The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-07
the committee to make favorable re
port on the bill. So
Mr.. a1nI1DH1sBR.s PUEA


mond Chamber Of Commerce. He read
the petition adopted 5by the Chamber.
& Mr.. Milihiser8 began his remarks In sup
port of the petition by going back.so 1883,
and telling of how freight rates were
then upset. The source of oppression was
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-#
mac, which stood Between Richmond
and Washington, at which latter point
the Baltimore and Ohio. the great COM
peettor of the Pennsylvania could be
reached. The people OF Richmond adopt
ed heroic measure, and decided 10 put
on a line Of steamers between here and
New York The citizens responded nobly,
and their action brought the railroads
to terms. l n many cases freight rates
mad been raised fifty per cent. Mr.. MILE
hiser read figures snCwing the reductions
In rates the citizens of Richmond Sc
cured when the railroads saw that ex-s
ornttant rates would not be submitted
to. His reason, he said, in presenting
these figures was 20 show that there was
no occasion for increasing the rates, but
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac felt strong and powerful behind
the bulwarks of State protection. The
company was prospectus. 1t was placed
in a position in which il thought it could
demand more of the peopie than was
necessary to make a healthy business
MI MHfillsei S<iId eiisilf l'e ii1'ei cee,i IL
formed that the reason why the Southern
Railways main line tc the South doeS
not pass Richmond, was because Oh tne
obstructive tactics rOf the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac roiM And. s
now, he said. when another wotiid-be rival
comes into the 1eid the same old tactics
sli pur iii' "
WAS net that 'he Soiiii'oih" es.i.'i siio'i:'
enter INTO parti,ersn.p Win i,s" y. 1.- 10
, cs.iNeiis, put YIN tit s, hIi .
were suou leasons Aoi tie loi iiii.i'ioii "
ms rallroad partnership ,pul "hel. 'he
junior partner reached manhood the state
should have severed its relations with 1t.
That partner has now, become a monopo-
ly, which is one OF the greatest curses OF
the age.
The problem before the world now, Mr..
Millhlser said, is commercial liberty.
The remedy for monopoly is the cultlva-
ton of a healthy public sentiment. whici,
Will decnrone monopoly and all other
evils that operate to the disadvantage
of the great masses of the peop'e.
In conclusion Mr. Minniser maze an
eloauent plea to the committee to dis
solve the relations existing between the
State and the R,chnond Fredericksburg
and Potomac road. and open up the way
for healthy railroad competition.
,rba sacret,rv of +he cr,nmittee road n
4:.:> go ~ Da.e.,, C,,,,,,fc of
-sI,nmmnrce asking the General Assembly
to or,nt tb.s CHARTER
on,o-rr
'oIGr< i1l1fAi>i1 o't
Judge Nllllam JOSIAH ltethke. direclot
of the Richmond. fredericksburg and Po-
tcmac ROAD. next addressed the committee.
he pfoceecfed at once 10 argue that ms
company was AMPLY able TO carry out us
pledge TO pay the state II per cent. on her
holdings IN the road winch "oulo aliaount
to So6GVo year 1here was slN- -seEenlhs
OF the stock represented at the meetins
when the resolution Was aaoSteo. Itei'et. ms
. to- Jnds;e Watts statement that me la"s
would not permit a rs.iroau cohfPanY 70
pay to one set of.stckholders more inter
est tl.an TO another, Judge zLeake sf.'a
this could be done py consent OIL ti'e
stockhoiders themselves.
Judge Watts asked IL IL Wouiu liot. ie-
dure unanimous consent
Judge Lesis'e repiieo IN tlie lti,i
saia liz, the Gouil o. tiipe'.,s n.,e % o f.,,rn
~ tIa aa rnin.s nf the road and argued
fron, tban, tf,at the road would be able to
c.rr, ont tic n1edpe He said if the stock
.i,rl[or.- -sbo,I,3 choose 10 give all the pro-
tits of the road IA the State. no one would
,,o,a ~. ,.ioht IN object
vv;.b reference Ia ,he question OF taxa
+;or of tte new road Jn,lre I.eake said
.bis ,-o,,ld amo,1ut Il, comma ra tiy ely iitt,a-
about ss. eco on n,ileare.
Judge Leake paid a good deal of atten-
tinn - tho nranos;t;on that the revenus
derived from the holdings in the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac would
r,a,,'snff ,ba SITE debt He read from a
rirc,,lar nrntef and circulated among the
rembers of the legislature.
The Judge said he had been informed
that the !Seabcard and Roanoke road last
,.aar ra1nrnnd no net revenue vet there
,rera son,e neonle who were willing to
b,1y the stock at 5000 per share. He want
ed to know what people wno paid that
80 -. ~ 80 ~. s+,cl- oushr to nav for the
,,i,.i1aod he, .inn stock of the Richmond,
L.raiIeric,,shur,- and Potomac road.
Judge Leake said the statement had
Fredericksnurs and Potomac stock was-
half of it was held in Virginia ana one