Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-06
VIRGINIA LEGISLATION.
The Richmond and Manassas ana
nushbach Antf-Gam bling Bills.

Specin Correspondence Of The Evening Star
niShMoND. Va. March 5. 1884,
now mat the general assembly has pass
60 the bill incorporating the Richmond and
-Aoassas raiiroad. IL is a matter of much
interest to the northern virginians and to
.ne people OF Richmond to know whether
the incorporators really mean to build the
ROAD and exercise the right granted them
III was charged by several opponents OF
the bill during the discussion. both before
the committees and on the floor of the
cnamoers' that the sole object of the incor-
porators was to get control Of the state'e
interest In the Richmond, fredericksburg
ana fotomac railroad at a sacrifice, after
Wmcn no attempt would be made TO com
struct the proposed road This NOS ,n5i,r
hantiy denied by the friends of the hill.
especially Mr.. Eppa Hunton ir one of The
Ihcorporators, TO whose splendid efforts
more than any other is due the credit az
securing the passage of the measure
TO The Star correspondent TODAY M
huhton sald that the road, so far as he
knew, would certainly be built. While he
was one OF the incorporators he could not
say what the men who were behind the en-
terprise proposed to do, but the charter was
secured for the purpose of building the
roao- me opponents had charged that It
was the intention of the Baltimore and
Ohio to connect With the Richmond ana
Manassas at its northern terminus for a
southern outlet. They would not be ag-
grieved IL such was the case The RaIrI
more and Ohio could easily connac, 1-i,h
the proposed road at Manassas for the
purpose Of securing the alleged southern
outlet from Washington. Privileges of run
ming branch line across the Potomac 20
Fairfax Court House had already hasn
granted to the Baltimore and Ohio neonie
ana they could. without great eynanse
run oranch line to Manassas. Mr. Hunton
saio further that a road from this city 10 a
point some distance in North Carolina
known as the Virginia and North Caroiina
railroad, which is partially completed, oould
S 1e u.lI iT py the Baltimore and Ohio people
LOT sun further southern connection and
from that point the road would have no dif-
nculty In getting into the far south.
Heavy Forfeit TO Re Deposited.
III the incorporators Of the Richmond and
Manassas do not really intend TO construct
the proposed road they are paying very
dear for their whistle, for one of The
amendments tackled TO the bill by the lepis-
lature provides that twenty miles Of the
projected road shall be graded within
twelve months FROM the time the charter
was granted, under forfeit of 100000. to
be deposited therefor In state bonds. Com
sequenty, II is expected that work on the
new road will begin within a short time
Inc behef that the Baltimore and Ohio
people are behind the present movement
is given credence by the fact that tire
gentlemen named in the bill as incorpo-
rators are by no means men OF wealth
While most OF them are well-to-do citizen
and merchants, none of them possess any
accumulated amount of capital. They are
men, however, of integrity, enterprise and
good standing In the state. and would not
II is believed, be parties TO any sham or
false pretense. such as is charged bv the
men who oppose the bill before the general
assembly.
The Mushbach Antf-Gamblfng Bill,
The Muchbach anti-gambling bill. having
passed both branches Of the general as
sembly, is sure to become a law. as the
governor has already sounded his policy
TO be directly opposed TO the practices
which the bill seeks to destroy. and will
therefore attach his signature to it in cue
time Senator Mushbach is confident that
when this measure becomes in force that
Jackson City and similar resorts in the
state will be absolutely broken up OF
course, this bill cannot reach secret gam
bling dives. OF which there are many
throughout the cities OF the state, but un-
der IL 'legalized" gaming of all sorts in the
state will be impossible.
The question arises. however as 10 wheth-
er the law will stand the tests of the courts
OF the state. While there is not a material
difference between this meas sure and the
old law, which the courts annulled, the
turfmen in the state IL is understood, will
again endeavor to have this measure share
similar fate to the old one They claim
that the feature Of the law prohibiting the
transmission of bets to the track is unjust
and illegal, and IL is expected that a test
case will be brought 10 the attention Of
the supreme court within a short lime.
The advocates of the law. on the other
hand, confidently assert that there is moth
ing unconstitutional in the measure. and
that the change is simply to remedy the
defect in the old law. which the courts de-
clared did not prevent the transmission OF
bets outside Of the state, by which the
present turf exchanges in the state are
operated.