The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-09
TO LIT THE PEOPLE DECIDE
Resolutions PrOpo.ius Amendments to
foe Constitution Passed.
ILIYELY DsBATE As TO ELECTIONS.
The senate Thinks the People Vote Too
onen-Psymont Of Poll TAX asa Requi-
site TO vofiBg-1be Featberston SAL
ary-Cutting BiiI Passed.

ouestiOn Of whether or nos inc 'onS'e"-
zion shall be so amended that the spring
sicc,,oas shall be combined with the fail
clac,ions An extended ana interesting
debate was had on the proposition.
senator IcCatos resolution, TO allow
~ neonlc 10 vote on the question OF
smending the constitution so as 10 re-
onirc the payment OF the poll tax before
= person can vote was also pased by the
Senate. ,.. ..,, -
a,cicg the salaries OF state officials. was
nsssed. There was night over
a. nrestion Of reducing the salary
-, ,be clerk Of the House and Keeper
=, ,hc Rolls OF Virginia bu; the matter
was not settled before Adjournment.
Nort ~ The Senate.
The senate met with prayer by Rev.
Ch hsdrc han m sixty bills passed by tho
tfonss Monday were reported ana re-
,crred or placed on the calendar.
m bius amending the charter OF the
Newport News Shspbuilding ana Dry
Dock company. aind authorizing the cree
~ ~ "a pier-hcad IN the ltappahan.
nock river and amending the charter o;
tbc town Of Richllnds. were passed under
suspension OF the rules -
Tho chair announced the resignation OF
Meso, from the Committee on the Nir-
ginia- Maryland boundary line. and the
Appointment OF Mr. Fairfax TO Ill the
several OF the committees had import
,,t hills 10 report Mr Sands. from Gen
eral Laws. reported with an amendment
.he anii-tvading stamp act. MI. talfIaN,
from Finance. reported supsiitu.e ,o5
the Maupin act 10 tax social CLUBS. ana
Mr. Morris from Public Institutions re-
ported with the recommendation that
4, do not pass the bill TO enlarge the
Board OF Directors OF the IenitenuaIS'
aud to enlarge the powers OF the Board.
All Of these measures will come up on
their engros sment to-day.
Mr.. Wickham introduced and had pass
ed under a Suspension OF the ruicS o'l'
10 vest IN r. VI. Holiday and others, trus-
tees for slash Christian church in Han
over. five acres OF land.
A VETO BY THE GOVERNOR.
Private Secretary owen delivered 10
the Senate "a message from the Governor.
vctong Senate bill No. 30.
The message was read. and on motion
OF Mr. McilWafnc was laid on the taDla
The message was as follows.
Richmond. Va. Feb. S. 1895
To the Senate Of Virginia
herewith return Senate bill No. 235
without my approval This bill amends
section 1859 Of the Code by adding para
eraph 10 the effect that whenever the
board OF directors Of any railroad com
pany, operating a railroad in this state
deem Il desirable to change the location
81 any part Of the road bed I'm order 10
straighten or improve any part thereof
or TO shorten the distance between its
termini such change may be made. and
proceedings may 10 had 10 ascertain what
will be a Just compensation for the lands
upon any such new location and the
work may be constructed upon or through
the same. and the title to such lands OBJ
tained In like manner as If it were the
first location.
II Is not perceived that any conditions
exist which make II proper 10 confer
such sweeping and indefinite powers upon
the railway corporations as are contem-
plated by this bill.
Apparently Il is intended to cover those
cases In which the companies may i'm
prove their roadbeds by inconsiderable
changes Of location and II the bill went no
further II would be unobjectionable II
il recognized that on every railroad in the
State there may be found grades and
curves due 20 bad engineering or some
conditions which may have existed at the
time OF the construction of the road which
may be readily avoided by a new loca-
ton. but the hill confers the power of
making much more extensive changes
under the guse OF improving the track
Long detours might be made which would
seriously affect villages or even towns
which had been built with reference TO
the psrmanence OF the railroads ope,d-
tions. Industrial plants. and mining en-
terprises may have been established.
whose continued existence is dependent
upon the facilities for tra- sportation af-
fordsd by the existing roads. To put
Il in the power of 4 corporation 10 cripple
and overthrow these enterprises by
changing the location of its line either for
the purpose of Developing other enter
prises I'm which the corporation or its Of
ncers are interested. or in order to pro-
gncrulaffN-a OnprafianS al nfhQe
places. is contrary 10 sound public pol
icy. Since the power is given 10 change
any portion OF the track which will short
en- the distance between the termini. II Is
readily seen that IN the case of long line
these changes might assume very large
proportions. and take directions which
would be forbidden by the Legislature If
the application for an enlargement Of
charter privileges was made in a way Is
reveal the changes proposed.
The Legislature Is now. and has been
I'm session for some time. If any of the
roads of the State are contemplating ex-
tensive changes in the location Of their
lines. application may be made to the
General Assembly for q special grant OF
power With the facts before them th.,t
body can determine WHISTLER II will allow
the request. Opportunity would thus be
given for localities and Interests likely TO
be affected 10 be heard
While ~ Is not presumed that this bill
is intended 60 be used for the purposes in
dicated. vet IL must h. clear that Il may
be used In this manner. and IL Is the part
OF prudent legislation 70 anticipate an
abuse OF power. and 10 render such an
abuse Impossible by throwing proper linn
ststions around a grant OF special priv
ieges. An indefinite grant OF power is
always Objectionable. II. for instance.
bill was offered 20 charter a company
20 build a road between Bristol and Nor.
folk without designating It's course. and
limiting II oply with respect 20 the two
points designated as terminals IL would
meet with the strongest opposition in the
General Assembly and would be amen
able 10 objections sprinr'nC from he
soundest considerations - nrhli- 0~'~v
And vet BY the bill under consideration
tbs existing Norfolk ara ives. "a. H..
way Company could construct an entire
ly new track between these points and
abandon any and all portions Of the
ter lines be adopted ON any through line
IN the State which would work great in
Jury TO localities and might seriously af-
feet the states interest In road which
now yields a handsome Income Such
powers fYi~ht e~ui,ie r"ff~c~" o. -
tate 10 cities and towns the grading OF
dangerous and in1Ur CUE franz.
| can see TO objection TO the apparent
objects OF the bill. To shorten curves
would insure greater safety and lesser
the time OF travel and the bill might
DCod ~ fQatrfCfi0uS