The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-14
Governor Cameron and the Railroads.

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Whatever may be thought OF our Gov
errors opinions on some other subjects,
his head is certainly ''level" on that OF the
railroads, which, in the expressive Ian
guage OF his late special message, are in
fair way OF becoming "our masters instead
OF being our servants" One might be led
to suppose that the present General Assem-
bly, had convened on the first Wednesday
in December chiefly on their account, to
Judge from the number OF railroad schemes
already brought before 1t. Many OF these,
no doubt, will never be heard OF again
after the present Legislature adiourns; and
many will only be heard OF rs being in the
hands of stockholders, who make q busi-
ness OF swindling their unhappy dupes
until they have nothing more to be
swinded out OF. when they the
stock-jobbers) turn upon each other and
make general wreck of the whole con-
Germ. Such has been the history OF more
than one OF these promising railroad
schemes, and such will be their history In
future unless and until the Legislature
puts some wholesome restrictions on them
such as will confine them more than they
are now confined to their appropriate tusi-
ness as channels OF trade and commerce
and as common carriers. With all the
boosted advantages OF the railroad system.
it would not be difficult to show that, IL
the account could be fairly settled between
the railroads and the public in Virginia,
the individual losses by killing OF stock
and other damages, as well as by I'M
lust Determinations as to local traffic,
equal, II they do not outweigh, the
supposed advantages. Our General Assem-
bly will be wise IL they heed the Gov
ernor's recommendations, and put bit
| in the mouths OF these horse-leeches that
are constantly crying "Givel give +"
and are never satisfied. Emboldened by
past success, these railroad schemers and
their representatives are at the button-hole
of members Of the Legislature every day.
plying their arts and establishments SO
vigorously as to eXtort last week from
brave Sam. Newberry, OF the Senate, a
despairing cry for help and relief from the
| LOBBYISTS who, as he declared, were worry
ing him to death; keeping him from bis
seat and from attention to his Legislative
duties. The scene, even from the briei
notice Of 1t In the Dispatch, must have
been somewhat ludicrous, and was calcu-
lated to remind one OF former occasion
about two years ago, when he left the Co
alition caucus In disgust, uttering those
memorable words, This way, freemen |! "
He will deserve well Of his country and
add another chaplet to his crown Of honor
should he display equal firmness in resist.
ing the arts OF these "Oily Gamm0us,'
who, like Millions toad, "sitting a-squai
at the ear OF Eve" are whispering their
fair promises OF fayors to be hereafter done
for favors now granted.
The people OF Virginia are getting tired
of this. sort OF thing. Complaints are
coming up on all sides that this is not
lwhat they send members OF the I.egisla
ture to Richmond for. The times demand
and we must have q different sort of legis
iation-one that looks to the interests o
the people, and not to the interests Of cor
porations and monopolies. The people
viii never be satisfied until the railroads
are required by law TO fence in their tracks
As to those now In operation, this NIGH
be done by amending their charters under
the general law found In the Code Of 1877;
chapter CT, section 5S). which reserves t
the General Assembly the right to amend
or repeal at Its pleasure all charters fol
works Of internal Improvement. And a.
to those that may hereafter apply for char
tiers OF incorporation, by making that {
special requirement in the charter. Ths
railroads must be made 10 understand
what is so well expressed by the Governol
In bis recent special message-that theil
charters do not confer an absolute right t.
the lands condemned for their use, but only
a privilege or right OF way, subject TO th,
control OF the General Assembly for th,
lc0rrectiou OF any abuse OF such privilege
That such abuses exist 1t Is idle to deny