The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-02-04
Traffic Rates.

Traffic Rates.
Last week O. committee from Danville
appeared before the committee which
has in charge the Kent railroad commits
sion bill, and gave testimony in favor OF
that measure In their evidence they
referred to alleged determinations
against Danvile by the Richmond and
Danville road, in traffic rates. On the
27th, J. S. b. Thompson, Of that road,
asked to be heard before the committee,
in relation to the allegation, and upon
the policy of the Kent bill in general
AS to the specific charge against the
Richmond and Danville, he stated that
the matter of complaint had been.taken
to the Interstate Commerce Commission,
and that body had decided in favor of
the railroad, and against the complains
ants. Continuing, Mr.. Thompson cited
number of freight rates which were
charged in June, 1887, and compared
them with the present rates. He show
ed that the lowest reduction had been
made on first class freight from forty
three cents per hundred in 1887 to thlf-
ty-six cents at present. He took the
ground that legislation as provided in
the Kent bill was not demanded by the
people. He submitted comparative
statement of the different rates charged
nv the several railroad companies in this
State ever since 1879, which did not
seem to justify the charges made by the
Danvitle business men. In the opinion
of Mr.. Thompson the freight rates
should be arranged on business princi-
pies and should not be regulated by
law. and he therefore deemed all rail-
road legislation unnecessary. In speak
ing of his own road Mr. Thompson made
the statement that under the present
arrangement of rates farm products
would be sold on the line north OF
Orange at the same prices as in Rich
mond. The rates charged at present in
Virginia were lower than in any other
Southern State, and in fact lower, on
the average rate, than any State in the
Union. However, he could not deny
that wrongs were committed by en-
ployees of the railroad service, but GER
tainly not any more than in any other
business branch, but the policy of the
| railroad companies had been for years
to right all wrongs as soon as they were
brought to their knowledge.
Every one who has taken the trouble
to look into the question OF railroad and
passenger rates in Virginia knows MI
Thompson is right. Two weeks ago, we
published figures from Col. J. G. Hill,
railroad commissioner for Virginia, by
which it was demonstrated that freight
and passenger charges were less in this
State than in either Georgia, South or
North Carolina, where such a commls-
| sion AS the Kent bill asks exists. This
statement from Col. Hill COMFORTS with
the facts as stated by Mr.. Thompson,
and with what is known Of both the
Chesapeake and Ohio and the Norfolk
and Western roads. With such indis
putable facts and figures, what is the
! natural inference to be drawn, in the
| presence of the Kent bill?-It is that it
was not for the relief of the business
community that it was formulated or
devised: but for the three fat offices it
creates, the salaries of which assured by
| it are to be paid not by the State, but
the raa1roa1s; and taking this, in con
nection with the undisputed fact, that
there was bargain entered into last fall
between the Democratic State Central
Committee and prominent Alliance men,
and we have the secret of this Kent
bill. 1t was primarily to provide three
offices for three politicians, and not to
relieve the people or promote the gener-
eral welfare.
1t looks to us, that this is not only tri-
fling with legislative authority, but is
worse-it is palpably abusing it. 1t is a
proposition to embarrass and harrass the
railroads, to carry into effect political
dicker-to invade the treasures of the
railroads to pay political debts, and
subordinate these great arteries OF trade
and commerce to the emergencies of
party man1pulaIofS.
In the light Of the developments which
have been made in relation to this sub
| iect, we do not think it would be wise
for any public man, who values his rep
utation and future popularity, to sup
port measure, that has in it SO little to
commend it to right thinking men, and
which is so complicated with doubtful,
if not reprehensible, party movements.