Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-05
THE RAILROAD BILL.
Alliance People and Merchants Both
Engaged 10 lis Preparation.
LIKE THE KENT MEASURE.
Differences Said to BE Very Fcw--Yester-
days Proceedings in Both Houses
The Work of Reapportionment.


Present indications point to both har-
mony and concert Of action between the
Alliance men and tho mercantile interests
Of Richmond in respect TO railroad CON-
mission bill.
Both these elements are moving in the
direction Of securing the passage of such
measure by the Legislature, tie one
through the Legislative Committee Of the
Farmers Alliance and the other through
the Committee on Inland Trade Of the
Chamber Of Commerce.
Yesterday afternoon q meeting was held
ut the rooms OF the Chamber to consider
the question of commission for the state,
at which were present Colonel John Is.
Purcell (president of the body, and
Messrs. 8. w. Travers chairman, A. II.
Christian, Jr., +. II. Dean, E. q. Leigh,
Jr., Thomas l.. Moore, William II. Palmer,
II. Is. Taliaferro. j. Randolph Tucker, Jr..
+. Nj. Whittle, Jr., and l.. G. Younger, Of
the Inland Trade Committee.
MUST BIZ JUST TO ALL.
After some discussion the following reso-
| luton was unanimously adopted:
ResolUed, That the sense Of the commit.
tee is that properly constituted railroad
| law is 80 framed that equal and exact JUS
tice will be done between the people and
| the railroads.
A subcommittee was then appointed TO
| consider the question in all its bearings,
and report to an adjourned meeting OF the
! full committee.
GOOD AS FAB As IT GOES.
The Kent bill, which was introduced into
| the Legislature two years ago, was before
| the full committee. and 1t was generally
agreed that it was an acceptable measure
as far as it went. The opinion of the COM
mittee is that what is needed in the way of
| q railroad bill IS O measure which, while
| not bearing haTshly or unJustly upon the
railroads, will protect the public from I'M
position, and give the commission power
| to see that this protection is extended.
The Kent bill. il Will be remembered,
was submitted at the last session 20 prOmi-
nent railroad-men, who said if they had to
| take any bill they would be satisfied with
| that one.
IL IS understood on good authority that
| the Kent bill and the new bill in the hands
of the Legislative Committee OF the ALI
ance do not differ materially. The spirit
and the objects to be obtained by the two
are the same.
THE RIGHT OF APPEAL.
The new bill retains the provision that
| the commission shall have power to tx
| reasonable rates. If railroad contend
| that rate is unreasonable and cannot,
upon representation of the fact to the COM
| mission, secure a reduction, the company
| can carry the matter into the courts. The
court may then IN its discretion sustain the
commission, reduce the rate TO what the
company considers reasonable. or fix rate
itself, and its decision shall be binding
upon the commission. The principal dill
| ferences in the bills are these: 1st.
Whereas the Kent bill provided that
| the commission should be appointed
by the Governor and confirmed by
the Senate, the measure cOntemplates
that they shall be nominated by the Gov
ernor and elected by the Joint vote of the
two houses of the General Assembly. 2.
While under the Kent bill litigation would
have been confined to the Chancery Court
of the city of Richmond, undei the new
bill suit may be brought in any circuit
court within the Jurisdiction of which the
cause for action may have arisen.
ANOTHER ALLIANCE MEETING.
On Monday night there will be another
meeting of the friends of the agricultural
interests at the Office of the southern
Planter and Farmer, and as 1t is probable
that the new bill will be read at the meet
ing and discussed, it is expected that the
subcommittee Of the Chamber of Com
merce Committee of Inland Trade will be
present.
THE COMMISSIONERS.
The bill does not prescribe the classes
from which the commissioners shall DO
selected, and leaves the Governor perfectly
free in respect to his nominations.
The action OF the caucus Thursday night
in nominating a Railroad Commissioner
is, however, considered positive indica-
tion that if a bill shall be passed creating
a commission General Hill will be one Of
its members. Other names prominently
mentioned tor places on the commission
arc those Of Colonel II. L. d. Lewis, Ct
Clarke, and Major Baker 7. Lee, Of Hamp-
ton.
NOT AETAGoNIsTIC TO DRMooRATs.
A meeting of the Alliance members of
the Legislature and others who are favor
able to the agricultural interests of the
state was held at the Office of the Southern
Planter, on Ninth street, yesterday morn
ing. Major R. G. Kent, of Wythe, was
elected chairman and MIR. q. j. Campbell,
of Amherst, secretary.
Various matters of interest 10 the farm
inc classes were discussed, and on motion
the following resolution was adopted
Resolred, That the members and friends
of the Farmers Alliance in any meeting
they may hold for mutual conference and
consultation shall not be regarded, and
will not be allowed 10 be in any way an
taponistic TO the Democratic caucus of the
Legislature of Virginia in oil political mat
ters. All members of the Legislature who
are friendly to measures of relief 10 farm
ing interests are cordially invited to attend
their meetings.
LEGISLATIVE REAPPoRTIoNMENT.
The apportionment of the State for men,
bers of the General Assembly Is going 70
be one Of the most troublesome and diff
cult undertakings of the session. Roanoke
and Craig now constitute House district
and have one delegate, but since the dis
trict was formed Roanoke city has sprung
into existence and the people OF Roanoke
county and the Southwests industrial
centre say this Slamese Twins relation
should be severed, as they are entitled 10
separate delegate. Gyles and Pulaski
also form district with one delegate, but
Pulaski city and other booming towns IN
the latter county have greatly increased
its populatlon. doubtless separation
or increase of delegation will be called
for here also, to say nothing
of other points in that section.
Tidewater, Elizabeth City, Warwick, James
City, and York, are represented by one
man, but Newport News is an evolution
since the last apportiOnment, and little
Warwick may ask TO be allowed TO go into
husiness tor herself or with only one part
ner at least. The Joint Committee on APP
portionment will not have much time tor
pleasure excursions.
NORFOLK COUNTY CONTEST.
The Norfolk county contested election
case. in which Mr.. Bidgood contests the
seat of Mr.. Stewart, who was awarded the
certificate by the State Board Of Canvass
ers promises 10 be not only lively but
bitter. Both contestant and contestee are
Democrats and Alliance men, both have
employed able counsel. and both are
making extraordinary efforts to get the
ear Of the members Of the House. The
adherents OF Mr.. Bidgood are en-
deayoring to force immediate action,
one of the nam objects being TO
have tho question settled before the
nomination for county judge OF Norfolk
is made. The latter is as much bone OF
contention, 1t is claimed. as the seat, The
Bidgood men are dissatisfied with the
present incumbent and say he must stand
or rather sit or fall with Mr.. Stewart.
The latter says that he was in no wise
pledged to the present county judge, but
since the Bidgood party forced the issue
he must stand by him; Already several