Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-11
must be subject to the laws Of the land,
and not control or ride over them.

and said, before proceeding 10 discuss
the bill, be desired, in justice to the
committee from the Chamber OF Com
merce Of Danville, to correct a state
ment Of the honorable chairman Of the
Committee on Roads, [Mr. Stribling.l
That gentleman had said in his opening
speech THAT Danyille was advertised
to come to Richmond and show great
determinations in rates against that
city, but that no such committee had
appeared" The facts were that Colo
mel James NJ. Neale, on behalf Of him
self and associate committeeman from
the Danyille Chamber Of Commerce,
had apT cared before the House COM
mittee, presented the complaint Of the
Chamber Of Commerce Of that city,
the determinations in freight rates
against it, and urged the enactment Of
the 18th section. or some such legisla-
ton.
Mr.. StribliDg tinterrupting) Il will
correct the gentleman by saying that !
cid not allude 10 the committee from
the Chamber Of Commerce. The COM
mittee TO whose non-appearance | al
luded was delegation which a member
Of this House had informed his COM
mittee would appear and present in
stances of discrimination, but which in
fact never made its appearance.
Mr.. Munlord said this was satisfac-
tory. lie desired 20 answer the qUes-
tion Of the gentleman from Washington
now. As far back as lSSl-'82 a bill
covering the points embraced in this
bill was introduced in this body. That
bill, however, was too extreme and
conferred larger powers upon the COM
mission than was deemed proper, and
was hence dismissed, though the Speak
er even at that time insisted that the
bill, instead Of being dismissed, should
be amended so o. to afford reasonable
and proper relief. Again in 1888 the
Committee on Roads reported the Moon
bill, which, as amended, provided
w here such adjudication or recon-
mendation is made by the commissions
ers in reference TO any discrimination in
rates, and the same is not complied
with, as Aforesaid, the corporation fail
ing to comply shall be liable to a fine
Of 800 for every offence thereafter
committed in making such discrimina-
ton"
The bill thus amended-which is
practically the principle contended for
III the 18th section-was voted for by
every Democrat upon this floor and
passed by vote of 81 to Is. That
bill, however, failed to pass the SEN
ate, and the two political parties in
the State pledged to the people in
their platforms the enactment Of such
legislation as would prevent unjust dis
elimination in lreight-rates. lie de-
siIed to make good that pledge to the
people. If the ingenuity Of man can
suggest a provision less Objectionable
to the railroads, but which would give
the commission the power to correct
the wrongs, he would vote for it, The
section had not been fairly discussed.
He said the cases Of unjust discrimi-
nation are as multitudinous as the
stars. We are not by this bill at
tempting to reduce rates, but to equal
ize them. If the opponents of this
bill do not believe these are unjust dis.
ordinations, why do they oppose this
bill, for that is the object Of it.
The section is designed to preyent
unjust discrimination to protect small
shippers and points and people not
blessed with competition. 1t provides
that the complainants shall state their
complaint to the Board, and if the COM
plant is unreasonable it will be dis
missed but if unjust determinations
exist. the Board will adjudicate and fix
what is proper rate in the light of all
the circumstances. If the railroads
are not satisfied they can refuse 10
comply, and the question can then be
heard de moro and determined in the
courts. lie reviewed the Georgia law.
which accorded greater powers to the
commissioners than this, showing that
for the five years previous to the estab-
liShment Of the commission in that
State there were built 100 miles Of rail-
roads, but that since then more than
Coo miles had been built. To-day there
is in course Of construction in Georgia
four roads aegregating in length &O5
miles. He represented the county where
there were ll2 miles, whose people had
contributed over half a million within
her borders, and whose enterprise, thrift,
and prosperity is not equalled by any
city in the South. lie insisted
that this was not a movement against
the legitimate business Of the railroads,
but in the interest Of sound business
methods. lie did not desire to pose
as the so-called friend and champion Of
the people. "IIOw many crimes have
been committed under that demagogical
shibDoleth:" lie had been warned
tha: he stood in hopeless minority;
but, conscious Of the rectitude Of hi,
cause, he would 60 forward, though
none was his file-leader and none
touched elbows with him on the march
Mr.. Munford said he would devote
the balance of his allotted time in pre-
senting to this body the position of hi
friend Colonel Buford, the president Of
the Danyille railroad, in connection with
the determinations in freight rates
against Danyille. "On yesterday |
stated that | had been informed tina,
Colonel BuiOrd acknowledged that dis
ordinations against Danyille existed
said be would correct them, but sub
sequently informed the delegation Of
the Chamber Of Commerce from thai
city that TO effect complete relief was
beyond his power on account Of the
directory, which was resident in New
York. Colonel Buford to-day inform,
me that bis position has not been cor
rectly reported. and desire, in justice
to him, to read his statement in connec-
ton with this matter"
Mr.. MunfoId then read the following
from Colonel Buford's letter:
Togive you briefly the facts Of the case as
they are During last fall l went TO pan
vile 10 inquire personally into the e&teh,
and character OF complaints as 70 rates
ffeIe some Of which mad been called 10 my
attention. I found by conference with the
business men that these complaints
alose chiefly. II not entirely. from
lbe difference OF charges On trafiic from
western POINTS as compared with rates on
ike Traffic at l.ynchburg. which difference
IL was Gained. was affecting iDiuriOusly
H. no. dr OF IanNIIle In favor Of INnchDuTg