The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-15
TO CONFER WITH
PRES I WILLIAMS u.
Committee Will Protest
Against Moving Offices
A VERY PLAIN LETTER
Mr. Williams Says He Never Pro-
laised Not to Move Offices.
MATTER MAY GO TO THE BOARD.
The Joint Committee from Norfolk, Ports
mouth and Berkfey Decide That if the
Talk With the President Is uu-
satisfactory the Beard
vii, Be Ap-
peaIed To
MATTER MAY GO TO THE BOARD.

The Ieint committee from Norfolk,
Portsmouth, and E;erkiey will wait Upon
President Williams, of the Seaboard
Air Line, ut 1s:SO o'clock tomorrow 10
confer with him regarding che proposed
removal of the general offices OF the
Seaboard Air Line from Portsmouth to
this city.
The meeting will be full OF interest. 1t
has been charged by member of tine
legislature from Portsmouth Mr.. Ch:,rles
T. Bland. that Mr.. Williams promised
him the offices should not be removed
from that city. This Mr.. Williams In
disnantly denies In q letter to Mayor &.
Brooks Johnston, of Norfolk, chairman
of the joint committee, made public last
night.
MIR. WISLLIAMS. LETTER.
The letter is follows.
Richmond, a.. March u. 1901.
Hon. c. Brooks Johnston Chairman
Joint Committee. Norfolk and Ports
mouth.
Dear Sir: 1 have just returned to my
office this morning after several days at-
sence and have the pleasure OF aeknowI-
edGirg receipt of your letter of the 9Th
inst. | am returning, to New York to-
night and am sorry that engagements.
for me to be sure of being here until next
Saturday. On that day | shall have pleas
ure in meeting here thc committees
spoken OF in your letter. ut such time as
may be convenient to them.
..Iu courtesy to these committees. Z
shall withhold a statement to- the people
they represent, regarding the subject OF
the proposed interview, which had in>
tended 30 prepare and forward for public
tf1f.t ,frayy
presentation OF the facts will aliay
anxiety and friction. which seem to exist
in the three cities. | am entirely willing
To nave the course CT the Seahoard Air
Line toward these communities fully
understood and submitted to the iuds-
ment OF their people. and to consider
most respectfully all they have to. say.
HE, MADE. No PROMISES
Permit to say that I do not judge the
people of Norfolk. Portsmouth, or Berk-
ley by the vindietive and incendiary
attacks publicly made upon me and the
properties | in part represent On the
other hand [ am sure that the represen-
tative people of those cities regard with
the same contempt I do the siistme5ut
slanders which represent ME. among
other things as having made and viai-
,ted a promise which | never mate
| which the evidence as published shows
I did not ana HiliSll Sousi hpS pSt'7
sibIy have made. Yours Very truly
JOHN SKELETON WILLIAMS.
President.
A telegram to The Times from Norfolk
, stated that the joint committee heard the
foregoing letter at meeting iast hisne
and decided to wait upon Mr. Williams
at 1890 O'Clock Tomorrow
The telegram states also that resolu-
ton offered by the Portsmouth mempe'
of the committee and adopted declares
tha, If the interview with Mr.. Williams
| is ,lnsatisfactory the committee Will go
! over the presidents head and appeal to
| the Board of Directors. The telegram
! concludes:
| President Williams is held by many 20
/ have practically stated that those r:enl-
/ hers of the Legislature from this section
| who have stated in print that ne prom
| iesd them that the Headquarters OF tne
| system should remain at Portsmouth
| made false statements.