Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-19
THE BILL OF MR.. KENT
REASONS FOR ITS SUPPORT GIVEN
BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Determinations Against Richmond LII
Freight and Passenger Tranac-Whss
IL Hoped from . Now Law.


Freight and Passenger Trafhc-Whss
IL Hoped from New Law.
As Is known the Richmond Chamber OF
Commerce has come out in favor OF moro
stringent railroad-law.
II il not making war upon the transpor-
tation companies, but it is asking that the
existing statutes be amended and I'M
proved 30 that causes of dissatisfaction
may be more readily settled than at pres
ent.
To endeavor to secure the desired
changes the Chamber appointed its presi-
dent. John B. Purcell; It's first vice-presi-
dent, George L. Christian the. CHAIRMAN
of its Committee on Inland Trade, and Mr..
Il. G.. Leigh. Jr.-the leader IN TINS move,
ment--a special committee. After carelui
| investigation these gentlemen resolved 10
ask Richmond,s representatives in the two
houses Of the General Assembly TO support
the Kent bill now pending IN the House OF
Delegates.
To ascertain the features Of this bill. to
| learn what causes of complaint exist against
the railroads, and what is hoped Tor from
the changes in the law, the Dispatch yester-
day approached Mr.. Leigh with the results
following:
THE REASONS.
What reasons, Mr. Leigh. actuated the
committee of the Chamber in resolving
to recommend our delegates to support the
Kent bill?
Its provisions are more efficient, ne re-
piled. for the purposes intended than any
other that would likely be passed by THIS
Legislature.
What evils do You hope to cure? :,
IL is hoped that existing. freight ana
passenger determinations will be removed
by the operation of this bill; that proper
connections will be established at the
| functions of the various roads, and sec
tions of the State now cut off from each
other by an arbitrary policy will be able to
again establish the trade and personal re-
lations that existed prior 70 the
INCORPORATION of the roads which now
traverse but separate them. At one
time valuable business relations exist
ed between this city, the Nailey
but now if man lives along, the line OF
the Virginia Midland. Valley,
and Baltimore and Ohio roads he is practi-
cally cut off from Richmond. he cannot
ship his produce here nor buy here; In
the first place. freights are against him;
in the second, while he con get continu:
ous and unbroken trip to northern cities IL
he turns his face this way he is forced to
spend the night at the junction. This is
both inconvenient and costly. Thus it is
that our merchants no longer strive for
the business of Piedmont Virginia and the
Valley, and those sections are deprived or
the benefits of competing market Tor
their produce.
FEATURES OF THE BILL.
What are the main features of the bill
The bill provides that three commisson-
ers shall be appointed by the Governor
from any calling in life, but must be confirm
ed by the Senate. While 1t empowers the
commissioners to establish rates for freight
and passenger traffic, TO force connections,
and TO regulate the exercise OF the large
grants of power made the roads, 1t makes
clear the right of the road to appeal to the
courts TO correct any wrong that they may
think done them. In such appeals the
onus of proof rests with the complaining
company. The remedies defined by the
bill are made very clear.
DO THE RAILROADS CONCUR?
Will the bill be acceptable to the rail-
roads?
That question was asked Mr.. Haas in the
meeting held Monday evening, and / un--
derstood him to express himself az opposed
to any bill. He said that up to about ten
davs ago he favored q commission. but for
some reason during those ten days his
mind had undergone complete change on
the subject.
The Evils Complained or
| Colonel John B. Purcell, the president OF
the Chamber, answering the same ques-
tions, said:
The committee recommended the Kent
! bill because, in their opinion, 1t IS the only
bill that has been presented IN the Legis-
lature that did equal justice to herailroads
and the people. They think It has all the
elements of fairness that should commend
it to oil parties interested.
DISCRIMINATING RATES.
The Chamber, said he, is burdened with
| business in endeavoring to correct and
straighten discriminating rates. both for
| freight and passengers. made against the
city. Most of these the railroads have
shown a disposition to remedy when ap-
piled to. but this creates so much work
| for the Committee on Inland Trade of the
| Chamber that we think a well-regulated
commission would relieve us from all trou-
bic in this respect, and when the evil Is
once corrected it would be permanent.
THE cHAMBER's DESIRE.
"We desire by these means" continued
the Colonel, "tO correct all unjust dis
| ordinations, both as to passenger and
| freight traffic, and we hope moreover 10
| DTNNtUi uNt tllhl -to biiA't WV
as we'll as unjust charges by the railroads. "
AS TO THE PROVISIONS.
The bill provides for three commissioners
to be selected by the Governor from any
calling in life. They are to be confirmed
by the Senate. These commissioners will
work under flexible laws that can be
changed by themselves whenever they are
found to put hardship upon any person
| interested. At the same time the railroads
have the right of appeal from rulings OF
| this commission by summary proceedings
in the Circuit Court of Richmond.
ITS ACCEPTABLITY.
"We think that the bill will be more ac-
ceptaple to the railroads than any other
that can be passed. While they will not
admit now that any restriction upon them
would be satisfactory they think such
bill as this would give them more satisfac-
ton than the South Carolina and Georgia
laws. upon which it is modelled. and FOL
which the railroad representatives have
over and over again expressed their appro-
| baton and admiration"
NtlADTEDG