The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-11

HOUSE or nHLEaATEa.

Issue S5,OOO,OeO BOnds-Moniy 10 Re.
pair the STATE House.
The time Of the House yesterday was
spent in the usual routine business until
half.past three, at which time Mr.. Wilson
(of Kanawha), Mr.. MoGett in the chair,
called for the special order Of the day, his
railroad bill and the proposed Substitutes
and amendments thereto.
Mr.. Hubbard offered slight amend.
ment, which was adopted 1t merely in.
serted the wordA "shipped by the car.
load" alter the stipulation Of the price per
ton Tor carrying coal.
JUDGE MORROW
then took the floor and proceeded to review
the practical and legal questions involved
In the pending bill. He said he had been &C.
Cused Of making the motion to lay on the
table the day before for the purpose OF de.
laying, and II possible defeating the bill.
That he had any purpose In view but
TO obtain time to examine the meas
ure he denied, and submitted that the fact
that In the twenty.four hours delay seCur.
ed by his motion the friends Of the bill
had discovered the serious omission
which neCessitated Mr.. Hubbard's amend.
ment was sufficient vindiCation for his
course, as the bill would no donbt have
been rushed to Its engroasment and third
reading with this admitted serious defect
He then proceeded with Hcathing gar.
casm TO review what he considered the nu.
merous faults Of tue bill. He decried the
disposition to bull.doze the House into
rushing the measure through without con.
sideration, examination or disCuLsion.
He asked what gentleman on the floor
was In possession OF any knowledge as to
the cost Of transporting frelghts on rail.
road. II there was one gentleman here
with such knowledge In bis possession he
had kept 1t closely to himself. The speaker
had himself made some inquiries as 10 the
actual cost OF moving ton OF freight one
mile, and he was told the minimum cost
was 9 mills, and the average II mills.
The bill proposes to fix the maximum
charge allowed at 7 mills, or mills below
the average. The preposterous character
oil such proposition was dwelt upon.
The original bill, which its advocates
were bound and determined 10 rush
through without pause for consideration,
compelled the B. 4 o. Company TO carry
carload Of coal from Fairmont 10 Balti.
more for $2l, as maximum charge; yet
fixed the maximum for the same freight
from Fairmont 10 Harpet's Ferry, 100
miles less distance, at $22, while even I'm.
der the amended bill the maximum charge
for the two distances Ia the same.
The ridiculous details Of the bill were
then shown up In forCible manner. As
an illustration, the charge for carrying a
sack Of -four weighing fifty pounds dis.
lance Of FIVE miles would be mills,
mot" said Mr.. Morrow, "a flour mill, nor
a saw mill, nor coffee mill, but one Of
those mills which none Of Us have ever
seen, the tenth part Of cent. I would
suggest, Mr.. Speaker, that the passage OF
the bill would neCesBitate the coinage Of a
new denomination OF money by the Gen.
eral Government for the operations OF the
law" He then gave other illustrations Of
It's workings, charge for 500 pounds
for five miles would be | cents, and fifty
pounds would have 10 be carried from
Wheeling to Fairmont for eleven cents
and seventeen twehtieths oil another cent,
He then went briefly into the legal ques.
lions involved, taking the ground Of the
inyiolability Of vested rights conveyed by
charter
Mr.. Holt spoke briefly against the bill.
Mr.. MofTett offered the following sub.
stitute for the entire bill:
SIC. 1. Provides for three commission.
ers TO be appointed by the Governor by
and with the advice Of the Senate. One
Ia 10 be experienced In railroad affairs and
one 0 lawyer, but none TO be an officer,
agent or employe OF any railroad. The
Gtst O Commissioners to serve two, four and
elk years, and an appointment to be made
every twt years.
SIC. 2. Provides for Secretary and
fixes his compensation; also provides for
an Office for the Commissioner and apptO.
PIRATES money for expenses.
8. Commissioners "shall have general
supervision over all the railroads Of West
Virginia" and shall examine the same
from time TO time and keep themselves In.
formed as TO thelt condition, manner OF
operation, security, safety, and as to how
they comply with their charter.
A. Managers operating railroads OF this
State to furnish Commissioners oil inior.
nation required, including copies Of all
leases, contracts and agreements; also all
rates on their own and connecting lines,
VIII sther local OF through, and In this OF
other States.
5, Commissioners 10 examine tariffs
and II lound In excess Of "a juA and red'
Sondbb rate they shall change the same
and report them 10 the Railroad Comps
MES II Railroad Companies are iissatis-
fed day shall be appointed when they
will be heard by the Commissioners and
the decision Of The Commissioners on such
hearing Provides for printing rates and
postipg them, and such rates shall be the
lawful rates until suspended by other tar