Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-27
The Richmond Chamber OF Com N ercelsnd
the Kent Railroad Bin.

sure proposed Tor legislative determine
tion By the Virginia General Assembly fol-
many wears than the sbove-named mea-
sure, and which goes TO our Legislature
with the endorsement OF the large and in
faential body Of Richmond manufacturer
and merchants composing its Chamber OF
| Commerce. A careful examination of the
sweeping nature OF the proposed law con-
vinces the writer that had the full extent OF
Its operation been realized il would never
have been passed upon by rs small o meet
ing OF the Chamber as were present when
its endorsation took place. nor would il
have been done without word OF OPPOSE
ton as was the case, and IL is certain that
had the other side OF the question been at
all ventilated some Of those who were
there would have voted against il.
The first three sections of the bill relate
TO the appointment of the commissioners,
salaries. expenses, &C., and from the man.
ner OF their proposed nomination and
/ election il necessarily follows that the
three commissioners will be more qualified
TO discuss the political issues of the day
than TO calculate the cost per ton per mile
run for carrying the produce Of the State.
Section 4 proposes to put into the
hands of these three gentlemen the sbso-
lutte control OF every railroad, steamboat.
or other corporations and associations
! doing business as common carriers" in
this State: this control to DO a. absolute
and complete rs II q majority of the share
! holders OF each Of these corporations had
given them power of attorney TO vote their
stock, Tor if corporation or individual IS
compelled to market its production at a
price fixed by board, if not inimlcal TO its
! interest. at least appointed by and through
the instrumentality of an agency. which
believes IL 10 be responsible for many of
their real or imaginary woes, and yet is
4 1.HNs g. aa.r Il
| competition with all the world il is simply
a question OF forbearance as to how long q
time an enterprise will be permitted to
| exist. The Railway Commission having IT
! in their power to declare what is rust
and reasonable rate" they can permit Just
| enough air to reach the victim to prevent
his death from suffoeation. and at any
| time that prejudice so desires that little
NAV be cut of and its death insured Not
only does this law give the commission
| the right 10 make a schedule of rates. but
they are from time to time and as often
a. they deem proper TO change and revise
said schedules" In other words, il the
railroad is still making anything the COM
mission may have another and still another
opportunity TO deprive II of It's income.
! IL is true that the bill provides for q
remedy on the part of the railroad by
| giving it the right of appeal from the
J =
but il makes the rate named by the com
mission az reasonable and just" fixed
| fact until after the decree of the court OF
final resort Is handed down makes the
fact that 1t has been fixed by the commits
sion primd- fdcie evidence that IL Is reason
able and Just and puts the burden Of proof
entirely upon the railroad of showing that
IT Is not. Any one familiar with the prac-
tice OF American lurles can readily under
stand how the railroad in appealing to the
courts would be flying from the frying
pan into the fire."
To show how inequitable is this law This
same fourth section allows mileage TO wit
nesses attendant upon any litigation be-
tween the commission and the railroads at
the rate of &c. per mile travelled, when
there are no railroads now in the State
whose local fair Is much, If any, over three
cents per mile.
Section Of this bills if anything, still
more drastic. in that il prescrlbes If any
common carrier shall demand or receive
more than fair aud reasonable rate" &c,
1t shall be deemed 10 have violated the
provisions Of this act. ana the question of
what is far and reasonable" is left en-
tirely open. with the possibility OF the rail-
road being hauled before the Commls-
sloner upon the most fimsy pretext.
Subsequent sections of the bill give the
proposed commission almost autocratic
power over the RAILWAYS of the State, such
AS making them sole Judge OF the necessity
o. repairs, of addition to rollIng-stock or
equipment. location of stations, station
houses and depOts; train schedules and
connections az junction points are put en-
tirely under their control; they are gwen
the right to investigate the books and
papers Of all railroad companies; oil
traffic contracts and agreements between
transportation lines before completion
must be submitted 10 this commission for
approval before they can become opera
tive in other words. the three gentlemen
who are TO compose this commission Will
be clothed with far more authority than is
the traffic-manager of the largest railway
system now IN existence and Will be in
vested with more power To do evil, either
through ignorance or design, than could
possibly have been thought of by {
Chamber Of Commerce when it voted
endorsation of the measure.
There IS yet time for us TO ponder a.
whether the railroads in this State have
abused the privileges granted them under
their charters 10 such an extent az TO JUS
tlfy their being turned over. bound hand
and foot, TO commissioner clothed with
such extreme power. Few. If any, of those
built within the boundaries of this State
have ever paid one dollar of interest on
the common stock issued for the money
with which they were built; az least three
fourths of the number would not now be
recognized bv the name with which they
were originally incorporated, the muta-
tions through UhIch they have passed
having been entirely due TO the fact that
the revenue received was Inadequate 10
keep them on paving basis. If we so i'm
poyerish the blood which flows through
these great arteries of commerce how can
we expect them or our State to get within
the pale Of more prosperous ora!
The policy pursued by our rNiroads and
developing industries along their lines
surely entitlo them 10 the credit of
spirit of llberality for which legislation OF
the character pro.~-Ad Is poor requital
What has made the great Southwest-a
possibility prophesied bv Westinghouse
accomplished fact but the liberal policy OF
the Norfolk and Western railroadf What
has revolutionized the condition of things
in our mountains but the breadth OF
vision of the railroad management. whose
lines bear their coal and IRON to the sea
And while the writer is aware that the
power incident to large accumulations OF
money in the hands OF railway corporations
is not always used III that manner which
NAV be for the best interests of the body
politic. he is still aware, and he begs Others
10 remember, that our modern civilization
is too much dependent upon the pros
perity of our railways for us to deprive
them of their autonomy IN the manner pro-
posed by Senate Bill No. rs. Hedgcd in as
they are now by the statutes on our law
books, by the interstate commerce regula-
tions, and prompted by their own in
terests, they can be safely left alone, for
none know better than they the folly OF
killing the goose that lays the golden
egg" W.
The Liquor Question.
To he Editor Of ne DisDGich:
great deal has been said and written