Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-10
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 10, 1889.
Dangers Of Mahoneism-Again.

Dangers Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Suppose tina, all Of the railroad compa-
MES Of Virginia should combine their ef-
forts in behalf OF anygiven policy Of leglsla-
ton which they might imagine would put
money into the pockets of their owners;
Would the people Of Virginia be able TO
withstand their cffortsy Their thousands Of
employees would bc enlisted in favor Of
whatever schemes might be proposedb 10y the
railroad managers. These employees would
make along the line of every railroad
public opinion which would demand the
election 20 the General Assembly Of mon
who would execute the will of the railroad
companies These ra;lroad-mcn might be
in small minority. but they would he
thoroughly organized and would thus be
able % control the legislation of the Com
monwcalth for years or until the majority
Of the voters should rise in their might
and resume control of the interests of the
people. Where Is the Nirginian who would
be willing 90 see the fortunes of the Com
monweaith intruSted to such a combina-
ton Of railroad companies
But it would be much worse If one per-
son. and he an INSCRIPTIONS dcmagogue.
should secure for himself over all the rail
roads in the State such a control as we have
asked the reader 10 suppose might be con-
centratod in the hands If all the railroad
companies together. Such q man would
bc dictator worse than Boss TWEED. He
would be public enemy. He would cor
rupt the fountains of Justice, degrade the
source of all honors, substitute his Will for
the needs and wishes of the people, travel
in state over all the railroads, rule with
high hand all corporations Of every sort
dependent for their success upon favorable
legislation, and in a word, would, booted
and spuued. ride over the people until
they were forced 20 engage IN revolution
in order to the establishment of State
government even tolerable.
We have recited heretofore several Of
MAHoNE's worst schemes. We remind the
reader this morning of another-one of the
most dangerous projects which MAHoNE's
brain ever conceived a project which per-
haps not another man in Virginia would
have had the monumental check 10
propose. Several wears ago. in the columns
Of this paper, Colonel RUFFIS described
MAHoNE's scheme for obtaining control Of
all the railroads in the State. II said:
"A substitute was introduced for House bin
Ne. ~ TO regulate freight aud passenger tariffs.
which IN its sCyenth section gave 20 the Bureau
OF Railroad Commissioners. contemplated 20 DO
established by tho hil tho right % order any re-
pairs 10 the road or addition 20 the rOllincstocS.
or any enlargement or improvements IN the sta
tiOns or any modification Ia the rates OF trans
porting freight or passengers, or any change IN
The mole of conflicting Its business, all at the
solo judgment and discretion Of tho commits
siOncrs. but all ~ the cost Of the railroads AMI
al their risk for resulting damages RId al these
orders 20 be enforced 10y a heavy penalty recOv-
cradle by motion on ten days notice IN tho Cir
cult Court Of Richmond. And in section 20 II
further gives such general supervisory control
Of the roads AMI Of Ccrtaln Mp)riaut officials
A. 20 place them completely at tie mercy Of this
bureau
Imagine such law in force and the Blu
reau Of Railroad Commissioners under the
absolute control Of MAHoNE- ~ of course it
would have been-what would have been
the condition Of the railroad companies
They would have been at the mercy of
MAHoNE mere slaves-not the servants of
the public. but the tools of the little boss,
10 be handled al his pleasure. Colonel
RUPFIN. in an article on the subject which
ne once wrote for the Dispatch. said that he
had il on the best authority that General
MAHoSE was expected 10 be potential, as o
railroad expert, in the appointment of the
commissioners who were TO execute this
law.
Really we need nobody's testimony on
this point. All the kickers - all the Re
publcans who are not Mahoneites know
and say that all MAHoNE's schemes are
schemes in the interest of MALONE.
The three railroad commissioners We're
70 be appointed by the Governor and their
nominations confirmed 10y the Senate.
MALONE was afraid to trust Governor
CAMERON to carry out his will. So his bill
provided that the Senate should exercise a
supervisory control over CAMEEoN's ap-
pointments.
But the odious features Of this bill of
denominations were 50 many that we will
not undertake 10 state them all in one ar-
ticle.