Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-12-09


prove true, steps should be at once takea
to remedy the wrongs complained Of we
should not forget that the Virginia rail-
roads were built to benefit Virginia first,
aud chiefly. We are now oppressed oy
heavy debt in consequence Of their con-
struotion, and they should not be used to
the pref ldice of the peopie's rights. nor &c
give the advantage to othe States and peo'
pie over our own. DO not believe We
should inflict unjust restrictions on the
railroads, they have done I'D are now 90
ing great work in developing tho state;
and ell reasonable encouraa 'emeut shorto
be given to them, but the RIG hts of the ois,.
zen should not be sacrificed or ignored. Ii
injustice has in any way been done to place
or people, am sure the railro ads Will Dc
willing to remedy the wrong when then
attention is called to it. II they hesitate
then the Legislature should promp sly RENE
dy the wrong complained of by apt ropriate
legislation.
MASTER AND SERVANT.
The law regulating the liability Of master
and servant is the subject of many contro
versies. The decisions are SO numerous
and conflicting that there should be sorae
legislation defining their respective rights.
The decisions in this country can not be
reconoiled. The reasoning, which was al
the foundation of the earliest deoi aions In
the English courts, is not applicab le to oul
country and people, and while it has beer
adopted in many of the States, it llas been
Gisregarded in others, and in some epudiat.
ed by statute. 1t has been modifie d ever
in England. Injuries to employees, BY the
various railroads and manufacturing com
panies, has become alarming, ana cry
nj kr tho To- al of1r for rrotaQtiora and
redress.
When an employee is injured by q CO
employee who is doing the work Of che
company and is about the masters busi-
ness, he is the agent of the master, select
ed by him, and the master should be res.
ponsible for injuries caused by his wrong.
ful acts, neglect or default done in th line
of his employment, lnasmuch as the master
receives the benefit of his labor. Legisla.
tion on this subject is much needle d aud
should command your attention at once.
The report of the Commissioner of Rail-
roads shows that during the year 1880 there
were 1852 accidents TO persons on the rail-
roads in Virginia, and that POI wore fatal.
We have not been able to asce rtain the
number for 1891. These fearful facts ap.
peal loudly to the Legislature for relief.
SEPARATE COACHES FOR NEGRO
There is very general demand for sepa-
rate coaches and separate waitfng-rOoms at
the passenger stations for the two races
throughout Virginia and the Sou .h. eev-
eral of the southern States have passed such
laws, and as far as 1 have been able to
learn they meet with the approval of con-
servative people. There are but few who
have travelled to any considerable extent
through the South who have not witnessed
disaereeabie scenes occasioned by the mix.
ing of the two races in the railroad coaches
or in the waiting rooms at the stations.
THE REASONS.
If there be a 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 it? II it is right for
them to travel together day and night,
why should they not go to the came hotels
for food and rest? We should be consist
ent. The separation of the RACES in church.
es, 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 we'll. Where it has
been attempted it has met with favor.
Being separated, each race csn fsel at ease,
uprestrained by the presence of the other,
and thus the comfort Of all will be pre-
NOTED,
would advise the enactment of statute
requiring every railroad company to pro-
vide separate coaches for the aceommoda-
separate accommodation at the passenger
yenience. When the travel on a road is not
sufficient to require two coaches single
coach should be so divided by partition
as to secure separate accommodations.
The law should be enforced by suitable
penalties.
LICENSE PALACE CARS
On every leading line of railroad there
are cars on which yon can be accommodate
ed as we'll as at first. class hotel. You
can buy cigar or drink, get meal or
lodging 1t is a hotel on wheels, and
sweeps the State for custom from bordor
to border. A hotel license should be re-
auired of them. 1t is unjust to require a
tax from one of our citizens, who is con-
fined to single locality, for the privilege
of keeping hotel and allow others, per-
haps citizens of arother State, to exercise
the same privilege without paying any tax.
The latter have the greater opportunity be
cause they gather their custom all along
the line, while the hotel keeper is confined
to one locality, if he changes it another
license is required. That these cars do a
profitable business is established by the fact
that they are becoming more numerous.
The company can better afford to pay this
tax than the State can afford to lose it, be
sides it is right to tax them.
ROADS IN THE HANDS OF RECEIVERS.
Whenever railroad abuses its franchis-
es, mismanages 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 officer
of the court, called receiver, to be operat-
ed for the benefit of those to whom it is ip.
debted.
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
To see that the railroad laws of the State
are faithfully executed, the message says,
that the citizen is protected in all his rights
against the company which may wrong
him, three Railroad Commissioners should
be selected with powers sufficient for the
purposes indicated. The people would be
better satisfied with three than one. They
would strengthen ope another and restrain
one another. Their decisions would carry
more weight and give greater satisfaction.
They should be entrusted with the power
necessary.
Attention is called to the direct tax due
Virginia from the General Government.
The Governor advises the Legislature to
accept the money and says he has had bill
prepared to carry the object.
CRIMINAL EXPENSES,
Under the head of criminal expenses the
message expresses the hope that the legis-
lature may find way to reduce these.
These expenses for 1861 were ST., 1894 and
in 1891 $261, ,854.51. Lessening the num-
ber of prosecutions and reducing the char
acter causes for felony are suggested as
remedies to overcome the evil. The Gov
ernor on this point also suggests the Com
monwealth's attorneys be paid salaries in-
stead of fees This, he thinks, will be a
good change and go far towards reducing
H. af thA