Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-18

measure ~ reported by tho committee, said that
ne was grstinsd % see the spirit Of fsir ana iui
1ect, for II was delibcrstive body. II thore
wore any portfolios In the measure they should
| bo now closed before Il was too late, when the
shero wore any rotten spots % shsy s should Be cut
| out whie u could be easily done. Tho ecknow.
ledgcd outstanding obligations Of July 1, 1891,
wore t2s, sos, ,7ze.9D instead OF e2s,000, 900, ~
the bill contemplated. Thus t80S, ,749.6e BY tho
Governors statement was not settled by the bill,
| or otherwise ths settlement made more than
| &ie,000,000 for tho entire outstanding obiga-
ali property should be taxed, and 70 exempt theso
bonds would place them on favored footing
above the Riddleberger bonds, un1ustly 70 them.
| tho holders OF which should have the nrst con-
snd came 10 her assistance In her hour OF necd-
| He obtected 20 charging 81 per cent. 70 othors
| than tho Olcof. committee for fgndng; this was
mittee's hands and mako this brokers' biIl-the
| very obnoxious feature OF tho hcCuiioch bill.
! IL was a tarif, an embargo on future funding
| and would tend 70 keep ont the $4,000, 900 out
| standing and prevent this from being q settle
mont. Mr.. Letcher pointed out that all OF the
sinking fund was directed 10 be applied 20 Oh
colt bonds. which, II intended 70 cut the ground
from under the Rlddlebergor bonds would be an
outrageous iniquty and would destroy their
value. He said section 12 gave up the ship and
ignominiously surrendered 70 tho coupon ten
dorers; that the Kiddieberger bill and amend
meEts should only be repealed 20 far as conflict
ing with this bill. He offered amendments 70
correct ali OF the above defects and moved 10
put statute OF limitation, applying as OF Janu-
AIRY 1, 1893, beyond which all obligations not
thcn funded should be forever outlawed-the Ty-
Ter amendment OF the last session. Mr.. Letcher
was frequently interrupted Dy questions and the
railroad bill was several times postponed that
he might finish.
When he had concluded his statement he was
questioned by Mr.. Munford In tho following
manner: "By this bill It In proposed In brief TO
substitute principal OF over twenty-eight mil,
lions with n new principal OF about nineteen
millions and an annual Interest charge OF over
million by new charge Of only f3S0,OOO.
Now, you have mado many criticisms upon the
form and provisions Of this bill, and desire 10
ask you this question: IL every amendment pro-
proposed by you was accepted would you then
vote for the bill?'
Mr.. Letcher replied that he was not prepared
70 answer, but no did not think he would vote
for the measure.
"rhen," said Mr.. Munford, "you are really
opposed to the whole sentiment and trying by
this method 70 accomplish Its defeat
The bill then went over until today.
NIX. KENT ADVOCATES HIS BILL
The railroad commission bill was now taken
up, and its patron, Mr.. Kent, made very strong
speech in It's favor. In substance he said:
Mr.. Speaker, / rise for the purpose OF giving
my reasons why think this bill should be en-
u ~
the political aspect Of this case any further than
simply TO say that, II, as has been stated 10 this
House, there was an understanding and an
agreement enterod into between the Democratic
party and the farmers Of Virginia, that II is an
q srecment that ought TO be carried out In good
faith md legislation for the relief OF the farmers
by the passage Of n fair railroad bill Should Do
enacted by this General As embly. How far
that agreement W Juli bind the Democratic party
in Virginia is question for each member OF TINS
General Assembly to determine for himself. All
can say is that the men who am with on this
floor have performed their part OF the agree
mert; they performed 1t In the last election !;
they performed A. on the floor OF tho House: they
have asked noth ng At the hands OF the General
Assembly, except the passage Of this bill. Ihey
have followed, SIR, wherever you led, and II disas-
ter and division ensue from the failure upon your
part TO carry out your agreement. you cannot
point your hand 10 the agricuturists In this as
sembly and say they are responsible for IL.
Now, air. Speaker, with that allusion to the
political aspect OF tho case pass over IL. Every
member knows how far he is bound by any
pledges that he may have made, and that IS
question that don't propose TO instruct them
on. MIR. Speaker, ON yesterday the gentleman
from Fauquier when be arose to oppose the pas
sage OF this bill characterized IL In the btterest
OF terms as the most monstrous piece OF legisla-
tion that ever emanated from the brains Of
man. lie described 1t as a monstrosity, the like
Of which no man had ever seen and no man had
ever read In Virginia. lie held 1t up TO the As
sembly and he weighed IL as misshapen, fnis-
gotten thing. which this House ought to repud-
ate. 1t looked TO me as nothing but
a few sheets OF white paper blurred with
printers ink. He exhausted his vocabulary
OF inyective In opposition to the bill But. Mr..
Speaker, whilst | waited and while doubtless
other members waited for him 10 show the de-
fects OF the bill, to point out the deormities o1
this misshapen child Of my brain, not one did
he show. Not one, sir. The gentleman said IL
reminded him OF the extrayagances OF Jules
Verne. When he made that alusion readily
imagine why it was that he characterized 1t In
.n.. II. az q. had aaf I'm "a m
bibed some OF the eStrayagances Of Julos Verne;
that like some of that authors heroes he had
been landed out II the mouth OF cannon and
shot ap TO the moon. Wise men tell us that the
moon has no atmosphere like the earth. When
A man is placed under an exhausted receiver
the blood rushes 20 tho head as IL would
were he In the lunar orb. i had supposed,
sir, that the gentleman after seeing things with
the distorted vision that he did, whilst roaming
over the mountains OF the moon, returned 10 tho
earth, and that the things that affected his head
whilst tnere were not altogether removed. MY
advice would be for him TO go back TO the fertile
fields of his county, 20 turn his mind out 10
eraze. and to cease to read Jules Verne, for i am
sure il wouldn't be healthy TO his intellect longer
10 continue IL. This Dill has been attacked with
some bitterness IN particular quarters by men
who appeared before the committee here and by
men who had the politcness day after day 10
send me marked copies OF the yituperauons that
were INDUCED In through the papers. 1 have
seen no reason, sir. why should regard this bill
as an improper measure, or why l or any one
else should look on II as the monstrous thing
that il had been characterized. / have observed
that nearly all these parties who appeared be-
fore the committee were Immediately connected
with the railroads they represented. In large
majority they were not citizens OF Virginia, but
men who had recently como into the borders Of
your State"
Mr.. Kent continued at some length, and In
graceful. effective language, pointed out the pro-
visions Of the bill. Before he concluded mo-
ton 10 adjourn was made and carried and there
fore no resumed his seat, but will continue his
remarks to-day.