Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-08
THE RAILROAD BILL.
Mr.. Keni'S Measure Considered at
an Alliance Meeting Last Night.
AVERY FREE DISCUSSION
The Patron Explains IT'S Operations and
obIecss--views OF Others--Anether
Conference 20 Be Held.


bill TO be presented to the Legislature.
The attendance was quite large, nearly
thirty of the Virginia senators and dele
gates being present, besides several other
well-known gentlemen.
Major Il. G. Kent. of Wythe occupied
the chair and Mr.. G. T. Campbell, of Am
herst. acted as secretary.
After calling the meeting 70 order Major
Kent requested the Secretary TO read bill
which he had prepared, and which, after
some slight notifications and alterations,
he contemplates offering in the House.
The bill has been approved by the Le2isla-
tive and Railroad Committees of the Farm
ers' Alliance, and is follows:
The Bill.
To PRovIpE FOR THE GENERAL SUPERVISION
OF RAILROADS, STEAMBOATS,, AND CANAL
COMPANIES Dome BUSINESS IN THE STATE
or VIRGINIA.
1. That there shall be three commission
srs nominated by the Governor and elect
ed by the joint vote of the General Assem-
Div 70 carry out the provisions OF this act.
After the expirations Of the terms OF Office
of the commissioners first elected the term
of Office of their successors shall be SIX
wears, but at the first election one commis-
Cor four wears. and one for six years SAID
commissioners shall take an oath OF
office 10 be framed by the Governor.
and shall not Jointly or severally
or IN apv way be the holders OF any
railroad stock or bonds, or be the agent or
employee of any railroad company or nave
any interest in any way IN any ralIroaa
and shall so continue during the Term Vi
Office: and IN case any commissioner pc
come disqualified in any way, he shall at
once remove the disqualifications or re-
sion and on his failure so TO do, he must
be suspended from Office by the Governor
and dealt with as hereinafter provided.
In any case of suspension the Governor
shall fill the vacancy until the suspended
commissioner is restored or removed or
his successor is appointed and qualified.
TIE oFFICE TO BE KEPT AT RICHMOND.
Q Said commissioners shall be furnished
with au office. necessary furniture and
stationery. and may employ secretary or
clerk at an annual salary of 81 200 at the
expense of the State, and the annual
salary of each commissioner shall DC
$1,000, to be paid from the Treasury OF the
State. The office of said commissioners
shall 30 kept in Richmond. A majority OF
the commissioners shall constitute
ouorum for the transaction of business.
1'hey shall select chairman from
their number, who shall preside over the
meetings of the commission. All sums OF
money authorized to be paid by this act
ont Of the State Treasury shall be paid
only on the order Of the Governor; pro;
vided that the total sum TO be expended
bv said commissioners for office rent.
furniture, and stationery shall IN no case
axceed the sum of g 900 for the first year
and 81 800 for eacn succeeding year
SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF ExroRTIoN.
2. That from and after the passage of
his act if any railroad corporation or
eanized or doing business IN this State I'M
der any act of incorporation or general
law of this State now IN force or when
NAV hereafter be enacted, or any railroad
soTporation organized or may hereafter be
organized under the laws of any other
State and doing business in this State,
shall charge collect, demand, or re-
ceiye more than a fair and reasonable
rate OF toll or compensation for the trans
portation of passengers or freight OF any
description, OF for the use or transporta-
ton OF any railroad car upon its track or
anv of its branches thereof, or upon any
railroad within this State which it has the
ripht license, or permission 10 use, ope-
rate. or control, the same shall be deemed
guilty of extortion, and upon conviction
thereof shall be dealt with as hereinafter
provided.
nation in its rates or charges OF toll or
compensation for the transportation OF
messengers or freights of any description,
or for the use and transportation o. any
railroad car upon its said road or upon any
of the branches thereof, or upon any rail-
roads connected Herewith which 1t has
the night, license. or PERMISSION 10 operate,
control, or use within this State, the same
shall be deemed guilty OF having violated
the provisions of this act, and upon con-
yiction thereof shall be dealt with as here
matter provided.
SHALL MAKE REASONABLE RATES.
3. That the commissioners appointed. as
hereinbefore provided, shall. as provided
in the next section of this act, make rea-
sonable and Just rates of freight and pas
senger tariffs to be charged by all railroad
companies dong business IN this state on
the railroads thereof shall make reasona-
BILE and lust rules and regulations 10 be
observed by all railroad companies doing
business in this State as to charges at
any and all points for the necessary
handling and delivering of freight; shall
make such just and reasonable rules
and regulations as may be necessary Tor
preventing unjust discrimination IN the
TRANSPORTATION of freight and passengers
on the railroads in this State; shall make
reasonable and just rates of charges for
use Of railroad cars carrying any and all
kinds OF freight and passengers on said
railroads, no matter by whom owned
or carried; and shall make just and
reasonable rules and regulations, to
be observed by said railroad com
panies on said railroads, to prevent the
giving or paying of any rebate or bonus,
directly or indirectly, and from misleading
or deceiving the public in any manner as
20 the real rates charged for freight and pas
sengers; provided, that nothing In this act
contained shall be taken as in any manner
abridging or controlling the rates for
freight charged by any railroad company
in this State for carrying freight which
comes from or goes beyond the boundaries
of the State and on which freight
less than local rates on any railroad carry
ing the same are charged by such railroad,
but said railroad companies shall possess
the same power and right to charge such
rates for carrying such freights as they
possess before the passage of this act and
said commissioners shall have full power
by rules and regulations TO designate aud
FIX the difference in rates of freights and
passenger transportation to be allowed for
longer and shorter distances on the same
or different railroads, and to fix what shall
be the limits of longer and shorter dis
tances.
SCHEDULES AS EVIDENCE IN COURT.
6. The said railroad commissioners are
for each of the railroad corporations do
ing business in this State. as soon as prac-
tical, o schedule OF Just and reasonable
rates Of charges for the transportation of
passengers and freight and cars
on each of said railroads, and
said schedule shall, in suits brought
against any such railroad corporation
wherein is involved the charges of any
such railroad corporation for the trans
portation of any passenger or freight or
cars. OF unjust discrimination in relation
thereto, be deemed and taken in all the
courts of the State as sufficient evidence
that the rates. rules, and regulatlons therein
fixed are Just and reasonable yates of
charges, rules. and regulations for the
transportation of passengers and freights
and cars upon the railroads, and reason
able rules andregulations for the conduct
OF said roads, and said commissioners
shall from time 70 time and as often as the
circumstances may require change and
revise said schedules. When any
schedule shall have been made or revised
as aforesaid, il shall be the duty of all such
railroad companies to post at all of their
respective stations, in. a conspicuous place,
copy OF said schedule for the informa-
tion of the people and for this purpose it
ahall be the QutV Of said comntseioDare 40