Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-02-12
WILLIAM KEYSER,
Second Vice President of the Bal
timOre and Ohio Railroad
Company,
Gives His Views Of the Johnson
Bill Before the Senate Judi
ciary Committee.
A Plain and Able Presentation of
the Case.


Yesterday afternoon in the Senate Cham
Der, ior the purpose OF hearing any dis
cuSsiOn which might be desired, pro and
con-, upon the different measures pro.
posed in the Senate etiecting the Baltl'
more and Ohio Railroad Company. Mr.
William Keyser, second Vice President
OF the road appeared before the commit
tee, for the purpose OF presenting the
case Of the company; and from the Tact
that his high position gave authority
10 his remarks, as well as from the TACT
that Mr.. Keyscr has since his con-
nection with the road in al official
capacity, had especial charge OF the in
tcrrSts OF the company in West Virgin
ia, his appearance was looked forward
to with interest, not only by the Com
mittce, but by the entire Legislature, as
well a. by the citizens OF the State in
general. This interest drew together n
number of the members ofbOth Houses,
and ui outsiders, to hear his address.
Mr.. Keyscr's manner is calm and ar
gumcntatiyc, but ne has at ready COM
mand all the facts that have any bear
ing on the case. We append a short
hand report OF his remarks:
GENrLENEN-ln response to your in
vitution, | am here this evening a. the
representative of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company to submit It's
views upon senate Bill No. 80, which
has been rrcommittedto To your honorable
committee 10y the Senate. Not being a
lawyer, il is not my intention To discuss
the legal mcrits,oi the hill, but simply to
review its provisions as practically al
trcting the interests of the corporation
have the honor to represent and the
citizens ui your State. This bill, | un-
derstand, is presented 10y the members
oi the Senate Committee, appointed at
the last session, as the result OF their
investigation, and that 1t has already
received the unanimous approval oi the
Committee on Banks and Corporations
oi the present body. Ii is, therefore,
iair To assume that its provisions i'll the
main are such as are designed To-
promote the interests OF the people
oi this State. propose, therefore, to
consider them in their practical bear
ingS on the operations OF the road,
section fr,t oi the bill contemplatcs
that the company shall determine AMI
declare that the rate per mile t"r paSScn-
gers, with their baggage, and the rate
per ton per mile tor freight between two
points, namely, Baltimore and point
within five miles of the Ohio river, and
that this rate shall be the charge be-
tween Baltimore and Wheeling.
Secondly, that this rate shall he
charged no matter from whom the
freight ~ received, or to whom 1t Is con-
signed.
section second coutcmplatcs that the
rate from Chicago To Baltimore shall be
the standard 10y which all the local and
through rates shall bc governed, and
that the rates from Bcnwuod To Balti-
more shall be- pro rata of the charge
from Chicago To- Baltimore.
section Third fixes the rate per mile
which the company can charge Tor local
transportation, which is To be asccr-
tanned hy taking the Bcnwood rate and
dividing it hv the number of miles to
Baltimore.
section four provides for the publica-
ton ui schedule rates and posting the
same in the various stations ON the line.
Sections five AMI six require the fore
going sections To- hc complied with
within twenty days after the passage ot
this act, subject tu severe penalties for
failure To comply.
section seven abulishcs all classified
tion oi freight except gypsum and lime,
and section eight makes this law appli-
cable To the ParkcTshups branch and
Manchester and Potomac road.
section I'D of the amendment To the
hill prohibits the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company, or any railroad COM
panv whose road within the State Is
operated or controlled 10y the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company, from en-
tering into any agreement with amy
railroad, transportation company, cor
poratiun or individual, to charge a
greater or less rate iur the transportation
ui any article than they change for the
transportation of like or similar articles
iur any other company, corporation or
individual.
Having thus, think, clearly stated
the provisions the bill, desire 10 call
vuur attention To the iaCt that its title
purpnrtS il To- De- a Till to require the
Baltimore AMI Ohio Railroad Company
L. comply with an at ui the General
Assembly passed March d. lSl1. By
reference L. which act YOU will see that
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany is authorized 10y express pro
visions 10 change ON all passengers and
their baggage six cents a mile, and on
all freight, except gypsum and lime.
eight cents per ton per mile; upon gyp-
sun and lime, four cents per ton per
mile
Ia will be further seen that under sac
ton ) 1T the act of 1872, which reads as
follows:
The General Assembly hereby ne-
serves to itself the power ot hereafter
altering, amending or modifying every
or any part of the provisions OF this
act. iorlFi, That the rights OF prop
erty and franchises acquired under this
act, and the trcr Use ami enjoyment ui
their rights and privileges, a. granted
bv this OT any other act now in forcc,
shall not he taken away or impaired 10y
such further act ui legislation
That the company's right Ia charge
these rates Is forever scCupd 10 II, be-
yunl the control oi the Legislature.
In looking, therefore, into the legal
merits of the bill, YOU Will doubtles.
examine and determine how tar this hllI
conflicts with the act OF lSi7, which II
OstenSibly purposes t. re-enaCt.
will nov state, As Concisel " as | can,
what viii be the practical effect upon
the company and its patrons should
this bill become a law and its terms be
accepted by the railroad company. The
company must proceed Immediately u
determine the tariff rates for passenger
and merchandise between Wheeling
and baltimore, and this rate must IL
uniform both for local and through bus
ineSS. The passenger travelling one
mile must be carried 81 the same nate
per mile a. the passenger travelling the
entire length nj the rOad frum Baitlmor
10 Chicago. A local shipper forwarding
one hundTe1 pounds between stations