Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-10
THE END NEARING.
TOTE TO BE TAKEN T0-DAf
Tn, House Decides 90 Take n Vote ON the
smart and Munford Amendments To-Day
The Debate Yesterday, Sc.. &C.

Il
The Debate Yesterday, Sc.. .Sc.
At II VI. yesterday Mr.. Cardwell'
Of Hanover, resumed his speech to the
House in opposition to the amend.
ments proposed to the railroad commits.
sioners' bill by Messrs. Munford and
Stuart. He said it was not his pur-
pose to speak much longer on this sub.
iect because he had almost exhausted
it Monday. lie did not wish to be un-
derstood as opposing the passage OF
railroad commissioners bill. If one
with proper powers conferred on the
commissioners could be framedhe would
heartily join hands with its hackers
and vote for it. He contended that
to clay down an iron rule" for the
government Of railroads would be as
| ruinous to the shippers as it would be
to the corporations. 1t would fall
with peculiar hardship upon the agri-
cultural community, who would have to
pay the additional costs thus levied,
not only upon all that they had to buy,
but upon all that they had to sell. 1t
would also necessarily compel the rail-
roads to pursue a policy Of retreneo-
ment and reform, and one OF the first
i'll effects Of the law would be felt in
the reduction Of the wages Of those
employed by railroads.
Mr.. Cardwell denied that the power
Of this General Assembly is omnipotent.
as was practically claimed by the gen.
tleman from Nelson (Mr. Brown. Were
it so. the people and the two houses
would not be daily, hourly, harassed by
the debt question as they are. No, the
United States Supreme Court did not
assert the omnipOtencc Of the Legisla-
ture of Mississippi, and this Legislature
would find they would not besustained
in the exercise Of arbitrary powers.
Mr.. Cardwell quoted the Massachusetts
law as a model which Virginia could
better afford to copy than the Georgia
law. lie then went on to show hoS
failaciOus is the charge Of unfIirnc IS
in many Of the instances brought for
ward here.
Mr.. Munford asked Mr.. Cardwell if
be was aware that there were discrimi-
mating rates against Danville; that the
president Of the road had admitted the
fact; that he promised the Chamber Of
Commerce to correct the wrong within
thirty days, and then said that he was
not permitted by the directory, who re-
sidein New York, to do it.
Mr.. Cardwell answered that Mr.
Munford. as a lawyer, must know that
these complainants would have found
their remedy and redress in the courts.
This was no case Of poor man unable
to prosecute his case. but as a matter
ola fact he maintained that the law did
nat call upon the individual to bear the
burden Of the prosecution. All that
was asked was that the individual com
plain and the Commonwealth's officers
would see to the enforcement Of her
laws.
Mr.. Cardwell. answering some state
ments heretofore made by Mr.. Munford,
said that the Danyille railroad charter
gave them an absolute right to fix tolls
until their income paid Is per cent. on
the capital stock. which it never has
done. Under that charter il is a mat
ter Of very serious doubt, he thought,
whether this law can be put upon
them. True that for additional priyi-
leges the company conceded to the
State the right to tax them. He further
quoted from the Code the provision of
law declaring that the State should not
take railroad property without just
compensation, and not alter their tolls
without their assent"
Mr.. Cardwell, summing up, said the
right Of the Legislature to pass this law
was atlcast questionable. Asto the ques-
tion,of expediency, it was clearly against
any such legislation-legislation which
promised nothing but mischief.
Mr.. Cardwell saw no way by which
the Commonwealth could be relieved Of
her burdens Of debt and poverty but
by encouraging the building Of rail-
roads. We should encourage rather
than repress them. Let railroads be
constructed in every direction, and if
the companies violate your laws, why
Jet them be epunished by general laws
laws applicable to all. In conclusion
be gave his support to the bill as it was
reported from the committee.
WANTED a VOTE.
Mr.. Pollard moved that the vote be
taken son the pending amendments at
l:30 o'clock p. NJ. tomorrow" ito.
day.
Mr.. Porter called attention to the
fact that so far the discussion had been
wholly monopolized by members Of the
bar, and that the representatives of the
commercial interests had had no say at
all.
Mr. A. Fulkerson and Mr.. Martin
objected to such a summary closing Of
this debate.
Mr.. Harris (colOred) said: favor
the motion made by the member from
hing and Queen, notwithstanding tina,
the gentleman from Portsmouth asserts
that the members of the bar have occu-
pied nearly all Of the time in this dis.
cussion for while | should like to hear
the gentlemen who represent the COM
mercial classes, | hope not to hear such
long speeches as have been made during
this discussion. heard the gentleman
from Hanover yesterday and nearly all
day to-day, and at the conclusion Of his
speech felt very much like arising and
asking that We look to the Lord and be
dismissed. Laughter
Mr. Cardwell The Lord has already
dismissed the member from Dinw iddie
aud all Of his party with him. lApplause
and great laughter
Mr.. Harris But the member from
Hanover seems to recognize the fact in
this discussion that his party is tread
ing on the same dangerous grounds
which, il is said, drove us from place
and power, for there is little difference
between this bill and the one proposed
by my party four years ago. want to
tell the gentleman from Hanover that
we have only gone out of power for
short while we will return again
shortly. And want to say that ere
long, on a bright November mora
ing, when the sun shall rise 10