Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-20
OTHFR YIEMs.

OTHER VIEWS.
Mr.. John G.. Elliott, Of Norfolk No
member Of my delegation owns any rail-
road stocks or bonds, and we are
unanimously opposed to hampering the
railroads of this State with any such
provision as is required by section l3
Of the bill.
Mr.. F. A. Read, of Alexandria, ad.
dressed the meeting at considerable
length, urging the striking out Of this
section.
j. T. Dalton, OF Petersburg | see
nothing in the bill that conflicts with
the interest Of Petersburg. He asked
that the 18th section be omitted.
Alexander Hart, Of Staunton have
heard no merchant make any serious
objection to the railroads in Staunton,
and | think it the interest Of the mer-
chants and farmers as well as the rail-
roads that the section be stricken out.
j. NJ. Neal, Of Danville am in a
fix. Ny friend Colonel Baford is our
mainstay. What we want is some re-
lief. There is much complaint by the
merchants in my section about rates.
and We must have some remedy; and
am undecided what we shall do.
Major Charles Waite, OF Culpeper
! am opposed to the 18th section, and
hope the Legislature will do nothing to
oppress the railroads. | am also opposed
to the appointment Of politicians as
railroad commissioners what we want
is leyel-headed businessmen.
THE VOTE.
Mr.. Blankenshp, of Richmond, to
expedite matters, moved that it is the
sense of this meeting that the 18Th
section be omitted. and upon the call,
polled by delegations, the vote was /:
Alexandria. Front Royal. Norfolk, Pc
tersburg, Richmond, Culpeper, River
ton, and Portsmouth, aye; Danyille
asked to be excused, and Lynchburg
voted no.
Mr.. Blankenship moved to strike ont
three commissioners to be elected by
tie General Assembly and that the
appointing power be given the Gov
einor. Adopted.
The Chair appointed the following
gentlemen as a committee to appear
before the House committee John b.
Purcell, OF Richmond J. F. Slaugh-
ter, of Lynchburg; J. 7. Dalton, Of
Petersburg; E. G. Brooks, of Ports
mouth; Richmond Mccoy. Of Front
Royal; c. 6. Elliott, Of Norfolk; j.
NJ. Neal, Of Dsnville; Alexander Hart,
Of Staunton; c. Waite, of Culpeper.
NeeiiBG OF the House Committee.
The House Committee on Roads met
in the hall of the House last night. A
great many legislators and citizens
were present Colonel Stribling, the
chairman of the committee. called the
meeting to order and announced that
/ the committee had under consideration |
several railroad commission bills, and /
would be glad to hear any suggestions
from gentlemen present. He further
said that they had had the matter un-
der consideration several nights pre-
vious. when they had before them repre-
sentatives Of the Farmers Assembly, !
who advocated the bill known as the /
Munford bill, but that the main point /.
Of difference was the 9th section.
COLONEL PURCELL.
Colonel Purcell said he believed the /
time had come ior the passage Of such /
bill. The one prepared by Mr.. Nun (
ford would be acceptable, with some I
few changes and the elimination Of the /
18th section.
Colonel Purcell said: The 18th section 1
is intended to apply the coerciye power
Of the State. In the light Of expe-
rience, by which we alone can be
guided, the greatest cOerciye measure
Massachusetts could put upon her rail.
road affairs was to give them publicity.
The operation Of such an amendment as
the 18th section was that it would tend
to drive away from the State capital in
railroads. which we so much want.
Colonel Purcell spoke at some length
on the subject. principally fayoring the
elimination of the 18Th section.
MR.. SLAUGHTER.
Mr.. Slaughter, OF the Lynchburg
Chamber of Commerce, next rose aud
said be was surprised when he appeared
before the Chamber Of Commerce yes
terday. lie was astonished to find that
every railroad in the State was repre-
sented in the meeting there. lie had
thought that the matter could receive
due consideration without railroad in
fuence. He stood here for even-handed
Justice to all. For Iifteen long years
we have passed resolution after resolu-
tion. Have they ever been enforced? :"
He advocated new departure, but
said /: "lf you strike out the 18th Sec
ton Of the Munford bill the balance Of
It isn't worth two straws." lie seemed
to be unwilling for Virginia to follow
in the footsteps of the State of Massa-
chusetts, and because Massachusetts,
has this law il is no reason Virginia
should, their interests being so adverse
and .difierent-One manufacturing
State and the other agricultural. He
believed Virginia ought to have some
protection for her railroads.
Mr.. Slaughter quoted and read from
the - Tenth Semi-Annual Report Of the
Railroad Commission of the State Of
Georgia, October Is, 1884" showing
that since the adoption Of a railroad COM
missioners' bill in that State six hun
dred more miles of railroad had been
built and twelve hundred more miles
bought by foreign capitalists than prior
to the adoption Of the commission.
Mr. Slaughter had the respectful at
tention Of the meeting during long
speech
NORFOLK HEARD FROM.
Mr.. Aylett. member Of the Norfolk
and Portsmouth Cotton Exchange, next
rose and started by saying: Z" / deny
that we came here under any railroad
influence whatever" He favored the
adoption ofthe Munford bill with few
amendments, and with the 18th section
stricken out. He was opposed to any
measure or legislation which waald tend !