Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-19
Geoeral MahOne's Curb for the Rail-
rOnds.

Ge0craI MahOnes SurD tOr tue Es~h-
roads.
To The Editor of the Dispatch:
Though railroads have pretty good
memories, it may not be amiss to re-
fresh their recollections in regard to
certain matters which / assume to be
of great interest to them. /
Among these is the legislation OF
1922, by which General Malone
attempted to get control Of them all.
His efforts ran through the regular and
extra sessions of that period. The
mere publication Of the names OF the
prominent actors will prove that the
whole scheme was General Mahone's.
On February 18th "a bill to regu-
late railroad freights and passenger
tariffs" came up. 1t was what Is
known as the Georgia bill. For
that Mr.. Cross offered substitute, and,
on motion Of Mr.. Frazier the bill was
made the special order for the next
dsy. journal House of Delegates, 1851
The next day Mr.. Cross withdrew his
substitute, and Mr.. Frazier offered a
substitute. journal House of Dele
gates, 362.) This was laid on the table
against the votes of Messrs. Cross, Fra
zier, and Green. March LIST, Journal
House Of Delegates, 40 The lateness
of the session, which terminated March
9th, probably preventing action.
At the extra session, convened
March 18th, Mr.. Green renewed
the subject-Journal Of the House
of Delegates, extra session, page
l2-and reported the bill of the pre-
vious session on March l7th-Jour-
nal of the House of Delegates, extra
session, page 25-the day to which the
Legislature had adjourned from the
9TH. So that he lost no time about it.
That bill is now before me. 1t would
he useless to print the whole of its
thirty-two sections, but the points to
which the railroads would be likely to
object most strenuously may be pub
lished--as is done below-in proof of
these four important points That
Q) 1t directs the appointment Of
three railroad commissioners, to be
nominated by the Governor and con-
firmed by the Senate, at an aggregate
salary of s., 900 per annum, and Sec
rotary at a salary Of $1,000 per an
mum, which sums, with 400 Different,
1900 contingent fund, and all incl
dental expenses, are to be paid by an
annual levy on the railroads, which
must pay it under penalty of certain
prompt and peremptory proceedings.
See Section 4.
(2) That the said commissioners
should have absolute control of the
whole economic administration Of every
road for repairs, improvements, and
alterations of freight and passenger
rates (see sections 7 and 81, all to be
done at the expense and risk of the re-
spective railroads. See section IL.
(3) That they should have absolute
inquisitorial powers in regard to all
their affairs, including the right to send
for persons and papers. See sections
~ and q.
(4) That they should have the right
to full control in all matters Of what
may be called railroad police. See
section 90.
This bill was laid on the table April
10Th, on motion Of Mr.. Munford Jour
nal House Of Delegates, extra session,
page 252). Just three days before the
end Of the session, which adjourned
Unexpectedly and in panic on the
improper ruling Of Mr.. Wood, Presi-
dent pro TEN. of the Senate NOW can
didate for Lieutenant-G overnor), in or
der to escape investigation Of the
charges of corruption made by Mr.
Lady, of Rockbridge, against the
Board of Commissioners of the Sink
ing Fund in the cancelling of their con-
tract with the Kendall Bsnk-Note
Company. Journal House Of Dele
gates, extra session, pages 276-'77.
This scheme was one of those that
the Big Four banked. Do the rail-
roads think that General Malone will
never again attempt to milk their COW?
A. The annual salaries Of the COM
missioners and their secretary, together
with the expenses hereinbefore enume-
rated, and Of any expert employed
when certified by the said board, shall be
borne by the several corporations own
ing or operating railroads, according to
their gross income, to be apportioned
by the Auditor Of Public Accounts. On
or before the lst day Of July in each
year he shall assess upon each Of said
corporations its just proportion Of such
expenses, in proportion to its gross in-
come received for transportation for
the year next preceding that in which
the assessments are made; and such
assessments shall be notified to the re-
spective corporations by the said Au-
ditor of Public Accounts, and if not
paid to him within twenty days after
said notice, shall be recovered, on his
motion, in the Circuit Court Of the city
of Richmond, after ten days notice /;
said motion to be in his name, for the
benefit OF the railroad commissioners.
| I. Whenever, in the judgment of the
board of railroad commissioners, it
shall appear that repairs are necessary
upon any such railroad, or that any adj
dition to the rolling-stock, or any en-
largement of, or improvement in, the
stations or station-houses, or any modi-
fcation in the rates of fare for trans
porting freight or passengers, or any
change in the mode of operating the
road and conducting its business, is
reasonable and expedient in order
to promote the security, convenience,
and accommodation Of the public, the
said board shall give information in
writing to the corporation Of the inn
provements and changes which the said
board adjudges to be proper; and il
the said company shall fail within sixty
days after such information given to
adopt the requirements Of said board
| Of commissioners the said company