The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-03
the KENT BILL.
The Railroad Commission Discussed Before
the House Committee.

The Railroad Commission Discussed Before
the House Committee.
The House Committee on Roads and Inter
nal Navigation held another meeting this
morning. with Mr. John +. Ryan in the chair,
~ consider the Kent Railroad Commission
| bin air Frank A. Reid Of Alexandria. was
] the first speaker lie stated that lie appeared
4 on behalf Of the board OF trade OF that CITY
10 protest against the passage OF the bill.
lie read set of resolutions passed by that
body. which stated that any legislation like
that proposed in the bill 10 restrict railroad
companies would be disastrous. and the rep
resentatyes OF Alexandria IN tine General
Assembly are requested . prevent the pas
sage OF the bill. Tie resolutions were signed
by all tie directors and about twenty OF the
leading firms. among them all the banks.
Mr. Reid sad tHat the oil was pern;cious IN
ifs endency. disastrous IN It's result and en-
phaticaily obnoxious % the people of Viz
cinia. Heretofore the existence oil the state
debt had kept foreign capital out OF this
State but now the debt was about to be re-
moved and it would hardly be wise TO intro
duce another measure that would again cur
/ tail foreign capital If the bill should be-
/ come a law the railroad companies would
| be compelled to take refuge IN one
/ o. three alternatives. lhoy would
/ have TO reduce expenses by cutting down
wages and reducing the force OF employees, or
/ allowing the rolling stock and road Ueus 10 go
/ 20 pieces for the want OF money, or again 70
raise the interstate rates. Inls latter would
perhaps be tried frstaud if so the commission
would have 10 power q correct H. The
speaker then dweit on the steamboat COM
pnnies. which ha also been taken under the
tender cure OF the provisions OF TINS OH. ana
yet the commission could only deal WI n their
rates. for everything ellie was looked
after by the United States Government
I
encourage lines of water transporta-
ton and any legislation tending to
interfere with them could not but prove DIS
/ astrOus. II the commission was 70 make
/ rates they would have 10 be alike for all com
paules and tins would drive away colnpetl-
ton. Railroad Commissioner Hill during
MS term OF Office had very few complaints,
and in almost al cases there had been no
difficulty TO make satisfactory ARRANGEMENTS
| but all these complaints had been So inslgnih-
/ cant that they would have hardly any stand
/ ing IN court For the past three years, accord
/ ing TO the statement Of General Hill, no COM
plants had been made that could not be
/ settled satisfactorily 20 both sides.
Messrs. Park Agnew and III. b. Harlow
other members of the Board OF Trade OF
Alexandra. corrObOrated the statements and
conceded with the views expressed By Mr.
Reid
A delegation from the Chamber of Com
merce of Richmond was expected. but for
/ some reason the gentlemen did not appear.
/ Mr. Warner Moore. one Of the largest shippers
IN this city. expressed his views IN Drlet and
stated that Mr.. Tucker the ether day had
SAID that he represented the Chamber oil
Commerce when he spoke IN favor OF the b-l.
] Ito certainly had not represented the speaker
! on that occasion, and the same could be sud
/ Tor q number cf other members. The lndor-
/ sation of the bill had emanated from tie COM
| mlttee on inland trade and II was then IN
10 ! ...r
ing been thoroughly looked into by them. If
the bill was assed so as 10 give the commits
/ sion the power 20 tx rates he thought Rich
mOnd's throat would boz cut
Mr. Maet stated that a delegation of Nor
] folk business men would arrive IN Richmond
/ in q day or two. who were DESTROYS - he
heard on the bill. Chairman Ryan assured
/ Mr.. Mallet that the gentlemen would have an
/ opportunity next Thursday 20 lie heard.
Railroad Commissioner Hill was next in
yited to express bis views He stated that he
neither intended 10 antagonze nor 70 favor
the bill. He only wished 10 bring out some
/ facts On connection with the railroad service.
/ He explained the practical workings OF tie
present law as experienced by him during the
five years which he had been in Office The
present law had been taken from the Massa-
chusetts law aud IN that State tie railroad
commission had never been given any power
over rates The effect OF the existing law
perhaps a thousand complaints OF every de
scrpuon during his term OF Office. If a well
founded complaint was made II would be aud
nearly always had been al listed satisiact rlly.
with possibly q few exceptions, Out during
the past eighteen months every complaint had
been settled 10 the satisfaction OF all The
commission could not compel any railroad
! company 20 run a train by which II loses
money; this was laid down in the laws Of all
States. The connections between the differ
eat railroad companies N virginia now were
a. good and satisfactory as IN any other State
south OF the Potomac. Local rates in Virginia
were lower than IN any State between the PO-
tOnac and the Pacific Ocean and lower than
the average rates IN All the states in the
Jnlor. lie admitted that there were some
Just complaints. for Instance. those of the cat
Ito dealers along the Norfolk and Western
railroad, but they could be settled If q com
mittee of shippers conferred with tue railroad
authorities. The greatest evil was one that
could not be cured by any sort of commits
siOn-the delay in settling claims. He stated
that he had no Jurisdiction. but could
only attempt 10 secure an adjust
mens OF complaints When questioned by
Mr.. Kent. General Hill admitted. that the
powers provided in the Kent bill were the
same as those III the existing law except that
the bill secured their enforcement, but those
extreme remedies would be destructive Of
RAILWAY extension IN the State and would have
tendency OF driving capital away. During
his term of Office about 1000 miles had been
added 10 the railroads Of the State and their
revenues had nearly doubled
Sir. fleming. OF the Pyrtes Mining Com
pany. OF Louisa. complained Of the fact that
the existing law empowered short, private
lines 70 charge eight cents per mile on freight
rates. which was about eight times as much
as the great trunk lines charged.
Inferred In Hollywood.
The funeral of Mrs Alcinda Morcan Poh