The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-10
RAILROAD BOARD.


missjouers Tor the present Railroad Com
missioner Of the State, and defining the
duties and powers Of such Board, and re-
peslinr the act Of March 81, 1877, In re-
ference to the said Commissioner" re-
ported from the Committee on Roads, and
now pending In the House, &c.
Whereas railroads created under the aus
thority Of the State are in the nature OF
public highways, and should be operated
not alone for the purposes OF private gam
hut for the interest and convenience OF the
people rs well; and whereas 1t Is the duty
Of the Legislature to supervise the opera
lions Of such railroads and prevent any I'M
iust or discriminating charges on the one
hand and allow fair and reasonable protit
on the other: therefore
1. Re u enacted BY TIE General Assembly
of Virginia. That there shall be Tor TINS
State Board OF Railroad Commissioners,
consisting Of three competent persons. one
of whom shall be man OF experience IN
railroad matters, who shall be elected by
the Joint vote OF the two houses OF the
General Assembly. and whose term OF OF.
fice shall commence on the LIST day Of
March, 1884. Their regular term OF ONCE
shall be ak years; but OF those first elected
under this act, one shall hold office two
wears. one four years, and one SIX years.
so u.s. to have on election OF one OF sa'o
commissioners every two years.
9. Said Board shall have clerk, 10 De
appointed by themselves, who shall keep Q
faithful record OF the proceedings OF said
Board, serve notices, and perform sucn
other official duties as may be required OF
him by the Board.
4. No person shall hold the Office OF CON-
missioner or clerk who Is IN the employ
inent, directly or indirectly, OF a railroad
CORPORATION, or who owns or is interested,
directly or indirectly, In any stock, bonds.
or other securities OF any such corpora
tiop. and each OF said officers shall take an
oath to that effect in addition to the usual
oath of Office. before entering upon the dis
charge OF his duties; and such oaths. in-
Guiding the usual oath Of office, shall be
taken and subscribed before and filed in
the office of the secretary OF the Common
wealth.
4. One OF the members OF the said board.
70 be designated BY the General Assembly,
shall be the president thereof, and shall
attend regularly at the Office OF the said
board during business hours when not
elsewhere engaged upon his official BUSH
ness, and shall be specially charged with
the business and duties OF the board, In
GLIDING the collection Of statistics and in
formation, attention to correspondence,
investigations, and other like matters.
s. Regular sessions OF the said board shall be
mencing on such days as tue board shall hx, and
special sessions mas be had nj any time on cil on
the or memSers upon ao.ef ~
days in each years and II shall nc The duty OF an
the members TO attend upon such sessions: pro-
video howevef Una, Tor pnrposes OF in,eSghon
than at their said office. The records OF the said
board shall be kept In such Office, which shall be in
q. Tkc board may employ temporarily an ac
couptznf, skilled In the methods OF railroad ac-
counting, who shall under Its direction, supervise
the methods by which the accounts OF corpora
fions perafing railroads are kept and may also
employ any other expert whose services they may
deem TO be temporarily of Importance. :.
All railroads in fis State operated by steam, and
shall examine the same. and keep themselves In
formed as to the condition Of all such railroads,
and especially TO all such matters us are Spect-
fed In the tenth section Of this act.
8. Every railroad corporation shall at all times,
on request, furnish to tbe board any information
reauIfvd by it concerning the condition, opera
ton, and management Of such corporation, and
particularly copies of all leases, contracts, ana
Dsnies and other rslroad to which il
O. every " sac shall least once every
wear, and At all other times when requested by The
board. furnish such board with It's schedules and
timetables and all Its rates OF charges Tor trans
porting freight and passengers. including It's
through rates for terminal points within or be-
yond the limits Of the Stste and Its local rates for
all points within the state, and including also a
st einent OF all rebates or discounts allowed npon
transported over It's line or any part thereof, ana
also Including the terms upon which II prorates
with all connecting lines OF railroad IN charges
f,rf and fFanSnOTfp0 bV IL ana
such other line or lines OF railroad.
10. The said board shall, by an examination
made by one or more of Its members, or by such
other information Us IL may be in their power. 10
obtain, ascertain and keep themselves informeda as
10 the following matters:
road tinciudlng Its road-bed. track. bridges, and
other structuresl with reference TO The afetyand
o. .ne nsns se OF rolling
stock and equipments, and whether the same be
sufficient anu OF such character as TO afford rea-
sOnable and safe accommodations 10 the public
aud people along its line in the matter of freight
and passenger traffic.
Third ihe number, condition. and character Of
It's stations and depots; their distance IT m each
sfructed, and managed as 10 afford reasonable and
convenient accommodations 10 the pablo and
Fourth. Whether or not an, of the rates charged
by such corporation In any Of It's freight or pas
senger business upon It's line, or any part thereof,
are unequal. unjust, discriminating, unreasonable,
or exIort,onate.
Fifth. Whether or not two railroads, which from
their location, might conveniently. connect with
each other do so connect. and whether connecting
lines OF railroad are 50 arranged and managed as 10
properly promote the interest and convenience of
the public either as 70 timetables or otherwise.
does not transport with reasonable promptness
freight entrusted 20 Il.
seventh Whether II acts unreasonably or I'M
Justly towards the public, or towards people re-
siding l,ng It's line, in any OF us transactions or
A. tss mr. ,oos NOT s.he nroner
precautions iu the running of us trains for the
safety or convenience Of the public or OF the
people along its iine, or for the protection OF their
Ninth. whether or NOT every snch corporation
complies. or has complied, with the provisions OF
~ uonwessh apcicsh) su 10 suc corporations.
tf the board shall be OF opinion that ihere Is any
ec4ee Of complaint against such corporation or
<6fnorations which should be investigated, or that
- &cksnge. alteration. or improvement should be
hate reference 10 any OF the matters above speei-
~. 10y shall make special examination OF the
1&1tr. after having first gwen notice In writing TO
: III. Tie mayor, or council, or trustees of any
~ county osss or twenty voters and q
s is$ss Is sssa;s &, sSSre s,ss
i3sa in writing 70 said board In reference 70 any
Of she ma,scrs specified in the proceeding section,
examination ~ aforesaid OF the matters COM
planned al, after giving notice as aforesaid.
~. II upon any special examination mentioned
In the two preceding sections the boards of opn-
son that any cause OF complaint exists against any
such corporation or corporations they shall so adj
Judge, aud shal gye notice thereof 10 such corDo-
ration or corporations together with any changes,
alterations, notifications, improvements, or prt-
ration OF corporations shall fail neglect TO COM
ply with any such adjudication or recommenda-
ton Of the board within sixty Gays after notice
thereof shsil be given the Bosrd shall report such
adjudication and recommendations. With their
roasons therefor, 10 the next meeting OF the
Geneni Assembly. and with such report also re-
commend such leRslztion As may BE- needed 70
correct the cansc Of complaint: or II the cause OF
cozapaetnt 10 snch snsttefe - may be passed upon
and ccsTected by the courts Of the Commonwealth