The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-24
He Referred to the S. A. L. System
as a Gigantic Trust.
PRESIDENT WILLIAMS DEFENCE.
Made q Strong Argument i'll Favor OF
the Mcasurc-Mr. Willard Dc
nounces Newspaper Story
as Unqualificdly False.
Tho Bill TO Dc Con-
sidcrcd To-Day,

The argu1nent upon the question OF
granting the charter to the Ncslmono
and Washington Airline railroad was
completed before the House Committees
on Finance and Roads last night, and
the committees decided TO consider II
in executive session at their meetings
this morning.
The House Committees on Roads and
Finance met jointly last night in the
HALL of the House of Delegates, TO hear
argument on the bill TO incorporate the
Richmond and Washington AIRLINE Kali
road Company.
Hon. r. c. Pitcher, chairman of the
former committee. presided, ana MI.
Charles B. Mann recorded.
The chairman laid before the COM
mittee a batch of resolutions passed py
the Chamber of Commerce on the SUD
ject, but which were not read in1me-
diately. AT the suggestion of Hon. John
L. Epps, it was agreed that one hour
and a half be given each side IN when
TO present their arguments.
Hon. John b. Moon. of Albemarle was
then recognized TO speak in favor OF
the charter Mr.. Moon said his company
was Offering three times as much Tor
:t1e States iItc1est III the Richmond;
FREDERICKSBURG and 1DUlOIldC odu siS
it would cost to parallel the road.
He did not believe the proposition OF
the Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac railroad to pay i per cent. on the
States holdings in that company WOULD
amount TO anything, for the reason that
at least 20 per cent. of the stock was
not represented at the meeting at which
The resolution WAS passed.
He thought the States Interest in said
COT "a
be disposed of and the funds invested
in century bonds. He said his company
was offering % per cent. more for the
States interest than anybody else Was
willing to pay for it. and it was. he
thought, the duty of the Legislature to
thus protect said interest.
OPPOSE THE MEASURE.
Mr Hill Carter, of counsel for the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
railroad, followed Mr.. Moon in opposi-
ton TO the bill. Mr.. Carter said his road
had been referred to as a monopoly. If
this term could he applied TO the Rich
1nond, Fredericksburg and Potomac. he
Thought the terms applied with much
more force TO the Seaboard Airline. He
ridiculed the idea that the premise OF
his company 10 pay The State u per cent
was worth nothing, and contended that
the people he represented had always
carried out their obligations. and should
they not desire TO execute this pledge. the
courts OF the State could compel them
to do so.
The record of his road. however, In
the matter of keeping its obligations
was clean.
Mr.. Carter went on to show by citing
figures upon the increasing earnings of
his road that it was and would he in q
position to do what it had promised.
Mr.. Garter said If he were given the
o.1-, Sl,@
Line he would make 4 cool million by
not building the road He did not say
the road would not be built, but he knew
more money could be made by not build
ing.
He contended that if the road was pro-
posed to be built the incorpora tors GER
1ainly, in his judgment would not object
to putting UP Il larger forfeit.
MEANT NO OFFENCE.
Mr.. Garter asked Mr.. Williams if he
had stated before the Senate committee
that he was unwilling to put up larger
amount than n certain sum as a Euaran-
tee. Mr.. Williams said Mr.. Carter had
no right 20 ask him the question. Mr..
Carter replied: 81 didn't mean bit of
harm: / wouldn't offend you for the
world"
Mr.. Carter said there could be no mo-
nopoly from here North. for the reason
that the road was raralieed by n water
route. He said the rates from Richmond
North were lower Than those to the
South, and this did not show that his
road was a monopoly. Mr.. Carter said If
his road was a monopoly the Seaboard
AIRLINE was gigantic trust"
"A monopoly" repeated Mr.. Carter in
sneering tones. because 1t does not yield
at once to the demands of this gigantic
trust this little road is to be branded a
id monopoly.
Mr. Carter created much laughter by
exhibiting a calendar gotten out by the
Seaboard Airline and commenting on 1t.
The speaker made very eloquent plea
in conclusion against the granting of the
charter.
Hon. IS s. z. fateson followed Mr..
Carter, and spoke in favor of the BILL
Mr.. Patteson said when the charter of
the 1sichmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac road was granted 1t was expressly
stated that 1t should not be used as a
monopoly for more than thirty years.
He said the 7iaralleling of the road would
enure TO the advantage of the State as
well as OF the people.
Mr.. Patteson thought the bill should be
recommended to the House in exactly the
shape in which it came from the Senate,
IN order TO destroy monopoly and better
the condition Of the State.
GENERAL AYERS TALKS.
General Rufus A. Ayers, of Big Stone
Gap, was next recognized. and spoke
against the bill ilIs cited former cases
where the State had given up its inter-
ests in corporations and the proposed
lines had not been built.
He contended that the Richmond. Fred
ericksburg and Potomac road was in a
position to pay the State the rate of In
terest which 1t had promised, and II this
we're done the State could not afford to
g1ve 1t up for the price offered by the
6eaboard Air Line.
He said the road had always kept its
agreements. and was in a better position
TO do so now than ever before.
General Ayers made very able speech,
and dealt with the subject in 4 plain,
business-,ike manner.
Treasurer Har1nan. a member of the
a klnkifs4 Fund Cnrnfnts sinn made a .1,rinf