The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-09-21

A meeting OF the stockholders OF the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad Company, called By the Board Gf
Directors, was held yesterday. On motion
Of Naior J. H. Kelly, Of Fredericksburg,
Mr. r. Y. Cannon was elected chairman.
MIR. J. 3. Winston was requested TO act as
secretary. A committee OH credentials was
appointed, and reported that of 7,I44 shares
OF stock 6. $50 were represented.
The chairman asked II the president ana
Board OF Directors had any communities
ton to make to the meeting.
PROM THE DIRECTORS.
President John M. Robinson read a paper
from the Board reciting the action Of the
stockholders directing the Board to restore
the Potomac boats. and embodying the pro-
test against said action from the State au-
thorities, and con cluding:
At the earliest practicable moment the
president OF this company submitted the
foregoing communication from the Rail
road Commissioner to the consideration OF
the Board, whose first impression was That
they had no alternative. but must reply 10
the State authorities that in obedience to
their official duty they should proceed TO
execute the will Of the stockholders as eX-
pressed in their general meeting, unless
prevented by judicial authority.
But on further consideration the Board
deemed it due to the MAJ ority no less than to
the minority OF the stockholders, including
the State, TO give TO them an opportunity to
reconsider their action at their last general
meeting, and to decide whether they would
still adhere to that action, notwithstanding g
these subsequent COMMUNICATIONS OF the
State authorities, and the probability, II not
certainty, Of involving the company in eX-
pensiye and tedious litigation with the Com
monwealtI, and Of provoking the hostility
and injurious action OF the State Legisia-
ture.
II. in view of these considerations. the
stockholders Of the company shall now, IN
their general meeting, determine to adhere
TO their resolution. adopted at their last
meeting, it will be the unqucslioned duty
OF the Board OF Directors 10 act in con-
formity with those resolutions as promptly
and as efficiently as they can, unless pre-
vented by the paramount authority of the
courts.
Hy order OF the Board Of Directors.
JoHN NJ. ROBINSON.
Richmond, 10Th September, 1878.
The report was RECEIVED and approved.
Mr.. Robinson also read an extract from 4
letter from Mr.. Eiihu Cbauncey, director
of the company, who is now in Paris, eX-
pressing his approval OF the course pur-
sued by the Board as embodied i'll its last
report.
DEFIANT ANTAGONIST.
Mr.. G. F. MAYER, of Baltimore, who
stated that lie represented persons whose
interest was equal IN the Potomac Steam
boat Company and the Fredericksburg
Railroad Company, offered the following:
Resotred, That in consideration OF tue
communication OF tue Railroad Commls-
sioner OF the State, reported to this meet
ing by the Board of Directors, and IN order
to avoid this companv's being involved in
tedious and costly litigation, in which the
company would occupy position OF deil'
ant antagonism to the State government,
the president and directors Of this company
are hereby instructed to take no action un-
der the resolution in relation to the Poto-
mac Steamboat Company, passed at the last
meeting of the stockholders, without fur
thcr instructions from the next general
meeting OF stockholders.
Mr.. George w. Bddle, Of Philadelphia,
said that he had read that at 4 former meet
inc the Chair had ruled that where Stock
vote was not distinctly demanded the vote
should be q per capita one. lie wanted it
agreed that in this meeting when vote was
called for il should be stock vote.
The chairman said that any stockholdef
could call for stock vote. II 1t was the
desire OF Mr.. Biddle 4 stock vote would be
had whenever vote was taken
A stock vote was then taken on the reSo-
luton OF Mr.. Mayer, reSultlng-aves, 2.l26
noes, 1872. The State OF Virginia and the
private stockholders generally votel "aye."
The English and Philadelphia stockholders.
represented by Mcssrs. Thomas and Georg"
W. Biddle and Leigh Robinson, voted "no.''
Tie State was represented by her proxies.
The Attorney General was present Us t.. cir
adviser.
GROSS MISREPRESENTATION.
DR.. /. B. Anderson, Of Hanover, offered
the following:
Whereas Il certain publication over the
signatures OF MeSsrs. Moncure Robinson
and Thomas \. Biddle contains charges OF
:. gross Misrepresentation and falsehooG -
against the declarations and facts presented
in pamphlet laid before the stockholders OF
this company at their last meeting, entitled
CA Brief History OF the Potomac steam
boat Company; therefore
Resored, That committee. composed oi
Messrs. p. Y. Daniel, Thomas a. Biddle,
1sddC i'dN Oi.s lIobiHSOH, o'N'
| Thomas W. McCance, be appointed to re-
port all the facts in relation to the history
OF the connection between this company
and Potomac Steamboat Company, and re-
port at our next annual meeting.
| In view OF the probability that some Of
his official acts as president or attorney
might come under examination OF the COM
miltcc. Mr.. Daniel considered that it would
! be unwise. il not improper, for him to
serve on the committee. He asked that his
name he struck out and Dr.. AnderSon's in
serted. DR.. Anderson still desired Mr..
Daniel to serve. The latter firmly declined
Thereupon the name Of DR.. Anderson was
substituted for that of Mr.. Daniel.
Mr.. George w. Biddle opposed the reso,
luton because in his opinion IL would III nc
event be productive OF good, and for the
further reason that the subject had once
been fully Investigated and reported upon
and as this old sore had been nearly healed,
he declared that it would be unwise to re-
open it. He thought the new issues sufil-
cient for the present, without gong into
old ones. No matter who should be sue
cessful in such ali Investigation, this COM
pany, this State, this city, would be the SUI
ferers. It might. it is true. give triumph
to one of the parties in tie controversy, but
in his victory lie would stand upon the dead
ashes OF the company. Mr.. Biddle's re-
marks were of conciliatcry character, and
in them he gave all parties credit for doing
and saying what they thought just and
right.
DR.. Anderson, replying to Mr.. Biddle,
said that he had beard much OF the astute-
ness of Philadelphia lawyers; that this was
the first one he had ever met, and that he
ssas agreeably surprised at his kindtiness OF
speech. But the Doctor differed with Mr..
UiGdle. He pointed out the necessity for