Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-07
RUNNING ON ROADS.
so GOES THE HOUSE DEBATE.

So GOES THE HOUSE OEbAIE.
Speeches On the CommissieBsrs' Bin by Dele.
saiss Brown. Frsnkiin, Mayo, and FiEgat,
and Mere TO Come.
In the House Of Delegates yesterday
at 1890 o'clock, Mr.. Echols, who was
occupying the chair, announced as
the special order the railroad COM
missioners' bill-the pending question
being on agreeing to Mr.. Stuart's sub
stitute for Mr.. Munford's amendment
the old 18th section).
Ex-Judge J. Thompson Brown, Of
Nelson county, was the first speaker.
lie gave very hearty support to the
amendment Of Mr. Munford. He wanted
the old 18th section restored to the
bill; or at least something equivalent
TO it. The law, be thought, would be
useless and worthless without some
thing Of the sort. ~.
Mr.. Brown devoted good deal Of
attention to the argument addressed to
the Committee on Roads by Mr.. Aylett,
Of Norfolk. He maintained that that
eentleman's comment on the Georgia
law was unfair. Mr.. Browns informa-
ton was that the Georgia law, which
was very much more exacting than this,
had given great satisfaction. 1t was
put into operation in October, 1877,
and has not only stood the test Of time,
but the State has prOspered under it,
and the railroads have raised no ques-
tion as to Its legality or constitutionality.
LIKE THE HOSTS or THE AssYRIANs.
True, one house of the General As
sembly Of Georgia had come within one
vote OF repeating the law but was that
strange? He thought not. No one
would think so who knew how L" these
railroads with their minions " laugh
ter come down on Legislature like
the ho is of the Assyrians. All honor
to that one man who stood steadfast
and repelled their onslaught. AS for this
law driving off capital, said he, I" if
capital won't come here except to grind,
why, then. let it stay away"
Mr.. Brown declared that without
the 18th section this bill would be "
law that would be a mockery; that
would bring us into disIepute, and
that would be infinitely worse than no
law at all"
THE CHAMBERS.
Mr.. Brown caustically commented
on the fact that the chambers Of COM
merce Of the State had sent delegations
here "to fight this 18th section" the
chambers all the while claiming that
they never made any representations
Of unjust rates which the railroads did
not promptly correct -; but yet these
chambers. who as organized bodies
were able TO take care Of themselves,
were endeayoring to prevent less favored
communities from securing protection
in the only way possible to them.
RICHMOND CHAMBER or COMMERCE.
In the course Of his remarks Mr..
Brown stated that the committees Of
the chambers "were brought here by
the railroad companies "; whereupon
Mr.. Stsrke interrupted him and told
HIN that he was mistaken that the
committees of these chambers werenot
brought here by the railroads. but came
here at the request OF the Richmond
Chamber Of Commerce.
Mr.. Brown answered, Well, never
mind about that the railroads gobbled
hem up and got the benefit Of them"
Mr.. Starke called upon Mr.. Brown
or proof Of this assertion. Mr.. Stark
,as sure that the gentleman was in
rror. The chambers Of commerce
throughout the State sent delegations
here at the request of the Richmond
Chamber. 1t was the action Of the
Richmond Chamber not Of the railroads
that brought the delegations here.
Mr. Brown said he referred to what
had occurred here in this hall, and
was in the knowledge Of all.
lie went on to declare that lit Is
very uDgenerous in the chambers Of
commerce to collogue with the rail-
roads to prevent other communities
getting needed relief, because the cham
bers say that they can get relief for
themselves without this provision Of
law"
PRESENT LAW GOOD.
Mr.. Franklin lRepublicanJ spoke at
some length, maintaining that the pre-
sent law is better than the doubtful
expedients proposed. His idea was
that the 18th section ought to read as
follows:
But if any such adjudication shall
decide that the rates charged by any
such corporation for the transportation
Of any freights or passengers between
two points upon its line in the State are
uDjustly discriminating as compared
with its rates for like class Of freighis
or passengers between other points in
the State, the Board Of Commissioners
shall give notice thereof in writing TO
such corporation and if the discrImi-
nation is continued after such notice.
the Board shall forthwith present the
facts to the Attorney-General, who
shall take such proceedings thereon a.
be may deem expedient to enforce the
existing laws Of the State
THE QUESTION OF REDRESS.
Mr. Hay argued that the gross defect
Of the existing law is that when rail
road company does injustice to a ship
per it leaves the shipper to hight his own
battles to prosecute his cause for re-
dress against the offending railroad
company. lnasmuch as small shippers
cannot afford to employ lawyers and 90
TO the courts TO contend with these cor
porations, manifest inJustices 20 uncor-
rected. What is needed-what the
amendment OF Mr.. Munford proposes
is 10 create board that will look after
the interest Of the people and prosecute
infractions Of Law tha; vii, stand be-
tween the people and the roads and see
that the laws are INDICATED and errors
and wrongs rem edied.
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