Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-01-29
THE BALFIMoREAND ONO RAIL
ROAD BILL

Nun n - -
ROAD BILL.
Senator Johnson Introduced IA the
senate, yesterday, a bill tn regulate the
rates of transportation on the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, which rmbodies the
views nj the senate branch Of the spe-
cial Railroad Committee, consisting OF
Senators johnson and Butler
IL twill be- remembered that this COM
mittee, Us originally constituted, Was
COMPOSED of three members ON the part
Of the Housl ard two on the part OF the
Senate. Ia making up their report to
the Legislature they disagreed Us to the
rights and wrongs OF the company un-
der tine law, and the result was two
reports, one ofIcrcdby the Senate mem
hers and another by the House mem
hers Of the committee.
The bill offered by senator JOHNSON,
and which we publish this morning IN
iun. is, As We have said, designed to IN
corporate and enact the views Of himself
and colleague, rs expressed In their re-
port.
IL may be sail to express the ultra or
radical position on this subject, Ii
makes fair and square issue with the
law, maInrmuIng uUr uTrry IT. T'rrvrrSy
and its business, but also giving it, con-
struction in harmony with the views Of
the Senate Committee. II is in fact ~ it
title indicates, "a bill to require the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
10 comply with an act of the General
Assembly oi Virginia, Sc, passed
March 9th, lS47.
This is the very law at which the
Company complains, and with which ii
claims it is absolutely impossible TO
comply, provided il is interpreted ac-
eOrling To the views of the Senate branch
Of the Committee. Il is the law too,
upon the construction at which the two
branches of the COMMITTEES differ, each
giving il very different Interpretation.
II is the law also which both branches
1T the Committee, in their reports, say
would he very harl and burlensome
law "a the Company ii enforced, and
about which the Senate Committee said
in effect, that, ii il were their province,
they would recommend 10 be modified.
But the bill neither mOdities nor re-
lakes any provision of the law. TN the
contrary il givesit the strict and strained
interpretation Of which the company
complains, and to which they say they
are unable 10 comply.
The effectoi the bill is to compel the
railroad company first, To regulate their
"thrOugh rates" according TO the ~
quirements OF the law of lSI7, AMI then
to abolish all distinction between
through and "lOcal rates. - In other
words they must establish schedule OF
rates between Baltimore and Wheeling,
not greater than the average change iur
AlAN NhNAN hAHAAlAAN NNNNNNAA ASAAAAii'fAN
and Chicago, and they are then TO charge
the sdmS rate PER max from or to amy sta
ton within this State.
This, We understand, the company
avows il cannot 10 and live. While ~
iering TO make very larry concessions on
its present rates, il regaris such condi-
tons a. legislating the road cut Of ex-
istencc. 10 the Legislature insists wa
the provisions Of the senate bill, the pro
liability is that tte company viii refuse
10 comply and rest It's case on the inter
probation the courts shall give e. the
Virginia act Of 1877.
The superstition is, however, that the
Legislature will be ~ much divided on
the provisions Of the bill as are the Sen
ate committee and the Company. The
House committee will doubtless intro
duce hill sRtagOnizing the provisions
Of the senate hill, and the whole subject
will thus be- brought to an issue in the
legislature