Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-08

of This act, and the Governor shall have
! 900 copies OF such report printed Tor as
tribution.
NAY ISSUE sUBPEEAf.
X That eaid railroad commissioners IN
making INV examination tor the purpose
~ obtaining information pursuant to TINS
net shall have the power TO issue suopsnss
for the attendance OF witnesses py sucil
rules as they may prescribe. ana such
witnesses shall receive for SUCH attendance
~ per day and five cents per mule travelled
by the nearest practicable route III gong
10 and returning from the place OF meet
ING of said commissioners, TO be ordered
raid by the Governor upon presentation OK
subpmuas. sworn TO by witnesses As TO the
number Of days served and miles travelled
before the clerk OF said commission
erg who is hereby authorized To adj
minister oaths. That all subp9naS
for witnesses to appear before sara
commissioners. or before any one or more
OF said commissioners, ana nQ'lces 70 PeI-
sons and corporations. shall be Issued by
one of said commissioners aud directed TO
any sheriff, constable or marshal OF any
city or town, who shall execute the same
IN his bailiwick and make due return
thereof as directed therein, under the pen
alties prescribed by law for q failure 20 ex-
ecute and return the process OF any court.
and if anv person duly summoned TO ap-
pear and testify before said commissioners
Shall fail OF refuse to testify. WITH
ont a lawful excuse, OF snail reiusc 10
answer any proper question propounded 10
him by said commissioners IN the dis
charge of duty. or shall conduct himself
in a rude. disrespectful. or disorderly
manner before said commissioner, or any
OF them. celebrating in the discharge OF
duty. such person shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor, and upon CONVECTION
thereof shall be fined not less than $50 nor
more than $1,000.
SALARIES or COMMISSIONERS.
16 The annual expenses and salaries of
said commission and its clerk, including
Office rent, furniture, and stationery, not
to exceed 81 900 for the first year, and
81 500 for each year thereafter, shall he
anportioned among the several companies
owning or operating railroads. and other
common carriers embraced IN this
measure, in this State, By the com
missioners. according TO the gross IN
come OF said companies, and reported by
said commission to the Auditor OF Public
Accounts. On or before the 1st day OF
July of each year the Auditor shall assess
upon each Of said companies its just share
of such expenses in proportion to It's gross
income for the year next preceding
that in which the assessment Is
made. Notice of such assessments
shall be given TO the respective com.
panies bv the said commission, and
II not paid INTO the treasury within
twenty DAYS of the said notice may be
recovered in the Circuit Court Of the city OF
Richmond after ten days notice on tine
motion of the Auditor and in his name
for the benefit of the Commonwealth,
The salaries and expenses OF the said
commission shall be payable quarterly
on the lst days OF January. April, July.
and October, respectively. The members
of said commission the clerk thereof, and
EXPERTS who may be employed when neces-
gary under judgment of the commission
shall be transported free on every railroad
in this State.
II. That every officer, agent, or employee
of any railroad company who shall VIII
fully neglect or refuse to make and turnlsh
any report required by the commissioners
as necessary TO the purpose of this act or
who shall wiliully and unlawfully hinder
delay, or obstruct said commissioners IN
the discharge of the duties hereby i'm
posed upon them shall forfeit and pay a
sum of not less than one hundred nor
more than five thousand dollars for each
offence. TO be recovered in an action OF
debt IN the name of the State.
EXCEFTIONs.
Is. Nothing in this act shall apply 10
the carriage, storage, or handling OF pro-
pertv free or at reduced rates for the
United States, State. or municipal govern
ments, or for charitable purposes. 70 or
from fairs and eXpOsitions for EXHIBIT
thereat or the issuance Of mileage. eX-
curslon. or communication passenger
tickets, and 10 persons IN charge OF i've
f,x,f . ina int a
shipment to destination and return. No
thing in this act shall be construed topr o.
hibit anv common carrier from giving re-
duced rates 10 ministers Of religion, or TO
prevent railroads from giving free carriage
10 their own officers and employees, or
their families, or as charity TO poor ana
necessitiOuS persons, or to prevent
the principal officers of any rail-
road company or companies IRON
exchanging passes or tickets with other
railroad companies for their officers OF
employees, and nothing in this act con-
Ia ned shall in any way abridge the RENE
dies now existing at common Jaw or by
statutes, but the provisions OF tins act are
in addition TO such remedies: provided
that no pending litigation shall in any way
be affected by this act.
10. All other acts and parts of acts in
conflict with this act are hereby repealed.
Mr.. KENT's REMARKS.
The reading Of the paper consumed half
an hour. after which Mr. Kent explained
its salient features. He said tnat q paper
OF It's nature would have TO be studied and
that it required careful consideration.
over 1000 miles of railroad are operated
in Virginia to-day, added hespeaker. And
this whole system Is subject TO no law eX-
cept their own dlctation. II is matter that
our people must take in their own hands,
Where there 70 q great power invested IN
indiyiduals without limit, 1t will necces-
sarilv be abused. The bill is not intended.
be said, TO cripple railroads, but 10 do JUS
tice TO the people Every one understands
that thew are the arteries of commerce,
and of course must not be unfairly dealt
with.
AN EXPLANATION OF THE BILL.
1.-THE reason for the commissioners
length of term in Office" continued the
speaker, us that they will be presumed 10
DO familiar with their business. The bill
fixes the tolls and they are TO be received
a primd fdcie reasonable rates. III the rail-
roads don't consider them fair they can IN
writing point out 70 the commissioners
their grievances. Ii the commissioners,
on the other hand, think that the rates are
fair they are expected to notify the roads
and the courts will act as umpire and pass
upon the questions.
The rates fxed.by commissioners will not
be absolutely binding. but only so far as
confirmed BY the courts upon an appeal
by the railroads. There must necessarily
be erbitrator5 TO settle differences of
opinion, and in this case the courts will
do il.
The compensation for the commission
ers is to be first paid out of the State
Treasury in order 10 make the officers
created under this act feel that they are
the appOintees of the State and not of the
railroad companies. The salaries are to be
$4,000. / don't suppose the necessary
talent 10 manage these offices could be
commanded at less price. The railroad
men think the compensation too small.
but think it is reasonable and fair. The
State pays 1t out in the frs. instance, but
it is returned by the railroad companies.
SOME OF IFS PROVISIONS.
There are various provisions in the bill
intended 10 meet ell phases of the COM
mon carriers. regard the seventh section
of vast importance TO the railroad compa-
MES and to the State, continued the
speaker. IL might be termed the inqulsi-
torlal features, requiring the railroad COM
panies TO exhibit their books, contracts.
and entire transactions in order for the
commissioners TO see that they have COM
pied with the provisions OF the law.
mold this is the best way 10 find any exist
ing determinations. IL will bring these
matters before the commissioners aud like
wise 70 the attention OF stockholders Of