The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-24

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speech. in which he said he did not be-
lieye tho people of the State were in favor
of the granting of the charter unless the
State should receive S4o0 per share for
her interest.
PREIDENT WILLIAMS.
Mr.. John Shelton Williams followed
Mr.. Harman in favor of the charter.
lie said the matter was one OF great
interest to the people of the whole State.
and that the newspapers from different
sections bore out his contention that there
was general demand for the charter.
Mr Williams said the passenger rate
from Richmond to Washington was high
cr than that from Richmond to Atlanta,
and that looked something like the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac was
a monopoly.
He said it was the purpose of the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
TO so burden the Scaboard Air lime peo-
pie as ~ prevent them, if possible, from
getting the charter asked.
Mr.. Williams then went into detailed
history of the Seaboard Air Line fight
up to this time.
de said if his company bought the
sloci1 of the State in the Richmond. Fred
erlcksburG and Potomac at $500 per share,
he would be willing to sell them for $110-
coo less.
He contcndcd that If any one would
suffer from the deal it would not be the
Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac,
but the Seaboard Air line
Referring to Major Myers speech be-
fore the Senate Committee, in which he
said during certain years the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac road had
not earned more than six and a half per
cent, Mr., Williams said these happened
to be the years when the Seaboard Air
Line was operating a line of boats to the
north.
He emphasized the fact that the Sea-
board Air Line was distinctly a Southern
corporation, whose capital was not un-
limited, and that a million-dolIar bond
might seriously hamper it in its proposed
work, but there was no sort Of doubt
about the building of the road should the
charter be granted.
He could not see why the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac road should
fear the competition which his road
would offer, taking into consideration the
disadvantages under which his road would
labor at the start.
Mr.. Williams said he would give one
half of the ''cool million referred TO by
Mr.. Carter if that gentleman could show
him how the Scaboard Air Line could
make it by not building the road in the
event Of the granting of the charter.
NEWSPAPER DENOUNCED.
Captain Joseph E. Willard, of Fair
fax, rose to question Of personal privil-
ege when Mr.. Williams had concluded,
and sent the following clipping which
he said was taken from yesterdays
Richmond News. and asked that it be
read, since it referred to him.
Zone of the strongest opponents on
the House Committee to the Seaboard
bill is very large holder of stock in
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac railroad. and while there may
be some question as TO the ethics of
his action upon q matter in which he
is an Interested party, he has so Tar
mot hesitated ito strongly oppose any
competition for the Richmond, Freder-
icksburg and Potomac
Mr. Willard said he had been unavoid-
ably absent during the first part Of the
statement sooner.
He desired to say that he was a large
holder of stock in the Richmond. Fred
cricksburg and Potomac railroad, but he
wanted to denounce as unquaifiedly
false the statement that he had mot
so far hesitatcd ITO strongly oppose any
competition for the Richmond, Frcder
icksburg and Potomac
HAD TAKEN NO PART
he mad never mentioned the matter
to any one, nor had he taken any part
il the controversy whatever.
He had seriously contemplated asking
to be allowed to withdraw from the
committee which had the charter under
consideration. but since this unwarranted
attack had been made upon him, he
would now sit on the case and act with
the committee.
There might be some questions of
ethics as to the position of the news
paper which had assaulted him, but he
was sure the attack did, not apply to
him, though SO intended.
Many gentlemen, members of the
House, assured Captain Willard that they
could testify to the correctness of this
statement in regard to his position in the
matter.
The committee then decided to take up
the bill for further consideration at 10
o'clock this morning.