Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-09
THE SIXTH DAY.
STILL THE DEBATE GOES ON.

United States Supreme Court in the
Mississippi case, and for this amend
ment Mr.. Speaker Stuart had offered
substitute. The former gave the COM
missioners extensive powers TO see to
! the correction Of discrlminatiye rates
the latter, while prohibiting drawbacks
and rebates, permitted discriminative
rates between competing points. MIR.
Dabney, Mr.. Downing, and Mr.. Frank
lin had each indicated his purpose,
when opportunity offered, to propose
substitutes covering the same subject,
and their substitutes were printed by
the order of the House. Numerous
speeches had been made, and Mr.. Fig
gat had the floor on Saturday when he
gave way to motion to adjourn.
MR.. FIGGAT CONTINUES.
At 1890 o'clock yesterday the coa-
sideration Of the special order was re-
sumed, and Mr.. Figgat continued his
argument against all the measures pro-
posing what be regarded as arbitrary
and illegal powers. He regarded the
substitutes Of Mr.. Munford and Mr..
Stuart as usurpiDg powers distinctly
conferred by the Constitution on the
General Assembly. "They delegated
to the commissioners the power to pre-
scribe what is criminal offence and
what is not" One of these substitutes,
he said, further provided that the alleged
crime should be tried in the community
complaining; "that is, the people who
were to try the case, or select number
Of them--a jury-would be the com
| plaiDants themselves"
As to Mr.. Stuart's substitute allow
ing discriminating rates sat compe-
ting points," and not giving definition
"of competing points, Mr.. Figgat
claimed that nothing could be more
vague and indefinite. As a matter OF
fact, nearly every railroad station in
the Valley has competing point. AS
to the prohibition against rebates and
draw backs, 1t would be proper enough.
in another part of the bill. Another
objection he urged to these two substi-
tutes was that they class with crimes
acts that are mere business transac-
tions: not matters that should be made
criminal; for if wrong is done, it can be
corrected in the courts.
Mr.. Figgat said the substitute of
Mr.. Downing more nearly met his OBJ
jecuOns than any of those offered. A
railroad commission could have great
power of good for the railroads; it
can have great power Of good in seeing
that the railroads carry out their con-
tracts with the people and seeing that
they give to the people reasonable con-
veniences and accommodations. He
was for a board of commissioners, and
was in favor Of " clothing them with
powers, but not with absolute powers
lie would not give men of like fall
billty with ourselves the authority 49,
put their iron grasp upon the create
interest in Virginia, an interest viii
has more capital, which has more M
employed, than any other in the State. -
Let this commission see that the rail-
roads are not extortioners, but give the
railroads the right Of appeal, and let
the courts have such means Of enforcing
its mandates as if it were dealing with
you or me.
MIR. MILLER, or MANCHESTER.
Mr.. Miller addressed himself to the
consideration Of the 18th section, and
declared that in the Mississippi case
the United States Supreme Court had
expressly said that the Legislature
might delegate its powers in this re-
spect to commission. The MissisSlp-
pi commission could fix a tariff"
could /" hear complaints" could
change the rates." &c. Mr.. Miller
said that it appeared to have been al
legged against the Mississippi act that it
conferred both judicial and legislative
powers upon the commission; but the
Supreme Court held that the law was
constitutional. So the legality Of this
18th section is settled. Now, what is
the meaning of our 18th section? The
commissioners can fix rate, but if the
railroads are dissatisfied 1t is permitted
them to appeal to the courts. On the
other hand, if the railroad commission
ers decide against the compliments,
there is an end of that. The section
gives the railroads two chances to the
peoples one. The truth is, said Mr..
Miller, these railroad people do not
want to 60 to jury; and here he re-
marked that the gentleman who immedi-
ately preceded him "speaks like rail-
road lawyer-I mean no disrespect-
none at all, but be is like the tobacco
worm, he takes the color Of what he
feeds upon" Laughter
Mr.. Miller spoke very warmly about
injustice put upon the people by
railroad companies, and expressed his
hearty approval of the Munford amend
ment, and he thought the Legislature
altogether capable of selecting three
good. honest men, vino would deal SEN
sibly with the people and the roads.
" We don't want TO kill the goose that
laws the golden eggs, but we poor farm
ers do want to get some of those eggs"
lApplaus.l
FEELING RAISED.
Mr.. Cardwell, Of Hanover, regretted
the feeling exhibited in this matter.
Why should a gentleman who rises
here to oppose this bill be spoken of as
"railroad lawyer" Why should
any one have to diSclaim that he has
no connection with railroad? 1t
was all wrong. For one Mr.. Card
we'll could say that he never owned a
share or any interest in railroad, or
had even been a railroads counsel.
The feeling engendered in this
case has gone so far as to cause
gentlemen to speak Of the chan
bers of commerce " being gobbled up"
and being drought here by rail-
roads," Mr.. Cardwell regretted that
these things had been said about
the chambers Of commerce, and he
must believe that the gentleman who
had made these utterances Mr.. j.
Thompson Brownl regretted them too.
lie spoke Of the high character Of
these gentlemen, members of chambers,
and quoted from one tMr. Ayletp fiat
denial that they had been brought here
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