Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-05
AN ADVERSE REPORT
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ROADS
DECIDES AGAINST THE KENT BILL.
Three Favor and Nine Opposs-Lively Dis
eussion Over the Adjutant-Gsnersl
Tsuure-of-Omc Measure.

The House Committee on Roads and In
ternal Navigation decided last night by the
vote of 0 to to report the Kent railroad
commission bill with the recommendation
that it do not pass.
This result, while not altogether unex-
pected to many who have watched this i'm
portant measure with great interest. was
severe blow to those who have given the
bill their hearty support and hoped to get
it reported favorably and without very
great changes.
For nearly four hours yesterday the
measure was carefully considered by the
committee-one session being held IN the
morning and another In the afternoon. At
tho former meeting Mr. John L. Mason
presided In the absence Of MIR. Ryan.
Mr. Mallet, of Norfolk. announced the
presence of delegation from the City by
the Sea-" which consisted Of Messrs. 9. u.
Elliot. Walter Sharp, NJ. Glennan, w. Tay-
Tor, and w. Il. Baldwin.
NORFOLK OPPOSED TO IT.
Mr.. Glennan, of the Norfolk Vrginian.
was the first speaker introduced. He said
he represented the Chamber of Commerce.
and presented set of resolutions adopted
by that body protesting against the pas
sage of the bin. Mr.. Glennan stated that
no would favor measure which was not
destructive and would regulate matters.
but the Kent bill was not such, and the
people of Norfolk were decidedly opposed
to it.
Mr.. Walter Sharp. yice-president of the
Business-Men's Association of Norfolk and
president of the Real Estate Exchange OF
Virginia. stated that he represented in
these capacities nearly 100, 900 people, and
out Of this number there was not one who
thoroughly understood the provisions OF
the bill that did not oppose it. In his
opinion the people Of Virginia would
rather go without something to eat for the
rest of their lives than do without rail-
roads. Mr. Sharp was requested by Alr.
Kent to explain the differences between
the present law and the measure under
consideration. but the former replied that
he did not understand the law sufficiently
to make satisfactory reply.
Mr.. Kent stated that the difference lay
in the fact that his bill made provisions
to carry into effect the existing law. MIR.
Sharp said it was absolutely impossible
for the provision of the bill for uniform
schedules to be carried out, even if the
brains of everybody in Virginia were con-
verted into one person and that person
the Railroad Commissioner.
hr. Washington Taylor and Mr.. w. Il.
Baldwin, secretary of the Real Estate tx
change also opposed the measure.
Captain Charles G.. Elliot. the next
speaker, said that while in former years O
demand for restriction of railroad compa-
MES had existed, the intelligent public had
now come to the conclusion that the ran.
road commissions had failed in their OBJ
ject. Tho railroad companies themselves
were in favor of reasonable reduction OF
rates. because they knew that it would in-
crease their traffic and benefit the country
through which they passed.
As the hour for the opening OF the ses-
sion had arrived at the conclusion OF Cap
tain Elhots remarks. the consideration OF
the bull was postponed until the afternoon.
VOICES FROM ROANOKE.
The committee resumed the discussion
of the bill promptly at 4 o'clock. with MIR.
Mason in the chair. hIr. Thomas, of Roa-
noke, read lengthy letter from Mr..
Charles. G.. Eddy, vice-president of the
Norfolk and Western railroad. who. on
account OF previous engagement. was
prevented from appearing before the COM
mittee. The letter, which the writer
stated, was written rs citizen and tax.
payer-not railroad-man--s that should
the railroads be restricted, immigration
would be prevented. and an increase IN
population prevented.
Mr.. Ed. Franklin, secretary OF the Board
OF Trade of Roanoke. read a set OF resolu-
Tons adopted by that body, protesting
against the passage OF the bill.
MIR. P. Il. Sublett. a member OF q com.
mittee from the Staunton Chamber OF
Commerce, submitted resolutions favor
ing the bill. which were adopted by the
body he represented. He then stated
some of the principal complaints which
are made against railroads in his locality
ARGUED By MR.. KENT.
Mr.. Kent. the patron of the bill, then
made q lengthy and able argument N
advocacy of the bill. He said no farmers
had appeared before the committee &c
sneak in favor of the bill, but this did not
signify that they were opposed to 1t
There was scarcely member or the
Legislature who had not been voted fol
under pledge that he would endorse 9
fair railroad bill. Over 800 petition:
urging the passage of the measure haC
passed into the hands OF the members anc
they could not afford to return TO then
constituents with their demands unan
swered.
MIR. Kent stated that a cry had beer
raised that not only the railroads but also
the agricultural interests would be ruined
il the bill was passed. but. added he, If the
farmers are let alone they can take care ol
themselves, provided the General Assem-
bly, can be induced to pass laws in theil
interest.
Senator Fairfax said that he was farmer
and represented agricultural interests, but
| he would not vote for a railroad-commis-
sion bill. and had openly made this decla
ration during his canvass.
Mr.. Pitcher also replied to several state
ments made by Mr.. Kent, while Mr.. j.
Thompson Brown read letter from Hon
i. N. Trammell, chairman of the Railroad
Commission of the State of Georgia, favor
| ing railroad commissions and setting forti
the advantages 10 be derived from them.
After some further discussion the yott
of the committee was taken and resulted
as stated above. Those in favor OF the
measure were Messrs. Kent, j. Thompson
Brown, and Withrow. while the dissenting
ybtes were cast by Messrs. RYAN. Mason
Anderson, Pitcher. John Jackson, Maiiet
Thomas, Berkeley, aud Miller.
Mr.. Shepperson. the other member o
| the committee. was absent.
The Military Bill Under Discussion.
Joint meeting of the Senate Commit
tee on General Laws and the House CON
mittee on Military and Police was heis
Yesterday afternoon to consider the oil
prescribing the term of Office OF the Adlu
tant-General and the duties thereof. Sena
tor Stubbs presided, and there were pres
ent Adiutant-G General Mcdonald. Colone
Jo Lane Stern, Colonel II. @. Jones, Colo
mel G. Z. Hawes. Major John ID. Dinneen
Major Merriwether Jones. Captain Juiiel
X. Tenant. Captain A; B. Guigon, Cap
| tam Edgerton s. Rogers. Captain Charles
Euker, and Captain Sol. Cutchins.
Colonel Stern. who opposed the Dill, az
eued that the saving gained by the mes
sure would be very small. Moreover, IL tn
Adjutant- General was required to do u
duties of the Inspector General. when n
| went ON his tours of Inspection, wnici
generally lasted forty days, his office woul'
either have to be shut up or placed In IN
hands OF an unreliable clerk. The speake
said that there was no telling when cal
for the volunteers would be made. an
should such q demand come during IN
absence Of the Adjutant-General seriou
state of affairs would exist. Colonel Ster
added in conclusion that the Governor ma
o right to decide how long the Adlutant
General should stay in office, and that IN
officers advocating the bill were, 10 nl
opinion, creating breach of discipline.
General Mcdonald expressed ms beiie
that the term of the Office shouh De di'
cretionary with the Governor. he OK
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