The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-22
Washington.

! RICHMOND RAILROAD.MEN IN WASHINGTON !;
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL; SPEECH
| OF COLONEL A. :. BUFoRD-MR. BECK s
FINANCIAL SPEECH IN THE sENATE-PER-
SONAL-CENsUS sUPERvISORs--THE NEGRO
EXODUS INvEsTIGATIoN-BmEf ITEMS.
From our Regular CorrcspondcntI
WASHINGTON, January 2l.-Representa-
tiveS Of most Of the great railroad lines Of
the country have been before the House
Commerce Committee in opposition to the
inter-S state commerce bill. which, they con-
tend, will do infinite harm TO their roads
and the business OF the country. To-day
Colonel a. 5. Buiord and Colonel Talcolt,
OF Richmond. and Judge Haskell, OF South
Carolina, were before this committee, and
Colonel Buford made quite a lengthy
argument against the bill. He said
he opposed the bill because it en-
trely omitted all purpose or effort TO con-
troll lines and means Of transportation other
than railroads, thereby leaving many prin-
cipal lines of railroad at the mercy OF COM
pctng lines OF water transportation, either
singy or in connection with line OF rail-
road entirely within the limits OF one state.
The effect OF this is to establish a monopoly
in the lines so omitted from the provisions
of the BILL and eflectually to repreSs all
wholesome competition on the part OF the
roads made subject TO its provisions. In
fact it would not only destroy the
legitimate revenues OF these internal
lines Of railway, but completely cut off cities
and communities which they connect from
the benefit OF competition. The section Of
the bill. he said, which absolutely pro-
hits the charge OF greater amount for
shorter than a longer distance, under all cir
cumSiances, is based upon speciouS but
often in It's application an erroneous princl-
ple-the fact being easily demonstrated that
the actual cost OF transporting small
amount OF freight to shorter point may be
and Is not unfrCquently greater per 100
pounds than the transportation TO longer
point when done in large volume. The
true principle. he commended, in regu-
ating the rate OF charge equitably to both
shipper and carrier, is to ascertain
tue cost OF transportation regarding all the
elements of that cost as known TO the man.
layers of the traffic in question, and not to
allow the charge to exceed in an undue de-
gree such measure OF cost in any case,
whether The transportation be long or short
Hence il is clearly impossible, he said, that
the principle of the section Which assumes
that all transportation is in proportion to
mileage without reference to It's volume or
the Giro amstances under which it i done is
clearly iIlusOry and unsafe. The uncertainty
of the expense to which the provisions Of
this bill apply in the conduct Of transporta-
ton render it exceedingly dangerous when
we recur to the heavy penalties and inqui-
sitorial processes it seeks to employ
in enforcing its provisions. The people and
business industries OF the country, he urged,
cannot afford to be put to the perilS in
yoved in the provisions OF this legislation,
whether it IS considered in reference to the
principles assumed or the processes select
ed for their execution. The immediate in
terest which he represents, embracing a
long interior line Of railway through three
or four Of the southern States, would be
cut off, he said, from its main capacity for
public usefulness as a distributor OF the
commodities OF those States If left to the
resources which are alone 10 be Cleaned
from the wayslde productions al the nearer
points OF its eastern terminus at Rich
mond, Virginia. There may be, and
doubtless are, evils remediabe by a
wise and temperate course OF legislation,
and he desired to impress upon the COM
mttee the great importance in maturing
g such legislation TO avail themselves OF the
experience and professional knowledge
possessed by those who have been long en-
gagged in the management Of the leading
I railroad lines OF the country. The tenor
and apparent drift OF the pending bill, he
said, is TO absorb the control of the railways
of the country by the Government, and
leave other modes OF transportation uncon-
trolled. This he regarded as dangerous TO
the business OF the country, il not utterly
repugnant to the true theory and constitu-
tiona principles Of the Government itself.
The committee and visitors paid marked
attention to Colonel Buford's speech.
Nh. BECK OPENS THE FINANCIAL DEBATE IN
STRONG SPEECH.
Mr.. Beck opened the financial debate in
, the Senate to-day, and his opponents admit
that he made a very strong speech. The
galleries were well filed and there were a
, number Of persons on The floor. He COM
mencpd by saying that he believed MI.
, Bayard was actuated by the most honest
and patriotic motives; that he holds the
: same position he has all along held in re-
gard to financial matters and is consistent.
He regretted, because there are so many
things about which he and the distinguished
Delaware Senator agree, that they should
I now have to differ in regard to the ques-
tions about 10 be discussed in the Senate.
: He referred to the immense ruin which had
been brought upon the country IN the pro-
cess of arriving at specie-resumption. He
stated facts and gave figures to show that
the bankruptcy list growing out OF 1t
amounted 10 more than one half OF the debt
Of the United States. He criticized in strong
terms the meaus used to bring about re-
sumption, and in that connection spoke or
the similar act OF Germany in ITS process OF
Accommodating silver coin. Here be quoted
from Bismarck to show that he had acknow-
edeed the folly Of this proceeding and
confessed that while it cost Germany one