The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-05
BIG RAILWAY MEN
ENTER A PROTEST
Several Them Speak Against
Corporation Commission.
WOULD CRIPPLE INDUSTRIES
Declaration Made That Such clausc In the
Constitution Would Drive Capital Out
Of the stale-furiher Hearing
Next Wednesday.
WOULD CRIPPLE INDUSTRIES

The Committee on Corporations heard,
argument yesterday afternoon from Off
GERS Of several of the large railway sys-
tens operating in Virginia in opposition
20 the establishment of a railroad COM
mission. There were present many rail-
road officials and prominent capitalists
and representatives of great industrial
plants.
The attorneys Of the railroads will
be heard next Wednesday afternoon
Among those present were Messrs- A.
3. Andrews. first vice-president. and -.
". Finley, second ylce-president of the
Southern Railway; George w. Stevens,
pl'esiocn; E. O. HotciFliss, general frcignt
agent: Henry T. Wickham, general
counsel of the Chesapeake and Ohio; MIR.
Devant, general freight agent, and VIII
liam a. GLASGOW, counsel of he Norfolk
and Western: Judge ]. 3. Horsley, gem
eraI counsel for several corporations:
William R. Trigg, president OF the Trigg
Shipbuilding Company; Secretary Dun
Top, of the Riclm ond Chamber of Com
rnerce; Dabney CreDshaw, vice-pIesident
OF the Virginia Carolina chemical Com
pany, and Me srs. Join a. Coke, E. Ran
dolph Williams, and several others Of
Richmond.
BLANKET OR CORPORATE DEATH
Ip4S.SpI ItpI SC ~ SNllASSf' VI sNdNASAh'
made the first speech. He said his art
and his money were in the development
OF the resources of Virginia. His idea
OF a Constitution was that ii should be
q simple, strong structure, ba ed on broad
foundations. Inc .aulce work and stat
ute work Should be left to the Legisla-
ture Some of the proposed sections
would spread a blanket of corporate
death over the industrial development
Of Virginia 1t was impossible for any
commission to keep up with the raplC
evolution OF corporate and industrial De
veloprneat. The man who was looked
upon as the biggest crank in RadioFd
inpIored people fifteen years ago to raise
slp0.OOo to buy the Flat Top Coal Fields
Not long ago they were sold for $40 "oH.-
900. The best iii ne that could be done
FOR Virginia was to leave the law about
corporatione We open, as IL was now,
and in the hands OF the Legislature.
Mr.. Roy. B. Smith, Of Roanoke, declared
that he had worked 10 secure a Consutu-
tional Convention, and ha0 always de-
Tended it from attack since 1t began us
long existence, but he had never dreamed
that the convention would attempt to
,,Iaoe speciac laws in the Constitution
regulating or Gripping corporations. AT
the conclusion of Mr.. Smiths speech the
argument began in connection WITH the
sections creating a railway commission
WOULD BE SUICIDAL
Mr.. ". w. Finley, second vice-Fresident
of the Southern Railway, spoke hTst- fae
referred to the Danville case. anG SAID
!: ii had not been for the interstate com
,nerce law in respect to the long and short
ham clause. there would never have been
anv difficulty in making a satisfactory
adjustment with the DanT1lle shippers,
II was due to such attempts to create
artificial comercial conditions that rail-
v-avs were lampered in their efforts TO
go adjust tariffs and charges as to bear
equally upon all, according to circun-
stances and conditions. Disstmliarity OF
conditions and circumstances governed
and moved the realm of commerce. IL
was a practical and not a theore' l.9,
question, constantly changing and huctu-
ating.
II would he suicidal to hamper rail-
road development and expansion by
adopting theoretical restrictions such as
those contemplated by the long ana
short haul clause in the proposed or
dinance. which was much more strln-
gent than the interstate commerce act.
lie said the Supreme Court of the Unit
ed States had found it necessary to over
turn a great many of the theoretlcal
rulings of ,he Interstate commerce Soii'-
EMISSION.
LONG AND SHORT HAUL.
He said the long and short haul clause
would complicate the question of inter-
state with intrastate traffic, and Would
give rise TO much confusion, II not con-
n!ct with the Federal law.
MY. Finley, in opposing q railway COM
mission. showed that freight rates IN
virginia were lower than in States nav
.nr such commission. BE said it was
mistake 10 suppose that railroad
did not look after the interests or thei-
patrons The public. Its very lie de-
nended r1on developing every community
e,onr its line so that traffic could be
Increased and multiplied. The Southern
Railway had seven thousands miles Oh
track and not q single individual OF
community in ali its territory was das-
eliminated against 10 the pre1aoice OIL
others. s..
He said the effect OF commissions IN
pther States had resulted in great en-
harrassment 10 railroads and hao very