Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-27
DID NOT APPROVE IT.
COW o'FERRAlL vEToes THE vIR.
GINA TRANSIT cOMPANY'S BILL.
Too Many Objects and Its Powers
Were UnrcasonabIy Broad.
Governor O'Ferrall yesterday sent to
the Senate the following veto message,
which was passed by without action:

l am constrained 10 withhold my sigma
ture from Senate bill, No. rs. entitled
IAN act to incorporate the Virginia
Transit Company" which was presented
20 me on the I'D instant. for the following
reasons:
Article g. section Is, OF the Constitution
OF Virginia declares that mo law shall
embrace more than one object. which
shall be expressed In its title"
This bill empowers the company named
TO build and operate pipelines for the
transportation OF oil, coal and other
products, and operate the same as COM
mon carriers; TO construct wharVes,
docks, warehouses. and elevators; 10
build ships, barges. and tow-boats, ana
engage in a general forwarding, storage.
and tonnage business: to mine coal ana
other minerals. and establish and operate
stamp mills, and refining and reduction
works. TO build and operate railroads TO
and from any OF it's lands. mines, or
works, not more than twenty miles IN
length; TO consolidate It's franchises,
rights. privileges. and capital with any
railroad company or companies char-
tered either by the state OF var
gina or any other State: To pur-
chase any such railroads, and to issue
capital stock Of such consolidated COM
pany in place Of and in lieu Of capital
do and perform any and all acts neces-
sary and proper to perfect its organiza-
ton, construct its railway, and manage
and operate the same as common car
rier of passengers and property.
TOO MANY OBJECTS.
Here are many objects embraced In this
bill. separate and distinct from each
other. Building pipelines for the trans
portatlon OF oil, coal and other pro-
ducts are distinct from mining coai
and other minerals, establishing ana
operating stamp mills and reduction
works. Building and operating pipe-ilileS
are distinct from building and operduhs
railroads. ships. barges, ana To" poa'S,
or the purchasing Of railroads one p s,,ri
no relation to the other; one Is hot i'e'
dental 20 the other.
The constitutional provision 10 WiIcn
have referred IS mandatory (Sec "Dliloh
on Corporations" and Cooleys CohS'Itu-
tional Limitations.') In my opinion 'he
uniting of the various objects mentioned
Is contrary to the letter ana spirit VI
article 5, section H. Of the Constitution .!
Virginia, and / assign this as my Hi''
objection TO this bill.
The same article and section OF tne
Constitution requires that the one cDJect
Of the bill shall be expressed III 10
title" The title is as follows: AN ACT
10 incorporate the Virginia Transit Coih-
pany." Certainly this title would not De
held TO authorize provision ehlpo"ei
ing the coupany to mine coal ana other
minerals. establish and operate S'aihP
mills and refining and reduction "oInS'
So that this object Is not embraced III ','e
title and there is nothing IN inc uue ~
call attention TO II. ,,,,.....t,
"Dillon on Corporations says tequ'i
FMS, the subject or object to be expresses III
ne buI is TO prevent deceptive utles'
and IN enable members OF the Leslsld'uie
and the people. through the usual puDn-
cation of legislative proceedings 10 ioil III
from the title an opinion OF the nature
and objects Of the bill
/ In many cases the courts have held 'lia'
| charters which conferred powers no. NJ,
| Gated by the titles were UNCONSTITUTIONAL
MORE THAN THE TITLE lNDlCAl 70
This hill embraces more than the ulle
would Indicate and | assign TINS as Hi'
/ second objection 10 the PM .,.-,ao. the
section 3 Of the bill authorizes w
! buildng Of pipe lines from the ny ~
! Alexandria or some other point upon VIC
Potomac river 10 sucn PIl -, xvest
he selected upon the Maryland OF W,
Virrinia state line north of the county
Of Albemorle. and the building OF pI@i0H
lines 10 any Of its lands or WORKS.
section 4 authorizes the buildihg "a
o,,o,har and independent line froIs lNch-
mond or some lower point on '"i'''
rIver 70 the Chesterfield coal mines
This IS my third obJect-'he nv ZIP Iii
NJ seDarate and distinct llheS III IN Ut, a.
II is about l20 miles from -. -i'-r,orod
! richmond IL one company - ou .t'.- t,,
| -, h,,ild lines remote from each other ~
1no sct Of the Legislature, why not any
| o,har counany? And If one company 70
',t,,ori1od 10 construct two distinct ms
q, ono oct. why not an INDEFINITE hu," 80
az D,,t rror q revenue standpoint p'0
sent my fourth objection ,.oosod n
rhc General Assembly has ihio''u
TOW uuon every charter, not e,, ,,o
| sono For this charter theIe "V1' ..o',d
| ono fax imposed, yet there are d,s.
| in it authority to puiiu outhor-
| tinct pipelines. as wen 40 and
I'M huild ships barges, anu
. .-,u hoots ,ybarver. docks. warehouse;
eIn,.atnre and buy, build. mahase' a." 90
o,,n,,te Railroads.&c. regular ,,l 70
ohorter deriving the state ol ieNI',t.,o1
,,.,icn che would he legiuma'e'y ~ IN
" tS,a various objects were elhoI"'O'
| separate charters, A. tn TIME
Section Of the bill provides that WI, WI,
.taiI hs commenced within one var MN.
th. MASSAGE Of this act anu 2" -
lost of the said pipelines shali "
on.oad for transportation WIN"
wears. but no time Is hNed lo' ,''0 -
mencement and completion ol .Ic o 800
iira or lines. If one line Is commences
''it,in one wear and opened Tor trans
arta,ion within two years the require
p,t 81 tho charter is fulfilled by us
na,,r,nv and it will hold Its privilege
| 80 hnid without limitation or resr!c-
tion unlsss II be under the general statue
| Co reference to the repeal OF CHARTERS
Gov there Is no right 10 repeal, aitei' or
modify reserved in the bill
This | submit as my nth CbJectiCh'
ma maximum capital-stock Of this com
many Is fixed at $j,00O,UO; the powers CON
| ferred are multifarious ana fdr-ieachihs'
they are unusual. and embrace as aiI'auS
stated the construction of ilnumerable
ntne-Iines. mining. stamping. refining. ana
reduction works, the building of wEarNes
warehouses;. and elevators. ships barses.
and tow-boats, the consolidation ana
oneratif!a of any railroads chartered
either by Virginia or any other state
With it's immense capital-stock ana al
most unrestricted powers, this corpora
ton might become 30 powerful as 10
make Il All evil rather than beneht. IL
could spread over a great scope OF coun-
try with It's plpe-IntS, running Ni~HI any
end everywhere, crushing out all competl-
ton, and purchasing and gathering within
it's tolls like a mighty octopus all rail
roads within its reach, until II would rise
TO the proportions of a giant monopoly
This country is not stranger 10 op-
pressiye monopolies. but Is to-day suffer
iag from them, all exercising their powers
under charters granted by Legislatures,
and the experience we have had should
induce the law-making power Of every
state TO guard we'll the public safety in
comforting corporate powers. at the same
time encouraging by all proper legislation
every enterprise which may tend 10 the
development of our material interests.
POWERS TOO BROAD.
In nay opinion the powers conferred
In this bill are too broad. and he Irivi-
leges too latitudinous. and | submit this
as my sixth and last objection.
Apologizing FOR the imperfect manner
In which / have presented my views,
owing TO the heavy demand on my time
by my official duties, and with all due
respect for the opinion OF your honorable
bodies, | herewith return the bill without
my signature 10 the Senate. wherein II
originated.
CHARLES r. OFERRALL.
Governor.
THE SNOW AND THE RAIN.
Six Inches of the Former and m Good