The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-13
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
r,r NIL BEroRE THE COMMITTEE.
roll Text OF the Speech of Mr.. T. j. kimoah'
President Of the Norfolk and NesteIn'
Passed by Until Tomorrow


morning in the room of the Southern histoI'-
cal Society in the Capitol building Cn'Nl-
mar John f. Ryan presided, and nearly go
member OF the committee was present,
had been previously announced that 'ne nan,
road Commission bill would be taken up anu
a large crowd Of members OF the uener"i
Assembly and others interested IN tne ui'"'
IRE were present. Railroad CORNERSTONE!
Um was an interested attendant, and the
railroad interests Of the state "si0
represented By the following on'c'l'
of the Norfolk and Western ial.-
road IT, j. kimbau president; w. T.; 10
assistant president joseph - Trere were
president and general manager ~ sns
/ also present Mr. Decatur AAteh' Oh 1no 49,,
] ~berv railroad. and Air. Harbour as7i7 l"ns
general manager OF the lr5 iii'A Ni'..'''--,' ia
/ road. Mr. H. G.. Kent, az N}lAe 'A'io" y.
| polroad Commission bill was also On manu.
/ Tire bill. which had been Amended 70 s?.0
/ extent by Mr. Hart since us lN'ly'" 49,
,,a. road bv Mr.. James AlcD0uga., the clefA'
/ ~ he committee. At the close oi tho read
ing of the bill Mr.. kimbal. presi, zen. GA 10
/ Norfolk and Western railroad addressed lu7
/ committee and read the following statement
after which the BIZ was pa77r" o5 "-
/ morrow morning: ,.,, - 49,,
The Railroad Commissioner BILL now IN,
dor consideration lv your committee, shOAld
il become a law, would IN my onhloh uo %"
irleparable injury tOtle railroads OBJ Hsinl"
and fatal blow tot the fur'nera- rcullli,l "uu
/ industrial development OK tine state ana 10 ls
/ for the purpose of giving some OF NY Ie.'.'I'
/ for tins opinion that ] have asked me pll'l-
lepe OF aDnearing before you. Inc mere
/ suggestion of such bill. Us iniroauot9' 4'.o
/ the LEGISLATURE and its reference 20 anu con-
! alteration by your committed ana tue u7-
L
parers is on intmaiiOn 20 tlo people
o. VIRGINIA and tho public 40 large
/ TINT tile officers and directors OF lhe
railroads of Virginia have SOD mi.in-lhseI lh5
/ affairs of the properties coMiAit,e9 20 'n'l
/ care. have go oppressed the people 10y e2orD'-
/ t.rt rates. and so cr ppiei the industries OF
| the State that the Legislature is ASKED 20 ID
! terveue and 90 appoint commissioners ID
/ s1pervise. direct and otherwise control me
| railroads and to make ana regulate tHo
/ charges for the transportation or passengers
/ and freight. ls this the case Have the ran.
! roads been 0puressive and have they acted
/ I'm % manner detrimental t0 the interest," OF
/ tho i,4onle, or is the etact contrary the case.
/ [ am Lappv I'm the knowledge that tie news
/ papers ~ the state the voice ol l-e pe'F-e'
are almost unanimous 10 expressing l-e ol'ih-
/ ion that the railroads have played an lmnof-
/ tant part. have been an important factor ln
/ the remarkable industrial development Wlicn
/ has occurred in Virginia during TIE past TEN
years and which If continued wIl make lf-
gina ono OF the most prosper l7 states oi the
/ Union.
The railroads of Virginia have demon
tmted the fact that the province OF % ran
road IS not only 10 transport passene is ana
freight. but 10 do everything IN IFS power I'd
promote and enc uTaro the development ol
/ the agricultural and mineral resources OF inc
territory through which Do extends. a iail-
/ road Is business enterprise, ana % De sue
/ cessful must be managed "a business pfli-
/ ciples and tho railroad officials 90 Virginia
/ have sh lwn that they thoroughly appreciate
the TACT that IN order % increase tA8 hus.-
ness of t1eig lines and their earnings they
must afford GOOD accommodations % the
people and fair and reasonable rates or
charges for services performed. Livery mem
Der of your committee VIII. ann sure, admit
that the accommodations Afforded DN the
railroads to tie travelling puDAc nave con-
stautly improved and aIo vastly better
than they were ten years ago, and tlat
the rates charged for tie transportation oi
both passengers and irc ht arc very much
lower TO improve the road beds. retu iu
bridges. build new passenger anl freight .a-
tious. cars. engines. and 90 buii branches
and extensions into territory pre- onsly With
out railroad facilities, neccssuatcs the eN-
pcndituo of large sums OK Dr. .ney' WnlcA
must be- obtained through the sale 0r SECURE
ties and this money cannot ue ufNled un-
less it can Do shown tiai the investment U.s.
safe and likely O. prove rea. lnlnlf IeMul zoe
tive is there member Ot Tins committee
who would for % moment consider prop go
ti0n 20 invest m uey DOB tobacco iaeloef
saw mill. furnace. farm, .f ans bt7l-
ness undertaking lt there was tlc possibility
of having the management o- DTS ahnr5 ta-en
out OF bis hands and placed in charge ol
commission appointed Dy tuo ierl-Htfre ol
the state with power even g. us t-o prices at
which he shall sell tine prI lct oi lbs WoiA
The commissioners apuoiltei might De iair