Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-03

bEOFeJItuAts DlJ Do cttN " tt4f.t"o
burden which Il not demanded by the
taxpayer. Ia some OF the States there are
frightfui examples OF counties crushed cy
iniudicious cxactions madefor the purpose
OF building roads.
RAILROADS.
No complaint has been made 70 me ON
ciallr against the railroads OF the State, Yet
fear that complaints exist against some o.
the railroads for improper determinations
against certain localities and against GER
tain articles of transportation. have
also heard that there re complaints that
the roads were run on such schedules IS 20
prejudice certain localities. destroying oy
unjust rates advantages which nature nad
given, incoDveniencing the people and IN
juring their business.
Connecting lines should be required 70
make az Gloss connections as practicable,
for the convenience Of the travelling pub
lie, and reasonable freight rates should DO
required. and no advantage allowed Tor
eign freight. OF that from other States.
over our own These things should be IN
yestieated. and. IL the complaints prove
true. steps should be at once taken TO
remedy the wrongs complained Of We
shoud not forget that the Virginia ran
roads were built 70 benefit Virginia. trst
and chiefly. We are now oppressed
their construction. and they should
not be used 10 the prejudice
OF the peoples nights, nor to give
the advantage 20 other States and peo-
pie over our own. j do not believe we
should Infict unjust restrictions on the
railroads. They have done and are now
doing a great work in developing the State,
and all reasonable encouragement should
be gwen 20 them; bat the rights OF the
citizen should not be sacrificed nor lg-
nored. II injustice has IN any way been
done to place or people. / am SURE, the rail-
roads will be willing 10 remedy the wrong
when their attention is called to II. III
they hesitate. then the Legislature should
promptly remedy the wrong complained
of by appropriate legislation.
MASTER AND SERVANT.
The law regulating the liability Of mas
ter and servant Is the subject of many con-
troyersies. The decisions are so numerous
and conflicting that there should be some
legislation defining their respective rights.
The decisions IN this country cannot be
recOnciled. The reasoning. which was at
the foundation of the earliest decisions IN
the English courts, Is not applicable toour
country and people, and while 1t has been
adopted in many of the States it has been
in others aud IN some repu-
dated by statute. IL has been modified
even III England. Injuries TO employees
by the various railroads and manufacturing
have become alarming and cry
aloud 70 the Legislature for protection and
redress.
When an employee is injured by &C.
employee who IS doing the work OF the
and is about his masters busi-
ness. he is the agent of the master, selected
by him. and the master should be RESPONSE
ii T. ,,,s l,tv n
acts. neglect, or default, done in the line
of his employment, inasmuch as the mas
ter receives the benefit of his labor.
on this subject is much needed
and should command your attention at
once.
The report of the Commissioner of Rail
roads shows that during the year 1890 there
were ,262 accidents to persons on the rail-
roads in Virginia and that POI were fatal
We have not been able to ascertain the
number for 1891. These fearful facts APP
peal loudly to the Legislature tor relief.
SEPARATE COACHES FOR WHITE AND coLoBED
PASSENGERS.
There is o very general demand for sepa-
rate coaches and separate waiting-rooms
at the passenger stations for the two races
throughout Virginia and the South.
Several of the southern States have
passed such laws and as far as | have been
able To learn they meet with the approval
of conservative people. There are but few
who have travelled 10 any consid cradle
extent through the South who have not
witnessed disagreeable scenes occasioned
by the mixing of the two races in the rail-
road coaches or in the walting-rooms at
the stations. If there Oe well-founded
reason for separate schools and colleges
for the two races and separate churches
and separate hotels, why should there
not be separate coaches for travellers
All day long the two races may
occupy the same coach. but when
the journey is concluded the white and
the colored passengers separate. each TO
his home or hotel. and the association IS
ended. Why should IL? IL 1t is right for
them to travel together day and night,
why should they not go TO the same hotels
Cor food and restf We should be con-
sistent. The separation of the races IN
churches. schools, and hotels has met with
the approval of the people, and the result
has been good; they should be separated
on the railroad coaches as well. Where 1t
has been attempted 1t has met with favor.
Being separated. each race can feel at
ease, unrestrained by the presence OF the
other, and thus the comfort of all will be
promoted.
| would advise the enactment Of a sta
tute recurring every railroad company TO
provide separate coaches for the accom-
mediation of white and colored passen-
gers, and separate accommodations at the
passenger stations-all of equal comfort
and convenience When the travel on a
road is not sufficient TO require two
coaches, q single coach should be so dl-
yided by partition as TO secure separate
accommodations. The law should be en-
forced by suitable penalties.
PALACE CARS.
On every leading line of railroad there
are cars on which you can be accOmmo-
dated as we'll as at first class hotel. You
can buy q cigar or drink, get u meal or
lodging. 1t is a hotel on wheels and
sweeps the State for custom from border
to border. A hotel license should be re-
ouired of them. 1t is unjust TO require
tax from one of our citizens who is con-
fined to q single locality for the priv
lege of keeping a hotel and allow
Others, perhaps citizens of another
State. to exercise the same prlyl-
lege. without paying any tax. The
latter have the greater opportunity be-
cause they gather their custom oil along
the line, while the hotei-keeper Is confined
to one locality; If he changes it another
license is required. That these cars DO
fact that they are becoming more numer-
Gus. The company can better afford TO
paw this tax than the State can afford to
lose It: besides, it is right to tax them.
RAILROADS IN THE HANDS OF RECEIVERS.
Whenever a railroad abuses its fran
chises. mismansges its business, and fails
to comply with its obligations judge of
competent jurisdiction. on the application
of creditors, will take control of the com
pany and place it in the hands of an OIL
Ger of the court, called receiver. TO be
operated for the benefit of those to whom
il is indebted.
A railroad cannot DO operated without
labor and inasmuch as the result of the
labor is for the benefit of the creditor this
labor must be paid for out of the earnings
of the road before they are distributed
among those entitled. This. / believe. IS
settled law. A railroad cannot DO profit
able unless il is encouraged by travellers
and freight-shippers. Those who use such
railroads should be Just as we'll pro-
tected in their rights by the law
as they arc on other railroads,
and whenever an injury occurs in
consequence OF the wrongful act, neglect,
or default of the railroad company or its
agents while IN the discharge of their du-
ties, the sufferer should have a lien on the
earnings of the railroad, and II. like la
Dor clam, should be paid before the earn.
ings of the railroad are distributed among
the creditors. If this is not done you will
have two classes OF railroads-one the law
makes responsible for its negligence, the
a oh