Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-19
VIR G N IA AT FAIRS
Topics of General Interest in the Old
Dominion.
Comment on Senator HIPS Speech
ID. Sale-The Post Office Dispute.


RICHMOND, Va, April is, 1894
The speech of Senator Hill In the United
States Senate few days ago on the tariff
question has been the sole topic of political
discussion in Virginia ever since There is
great diversity of opinion as to the probable
effect of the speech. Several of the news
papers have criticised him for his stand
while others declared that he represented
in 1t the true Interpretation of democracy.
State Chairman Ellyson thinks that the
speech will not by any means disintegrate
the party, but will result in driving the
democrats together. He says he talked with
a number of Senators while in Washington,
and they seemed to be convinced that the
time had come for united action in support
of democratic measures and of the admin
istration. He further stated that he be-
lieved that the speech of Senator Hill had
strengthened the party. the only loss being
one vote for the bill.
The ID. and o. I'm the South.
A well-defined rumor has been current in
Richmond for the past week to the effect
that the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac railroad was trying to induce the
Baltimore and Ohio TO build to Quantico and
come south over it's line, thus heading off
the scheme of the Richmond and Manassas
people. 1t is well known that after re-
peated failures President Myers of the
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
has recently been able to induce the Penn
sylvania road to sell from Richmond round
trip tickets to New York 1t is possible
that hint was dropped by Mai. Myers that
the Baltimore and Ohio might be induced to
build to Quantico. 1t is also probable that
this is the source Of the rumor. There can
be no question that the management of the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
and of the Richmond and Petersburg have
done all In their power to serve the interest
of their patrons. They have spent their
dividends In improving the road and a
northern railroad man who went south re-
Gently declared that the Richmond and Pc
tersburg track was smoother than the Penn
sylvania track. They have built fine depots
at Richmond and Petersburg and the track
of the Richmond and Petersburg has been
relaid with f0-pound steel rails. During
President Scotts administration the fare
between Richmond and Petersburg has
been reduced from s1.75 TO 80 cents for a
Communication ticket, and 1t is a remark BILE
fact that during that time the road has
never killed a passenger. When President
Scott was asked about this rumor he de-
ried that there was any truth in II.
IF the Baltimore and Ohio people wish
TO come south, continued Maj. Scott. land
will build to Quantico, the Fredericksburg
road will be only too glad to bring them to
Richmond over its tracks at much less
than II would cost them TO keep I'D a road
of their own. II the Baltimore and Ohio
could not make terms with the Richmond
Fredericksburg and Potomac at Quantico.
and should build TO Richmond. the Rich
inond and Petersburg road would give them
route TO Petersburg on such favorable
terms that they would hardly. as business
proposition. build an independent line. But
IL they should do so. would not have a
word to say"
Sale of the Richmond and Danvflle.
The decree signed by Judge Goff of the
United States Court Friday, ordering the
sale of the Richmond and Danville rail-
road. provides that the sale shall take place
sixty-two days after the issuance of the de-
cree. which win be on the 18th day of
June next. The company is allowed twenty
days within which to make redemption,
after which the sale will be advertised.
The sale is to take place In this city. There
seems to be no doubt of the fact that the
reorganization committee. which controls
ninety-five per cent of the bonds, will buy
the road In fact. the foreclosure is a part
OF the Drexel-Morgan reorganization
scheme, undertaken by them some time
ago. According to the provisions of the de-
cree. all OF the property of the Danville
road covered by the mortgage under which
the property is sold, including the property
Is included in the foreclosure. The prop
erty in the District Of Columbia is to be
first offered for sale as separate parcel,
and then the railroad. appurtenances,
equipment. material. leasehold interests.
bonds, and other property offered in the
same manner. The property is then to be
offered as unit No bid will be accepted
for the railroad less than 100000.
Judge Con said that the sale was to be
made In shorter time than usual but
he thought that the interests of the prop
erty demanded speedy sale. Attorney
Stetson said IL was matter of vital i'm
portance to sell before July /; that the
road had to raise about that time SO 600 OO
In cash. and he did not know who was
going TO put up the money. When asked
as to what that sum was needed for he re-
piled that one million was for receivers
certificates, four millions for floating debts.
and one million for back interest. Mr..
Stetson represented the reorganization
committee.
The report of the special masters showed
the Indebtedness Of the road to be as fol-
lows: First mortgage, dated Oct = 1874
Central Car Company, trustee. s.. 99I. 600
above, A,000,0O0
Equipment sinking fund, per cent mort
gage, Sept. 3. 1889, 81, 493. 600.
Equipment sinking fund, 6 Der cent mort
gage. May 1. 1891, 100000.
The Post ONCE Dispute.
Postmaster Cullingworth is awaiting with
eager expectancy the decision of the civil
service commission in reference to the sum-
planting of a colored man who held a posi-
ton in the post office under Postmaster
Russell. the appointee of President Harm
son, by white man. The colored man be-
longed to the classified service and claims
that he could not be removed Postmaster
Cullingworth claims that part of the du-
Ties OF the holder OF the position was the
handling OF money and that as his personal
bond is responsible in the matter he has a
right 10 put whom he pleases in the posi-
tlon. postmaster Culingworth is much dis
turbed at the warlike dispatches from
Washington placing him In the position of
being at war with the civil service COM
mission. He said: Il am not fighting the
civil service commission, il is my desire 10
cooperate with the commission, and
would like to have the support of that body
in my efforts to make certain reforms in
the post office here" Mr. CullinsWorth
claims that the position in question was not
covered by the classified service until after
the appointee had held the position for
some time, and that 1t was a reward for
party services, which resulted in giving
him the position. When Mr.. Cullingworth
was reappointed and took charge of the Of
fee a short time ago he wrote to the de-
partment at Washington requesting that
this position be taken. out of the classified
service. He explained that the appointea
had the handling of stamps and money and
asked IL Ii were not right and just that he
should have power to appoint to a position
of that Character when- he and his bonds
men were responsible for the acts of the
officer, especially the incumbent had
He made the case so plain that the depart
ment at once authorized him TO make the
change. The colored man was removed
and a white man APPOINTED In his stead