The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-02-08
VIRGINIA INTERESTS II PHILApEi-
THtA.

A few days ago we called sharp atten-
ton TO the fact that the attempt being
made by the Norfolk and Western Rail
road Company to get the Attorney Gen
sral Of the State 10 use his Office to injure
their competitors, the Terminal Com
pany was q thing that every citizen Of
Richmond should Try 10 defeat
We uld not intimate that the At
torney. General could possibly be in
Aueneed by any considerations but his
honorable sense Of his official duty, but
we wish 10 point out some reasons
why the interests Of Richmond.
and many other parts Of the State,
make it his duty to reject the application
that has been made 10 him. and that
promptly The largest part Of the com
merce Of Richmond is with the States of
North Carolina South Carolina, Georgia,
and Alabama. in which States the Ter
minal Company has constructed a vast
mileage Of railways into one harmonious
system that formerly existed as separate
aniagonistic concerns.
This enables our merchants to distri-
butte their goods throughout that terri
tory without the breaks incident TO many
separate lines. and this is done with one
uniform schedule Of rates, and with so
much the smaller rates as they are re-
duced by reduction Of operating ex-
penses, in reducing the force Of en-
ployes and oificers
The imperative importance for the
preservation Of this system 10 our people
is too obvious TO need more than refer
ence to the facts
The fact that the application 10 kin
the charter Of the Terminal Company is
made by the lawyers Of the Norfolk and
Western Railroad Company, the rival Of
the Terminal Company, makes the mo-
tive as clear as day, and should paralyze
tbs application at once
But, again, what public interest re-
quires that the vast interests held by mer-
chants and the security holders should be
interfered witty
Positively none.
The inciter Of the movement against
the Terminal Company is its rival
The charter of the Terminal Company
eontemplsies the acquisition Of immense
interests, and It was granted by the Leg
islature in furtherance OF public policy.
II is not the part OF any public officer
10 move In the direction of revising that
policy, unless he is specially instructed.
This matter belongs 10 the Legislature,
and the lawyers OF the Norfolk and
Western had as VOL recognize the fact
that the people can be instructed on that
point.
Az TO the importance Of immediate ac-
ton, 1t is known fact that the Termi-
nal Company is engaged in large trans
actions with view TO bringing its parts
into closer union and reducing the cost
OF operating the system
II It ia stated TO the capitalists inter
ss.ed IN this that the State Of Virgins
through her Attorney-General, WAS NOV
Ing TO forfeit the charter which its
Legislature had granted it would in8ct
An injary
The Attorney-Genersl knows that po-
liticany and personally we are bis
friend, and that We have no idea Of
pointing out bis duty. But the TIMEs
keeps It's waeiber eye on the public inter
est and we desire this matter 10 be seen
IN It's proper light. This attempt to use
the machinery Of public justice Is one Of
the most impudent things that the law
yers Of the Norfolk and Western Com.
pany ever attempted, and we look TO see
It sat down on by the dignity Of all Of
fcials Of the State whom those entsTpris.
ing gentlemen attempt 10 use.