Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-01
MUCH AMENDED BILL.
STATE COMMERCE LAW GREATLY AL
TERED BY THE sEaAIE CoMHITTKE.
Their Work Not Yet Finished, but will be
Probably at the Meeting to be
Eeld Tonight.

The Senate Committee on Roads met
in the hall OF the House of Delegates
last night at 8 o'clock to further consider
the bill passed by the House to regulate
commerce in Virginia. There was full
attendance Of members Of the commit
tee. and not less than fifty spectators
were present, including members OF the
two branches of the General Assembly,
railroad-men, and others.
REPORTED.
The following Senate bills we're re-
ported without amendments:
TO Incorporate the Petersburg. Neck
lenburg and Southern Railroad Com
pany .o-,
70 amend and re-enact section 1914
of chapter Is Of the Code OF 1887, IN
regard 20 incorporated companies oo-
tanning the right OF way through land.
GENERAL OFFICES.
Mr.. Ellyson moved to take mp the bill
70 reonire railroads chartered by the
Legislature of Virginia to keep their
principal offices within the State. Inc
motion was discussed and defeated by q
bare majority vote.
Virginia, especially Richmond, is very
much interested in this measure, but
there seems little if any probability of
its passage at this session.
MR.. ANDERSON EXPLAINS.
Mr.. Rhea moved that if any gentle
men were present desiring to be heard
either in favor of or against the bill they
be given the opportunity.
Mr.. Koiner thought sufficient argu-
ment had been heard by the committee.
Mr.. Anderson, member of the House
from Fluvanna, asked to be allowed to
make a statement, and said he had been
informed during the day that what he
said the night before with reference to
discrimination on the Richmond and Al
legbany road did that corporation IN
Justice. He desired to put himself right
and to say that he had no intention OF
placing the road in false light. II he
had done so he very much regretted 1t
and hoped that the committee would not
be prejudiced against it.
SECRET SESSION.
Mr.. Moore said tine important thing
TO do was to get this bill before the Sen
ate that that body might have an oppor-
tunity to consider it. He thought the
committee had heard enough discussion
on the subject. and therefore moved to
report the bill.
Mr.. Rhea said he thought this rather
hastv. He desired to be heard on the
measure and he supposed that others
also did.
At the suggestion of the chairman the
committee went into secret session and
visitors we're invited to retire. The secret
conclave lasted until nearly l:30 o'clock,
at which time the committee rose to meet
again tonight to further consider the
subject.
DISSECTION or THE BILL.
In the secret session the committee
literally whacked the bill to pieces.
Many amendments were placed upon
If. and if thev are not reconsidered to-
night the measure is practically dead
In fact. at this moment there seems &c
exist no probability that the bill will
pass in such shape, if at all, as to be ac
ceptable to those who proposed and
urged it.
Among the proposed amendments are
these
Provided that this act shall apply only
to railroads now completed and in ope
ration.
The salary Of the chief commissioner
shall be $4,000 per annum strike onl
the other commissioners the clerk IS tc
be paid 81 .0oC, and the office rent IS re-
duced to $500.
10 the fourth section is added: A
long haul shall be any distance over
twenty miles and short haul shall be
he anv distance under five miles.
There were some other amendments Of
less consequence.