The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-06
THE W-MAKERS WORK
.ND pHAr rnrr AccomrIrsBHD.
-. General Resume of the Important Meas
ures Adopted by the General Assem-
blythe Appropriations.


..,-n.ls of the respective bodies and upon
.ts statute books OF the state. IA to
IL, ability Of tho individual members
,fnoth houses. and particularly Of the sen.
-, there can be no question. and tho Oldest
-,mbors and the most appreciative observers
IN accord in declaring that no Senate has
.emh'ol since 1862 which contained more
,.-rel senseand polished capabilities than was
r.rtragcd in the one Just adjourned. The
...fs membership Ct both branches
r. composed of men O! more
ian the average discretion and Jude
rent and 10 is regarded as being a more
Conservative body than any which has as
.rIIcd 40 the Capitol since the war This
Assembly ba, leen particularly marked as a
working body of men, and more subjects of
.r.fe moment and more legislation OF "A distinc-
Ir..y important character have been Effected
f.ntlatcousiderci IN any body tho past two
decades The clerks OF both Senate and
House have asserted that not within the long
p.rNI which each have served has th.rc been
r.re lab.rOus work performed There were
lmte. o.. subjects requiring tie closest
ffellon. the best judgment and the ab.est
determination which have been ohectuailv
disposed at and wisely adjusted by the mem
le, OF the recent bodies.
COUNTY JUDGES.
AS tho very beginning Of tho session
to General Assembly was called upon
90 elect the county Judges fer each OF
g.. .II counties OF the State. j ms WAS oons
u.. care and prudence and ia al OF the
Counties men have been placed who are
ly of al OF the confidence which judi
ca. positions demand
ulted States senator was also elected
senator John w. Daniei and five circuit
cl.t judges were named during the session.
lie iuu quota OF state officers was also
s.ated. being almost entirely reelection If
tose then in Office the superintendent o.
,.e lenitentarv bong q notable OK option.
Tie a nate also confined the appointment OF
D number OF boards 20 public institutions
which were appointed by the Governor.
An apportioumen, was also made both for
e. eressl0nal representation and for men,
i.-s of the State. House and Senate.
ll0 State debt question WAS. without
doubt. the most complex and important sub
et presented for settlement. This. happily.
uas disposed of in "a manner which met tie
unanimous appreciation OF the entire Assem-
ir. and which has been hailed as a wise
and Iullc.9us arrangement 10y the people at
large.
TIE RAILROAD law.
The railroad legislation which was adopted,
While 30 was not the Kent bill. which was
generally c0nsideied as being too extreme in
ITS .uremeuts. seems 20 meet tine demands
" the people The Mason bill. the meas
ure Nas known. is framed largely on the out
lines o.. the Interstate Commerce law and yet
eIi0ws the railroad commissioner with such
additional authority as greatly conduces TO
tile efficacy of his Office The law seems TO
meet fully every possible demand of the
people and Is sufficiently equitable aud lust TO
meet with no objection from tue railroads.
It's first clause prohibits the railroad from
charging more for a short haul than for IA
Ing one lts second and third prohibits the
granting of special rights. drawn backs. re-
.tes and prevents unjust determinations.
The fourth section provides tie most CON
Neuient arrangements for the Interchange OF
passenger and freight traffic at crossing
points. The fifth provides for the publlca-
ton of the rates charged for freight and pas
selger traffic aud their publication at the
various depots. no advance 10 be made eX-
Cept after ten days notice. and no variations
allowed from the published rates.
FALSE CLASSIFICATION.
The sixth. seventh and eighth clauses pro-
htit false billing, false classification and re-
cure duplicate bills of lading and expense
bills 20 be furnished. The ninth section re-
CURES the establishment of telegraph Offices
and fixes regulations with reference % nOtil-
cation by the tian-dispatcher OF the arrival
and departure Of trains. This section, ike
tie tenth. which requires the opening OF the
tcketOfice. and the seventh. which requires
annual reports from the Commissioner and
tie twelfth. which requires the publication
% the laws and their posting at the several
stations are but ia effect copies OF the pres
eut statutes.
Tie most important section in the bill Is
tle fourteenth. which provides that whore
any common carrier has been guilty of any
violation of the law, either with reference to
us freight charges. Its train connections,
special rates. unjust determinations. or uD-
reasonable preference, the Railroad Com
missioner shall. upon complaint made 10 him
U.s. any one, give notice to the common
carrier and require 1t 10 correct the cause
~ complaint and if the common carrier
fails lu ten days 10 50 correct the
Cause of complaint IL IS the b0unden
duty OF the Commissioner 10 proceed in
te name of the Commonwealth before
tic circuit court of the county where
tie cause of action arises, or tie Judge
thereof in vacation. against the company. The
case is 10 be heard without formal pleadings.
and is TO have precedence over all other bust
ness upon the docket. The Commonwealth
attorney is required 20 represent the Com
missioner. and the Judge IS empowered. by
mandatory or restraining order. to prevent the
mmon carrier from further violation OF the
lav. I'm addition 20 the restraining order pro-
vlel in this section. the thirteenth section
makes the commission of any of the above
acts 20 misdemeanOr. and subjects the carrier
i.r each act to a tine of not less than 500 nor
~ it lAlu rJlv
FOR KILLING CATTLE.
Another act passed in connection with the
railroads was the bill providing that where
cattle were killed or injured by railroad
trains the owner might forthwith call ia one
ne.l Dor and the railroad authorities were
required 10 call ID a second. which two mp
Tra'sers could Immediately value tho animal
So killed or injured. and their estimate. l.
Uey agreed or that OF an umpire il they
ta. .eI 90 agree should fix prlma lacie the
amount OF the damage 50 sustained. AuXi-
-arg 90 this act another was pissed giving
Justices through the country jurisdiction ln
actions for damages up 20 500 Thus the
farmers are provided with speedy and sure
remedy for tho recovery Oh any damages
growing out OF the killing or injury OF their
STOCK on railroad tracks
PULLMAN CARS.
Aa act was also passed for the taxing Of the
Pullman cars which pass through the state.
ll addition to this an act was also passed re-
ltrng railroad companies % return for taxa
Ton an ltemized statement Oh all the bonds,
stocks and other securities held by them. from
which itis thought largely increased reye-
Ale "lll be brought % the Commonwealth.
THE OYSTER BILL.
Tie Oyster bill and its accompanying
measure providing for an accurate survey OF
te planting grounds and natural rocks WAS
passed. At the opening OF the session the