and the people of the State should run
the parallel. lie desires no concealmcnt rs
to villa, he has done or as to his motives in
this whole matter. lie has not voted hin-
self any money under this arrangement,
either in person On by proxy, and does not
propose to do 30.
The learned counsel says Mr.. John NJ.
Robinson receives $4,000 for managing i'll n
most admirable manner the Scaboard route,
and $1,000 for injurng the Fredericksburg
road. This is ccrtanlya hard saying, and il
true should consign the present president of
the Fredericksburg road to intamy. There
seems to be a most
SINGULAR INCONSISTENCY
running through the remarks of that learned
counsel. He has declared again and again
that Mr. Robinson is not only sagacious
railroad manager, but an honorable gentle.
man. What can be the gentleman's idea of
honor and integrity when he declares that Il
,,,n tk,ttt thnSn yirttins
annum from railroad corporation for the
,,,r,,nrn nI nnnrnSSinr md inillri,,r