Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-12
Mahono,e RaiIroad Bill

HONE and his hencMnen 90 get control Of
the State government and make law oi
the bill authorizing the Governor 90 ap-
point commissioners Of sales, &C., DC. The
same remark might be made as 90 the rail-
road companies and the bill TO put all the
railroads in the State into the hands of Ma
HoNE-a bill which might not inaptly be
STYLED bill 60 cOnfscate or sequcstrate the
property Of all thcrailroads in Virginia.
We all know what sort of man MAHoSE IS
We All know what sort of agents he would
have selected 20 carry into effect the seye-
ral laws which six or eight years ago he
underworld to get through the General
Assembly as a means of perpotuating his
rule in this old Commonwealth. Under
this one railroad law how many suhscryi-
ent tools do You suppose be would have
had-men who were actually 10 be paid -
d. his LiddiugY The Second Auditor csti-
mated few years ago that the proposed
new railroad law would Of itself have
furnished MAHoyr with $500 agents !!
that is TO say, three railroad commission
ers. their clerk. and G3,6Jj railroad en-
poyts. The estimate Of employees is twelve
fof every mile of railroad (2,sOS miles IN
ALL These railroad officials and employees
would have cost about seventeen millions
OF dollars year. and all Of them would Of
course have depended upon MAHoNE for
their places and their salaries.
We turn to our files Of ISIS, and we find
in our issue Of October 18th a description
Of the bill proposed by MALONE as a means
of controlling tho railroads, and through
them all the people of Virginia. Boss
TWEED was g mild and gentle and desirable
ruler contrgsted with the ruler Virginia
would have had if she had not been kept
out Of the clutches of MiuoVE. We now
proceed go reproduce the worst features #
the railroad hin as these are set forth ia
the issue of the Dispatch mentioned above.
We quote:
Il directs the appointment of three rail-
road commissioners, 90 DC nominated 10y
the Governor and confirmed by the senate,
az an aggregate salary OF $4,000 per annum,
and % secretary al a salary OF $1,000 per
annum. which sums with 500 oiiice-rent,
$500 contingent fund. and all incidental
expenses. are 20 be paid by an annual levy
On the railroads, which must pay 1t under
penalty of certain prompt and pcrcmptOrY
proceedings. See section 4.
That the said commissioners should have
absolute control of the whole economic adj
mipistratiOn Of every road for repairs. lH-
provements, and alterations of freight ANA
passenger rates l>cc sections and 81. all
u be done az the expense and risk of the
respective railroads. See section II.
That they should have absolute luquisi-
torial powers IN gard 60 all their affairs,
including the right to send for persons and
papers. See sections 10 and ~.
That they should have the right 10 full
control IN all matters Of what may be
called railroad police. See section %.
The article from which we quote goes ON
to give "a history of the fate q the bin
and then quotes from the railroad bill as
follows:
4. The annual salaries Of tho commits
sioners and their secretary, together with
the expenses heTeinbefore enumerated.
and Of any expert employed when certified
by the said board. shall tie borne by the
several corporations owning or operating
railroads. according TO their gross income.
10 be apportioned by the Auditor of Pub
lie Accounts. On or before the lst day az
July IN each year he shall assess upon each
of said corporations its inst proportion ot
such expenses. in proportion To- it, gross
income received for transportation for the
year next preceding that 40 which the as
sessmcnts are made; and such assessments
shall Ice notified % tho respective corpora
tions 10y the SAID Auditor of Public Ac-
counts, and # not paid % him within
twenty days after said notice shall Ice re-
covered, on his motion, in the Circuit
Court of the city az Richmond, after ten
DAYS notice said motion To- bc in Ina
name. for the benefit of the railroad COM
missioners.
2. Whenever, in the Judgment Of the
board of railroad commissioners, It shall
appear that repairs are necessary upon any
such railroad, or that any addition TO the
roliinc-stock, or any enlargement OF, or
Improvement in, the stations or station
houses, 81 any modification an the rates Of
fare for Transporting freight or passengers,
or any change in the mode of operating
the road and conducting its business, Is
reasonable and eXpodieut in order to pro-
mote the security, convenience, and 8c-
cOmmOdatlOn % the public, the said board
shall give information IN writing 10 the
corporation OF the improvements and
changes which the said board aiiudges To-
be proper; and if the said company shall
fail within sixty days after such inforIna-
ton given 20 a8op. the requirements of
said board of commissioners the said COM
pa, y shall incur penalty Of not less than
one no. more than five thousand dollars
for each day thereafter until SAID require
ments are fulfilled and completed.
Read now below the coufscation see
tions. which also conferred upon NAHoNE's
commissioners power TO remove all rail-
road " officers, agents, or employee" Alb
solutely all the railroads in the State
would have been run by MALONE. We
quote sections 10. q, and %:
10. That it shall be the duty Of said COM
missiOners 10 investigate the book and pa
pers of ali the railroad companies III tins
State. 70 ascertain II the rules and Gegul'l-
tons aforesaid have been complied with.
and TO make personal visitation Of railroad
offices, stations and other places of bust
ness for the purpose of examination. and %
make rules and regulations concerning
such examinations, which rules and rcgu-
latiOns shall be observed and obeyed
as the other rules and regulations
aforesaid. said commissioners shall
also have full power aud authority
10 examine all agents and employees
OF said railroad companies and other per-
sons, under oath OF otherwise. in 0rdoi TO
procure the necessary information TO make
Just aud reasonable rates OF freight and
passenger tariffs. and % ascertain il such
rules and regulations are observed or yio-
lated, and 10 make Necessary and proner
rules and regulations concerning such ey
animation, and which rules aud recul4-
tons heron provided for shall be obeved
and enforced as all Other rules and rogula- /
lions provided for IN this net
n. That SAID railroad commissioners, in
making an examination for the purpose of
obtaining information pursuant 10 this
net. shall have power 90 issue sUJp0nds for
che attendance Of witnesses by such rules
as they may prescribe And said witnesses
shall receive for such attendance two dol |
lars per day, and five cents per mile ira.
yelled 10y the nearest practicable route ia
going 10 or returning from tho place of
meeting Of said commissioners, 10 be- or
dered paid by the Governor upon pre-
sentation Of SOpenqs, sworn 10 by the |
witnesses, as 20 the number OF DAYS |
served and miles travelled, before !
The clerk OF said commissioners who is /
hereby authorized 20 administer oaths Ia 4
ease any person shall wilfully fail or refuse |
10 obey such subpoena, il shall be the duty |
Of the judge Of the circuit court o. any /
county, or the hastings court Of any city, |
ia court or ia vacation. upon application
OF said board Of commissioners, 70 give nn
attachment for such witness, and compel
a n. =. -