Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-02
FEW CAN RIDE FREE.
THE NEW RAILROAD LAW WILL NOT
ALLOW MANY PASSES.
Row II IL Construed by Commissicner
Bill-Other Features Of the sta
tute-The New Acts.

Tho new railroad law passed by tho General
Assembly at It's last session and commonly
known ms tho Mason bill, went into effect ycster-
day and the common carriers Ia Virginia will be
governed by its provisions until tho Legislature
lnds occasion to change them.
The entire statute, which makes about six
pages In The Acts Of Assembly. md practically
embraces all OF the laws OF the State governing
railroads, was published In the DISPATCH soon
after its approval by the Governor on the Sd Of
March last. The Id sections OF the Code and
special railroad acts about all OF which are re-
pealed or changed by tbis one, took up seven
teen printed pages
A little more than month ago General James
c. Hi the Raj rad C1minissioner, had printed
and distributed, as required by law, coinplla-
ton OF these statutes, and with them gave tho
Mason act. The railroad oficias and others
directly Interested In matters OF this character
have. therefore, had abundant time and oppor-
tunity TO compare the old and new laws, and TO
prepare for compliance with the terms OF tho
latter. F& e
TIE QUESTION or Ynnx PAssEs.
=. One Of tho most impoftaIt pecyisions Of the
hnson act, and certainly ono t11et has been dis
cussed rs much AZ any otfier, Ae9hat prohibiting
the issuance OF free passes to State officials ana
others who have been accustomed 10 use them
for many years. The result Is that hereafter
only favored few can rido on complimentary
tickets, while the great bulk Of those who hold
Official positions VIII have TO pay for every trip
that they take.
general meeting OF representatives Of the
vnrious railroads was held here May 18th, when
many features OF the law were discussed, among
them this ono. 1t was decided to ask the Com
missioner Tor his construction OF the law on TINS
point. and he promptly gave his written opinion,
az follows:
Sections 2 and 3 and 10 Of the act approved
March ., 1892, prohibits the issuing OF ifee
passes 70 state officers, judges, members OF the
eg at ,Harc fstfu
think that the Board OF Public Works, composed
OF the Governor, Auditor OF Public Accounts, and
Treasurer are entitled TO annual passes and That
a liberal construction Of the frat paragraph OF
section ! 9 would allow you 10 issue passes TO tho
members Of the State Board of World's-fair COM
missloners when actually engaged IN iho ais,
charge Of their onicial duties. As TO annual
Ia ses now outstanding, my construc Ion o. mo
law Is that they should be recalled on June 1st. ,
THOSE WHO ARE EXCITED.
This is part Of the 10Th section to which Cen
eral Hill refers
"That nothing In this act shall apply TO tse
carriage, storage, or handling OF property iree
or at reduced rates for the United States, state
or municipal Governments, or for charitable
purposes, or to and from fairs and qopostions
for exposition thereat, or the free carriage OF
destitute and homeless persons, and the ne
cessary agents employed In such transportation
or TO mileage, excursion, or comm ltatlon pas
senger tickets. or 70 persons IN charge OF HVe
stock being shipped from the point cf shipnent
10 the pOlni OF destination hul tctufh' iioluihe
In this act shall be construed TO pronibit any
common carrier from giving reduced rates 10
ministers of religion, or TO INDECENT persons, or
to inmates Of the Confederate homes or STATE
homes for disabled soldiers, ana oil disabled sol
diers and sailors, including those about 10 enter
and those returning home after discharge or
carrying the same free; nothing III TINS act
shall be construed TO prevent common CARRIERS
from giving free carriage to their own officers,
employees, aud members OF their families, or 10
prevent the principal officers OF any railroad
company or companies from exchanging passes
or tickets with otner railroad companies Tor their
officers, employees, and members OF their faIni-
lies
In compliance with the last clause OF the Com
missioner's letter some OF the railroads nave
Issued q circular calling IN all Of their outstand-
ing passes. Others have taken no action at al
ia the matter. No decision has been announced
with reference 10 tickets issued 10 newspapers
for their men, but the impression Is mat lhat 'ne
law will not effect these where they are given, as
s generally the case. In recognition oil courtesies
extended TO tho corporations.
orGER PROVISIONS.
The first section Of the act, which relates 70
the long and shOrt-haUl, prohibits the charge OF
greater compensation Tor snorter thah Tor
longer distance: the fifth requires every conf
mon carrier subject TO this Inv 10 PRINT ana
keep open 20 the public schedules showing
tile passenger and freight rates between
various points. and also that copies OF these
schedules oe flsd with the Commissioner: under
section II the companies are required 10
make their reports 10 tue Commisssioner instead
OF 10 tho Board OF Public Works, as heretofore.
The act applied TO "any railroad, express, or
canal company chartered by this or any other
state and doing business in this state, ana any
steamboat, steamship, or ferry company cong
business in TINS state, whether Incorporated or
nor, and whether operated or controlled Dy all
individual or partnership
An OF the railroads seem determined to COM
DIV strictly with the spirit OF the new statute:
prominent Official in conversation with q Dis
PATCH reporter last night said that tho corpora
tions could stand the provisions OF the law very
veil but that some OF their friends who have
heretofore enjoyed special privileges ana conVe-
uieuces would have to suffer.
The New Acts.
Tho acts Of Assembly ls91'92 have al been
nrintcd and most OF them distributed TO the
State. county. and city omcials, who are entitled
70 receive them The volume contains l,236
uayes or nearly 200 less than that issued two
wears ago, which was one Of the largest IN mo
states history. A few hundred copies OF the acts
viii be put on sale after the official distribution
is completed.