The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-08
STILL TALKING OF
TIE CORPORA HONS.
Four Speeches on the Subject
Yesterday.
JUDGE KENDALL CONCLUDES
II. 8 axtoa is Heard Brlefy-Judge Rob
ertsoa Against the Reporl-.nr. stebblns
Begins a Speech ia Its Favor.
The Days Proceedings.
JUDGE KENDALL CONCLUDES

The convention put in a full session OF
four hours yesterday hearing speecleS
for and against the report or the COT
porauon Committee, but no action was
,ahen upon 1t.
Mr.. Braxton was the first speaker. no
submitted some immaterial amendments
to meet the views OF the opposition, ana
brielIy explained their purport. Judge
Kendall then resumed his al Sument began
on Thursday in favor OF the report. Ills
speech was loudly applauded when ne r.
sumed his seat, ana many congratuld-
uons were offered by his colleagues. Juase
Robertson followed in opposition to the
ropurI and mace an exceptionally nne
speech When he had conciuued, MI.
Stebbins was recognized, and began the
delivery of a careIully prepared argument
IN favor fthe report lie Will concluue
to-day.
Inc body adjourned at p. NJ to meet
at 10 CLOCK to-day
DAY IN DETAIL.
Rev. Or. -l,..--,".-J e.->..eu inc coilveH-
ton with prayer, seventy-three members
Icing present
The convention went into Committee
OF the Whole to further consider the re-
port of the Committee on Corporations.
Chairman Braxton announced that in
view Of the comments made by opponents
of the majority plan for a railroad com
mission, ne desired to make an announce
ment He declared that the committee
had no idea Of doing any Of the Wllo
things that had been attributed to them.
The main argument against 1t had been
directed to the three points: the fixing or
rates, &C., without giving notice to rali-
roads; that the world control meant that
The commission could take complete
OH 90 b,,SfnpSS. that ROADS
would not have the right of appeal but
would be liable for a penalty the moment
the commission prescribed rate, sched-
ule, &c. even before 1t was possible Tor
them to Put the, new rule IN operation.
WE'RE UNJUST.
Mr.. Bre1ton -contendeu that neither OF
the criticisms were just land the language
of the report did not justify IT. The
construction in each instance was forced
and unreasonable, but in order to put the
matter beyond doubt the committee had
agreed to suggest amendments. They
thought the language already used could
not by any possibility be subject to legal
mis-conStruction, but TO meet every crltl-
cism, the committee recommended that a
clause be inserted in one section declaring
that nothing contained in the report shall
impair or abridse the full right Of a
transportation or transmission company
to manage and operate its own franchises
&c. In another section the specific pro-
vision would be inserted that 40 change
Of classification, tate or rule sn uld be-
come operative OF go into effect until at
least ten days after its adoption, the com
many or companies affected having had
full notice beforehand
The last amendment would meet the
criticism that the railroads were not
given an appeal to the Supreme Court
from q rule prescribing schedules or ad-
ditional facilities. This section had been
amended, SO that railroad Would he
given the same right in the Constitution
for appeal in such CASES as had been CIV
en- In reference to rates, charges or Gas
sification of traffic.
Mr. BraXton assured MIR. Hunton that
if the language suggested did not fully
and uneouivocally cover the objections
made he would confer with him in private
and accept suggestions that would do so.
There was an animated colloquy be-
tween Messrs. Thorn. Hunton and Rob
ertson. of the opposition. ard Mr. BlaX-
ton relating to the extent ard purport, or
the amendments. Judge Kendall said he
was willing to yield his time for reason
able explanation of ths ameroments. but
not for arguments and criticisms of then
at this time, and the running debate
ceased
It was apparent that the amendments
suggested by Chairman BraSton created a
futter among the opponents Of his re-
port. They covered the principal points of
attack made against it in the arguments
heretofore made.
JUDGE KENDALL RESUMES.
Judge Kendall resuming his argument
begun Thursday. read copious extracts
from recommendations of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, to show that the
majority report contained some suSges-
tons made by them from actual test and
experience and that the minority report
contained defects in the Interstate COM
| merce law that had time and again been
specifically pointed out. He next pro-
ceeded to discuss the question OF the right
to fix rates and read from several SUI
| preme Court decisions and from elemen.
tory works to show that the doctrine was
| thoroughly settled. esta Elished and put
| in practice in many States.
Replying to the argument Of Mr. HuntoI
| Mat the commercial law Of con1petitio~
| and the general development Of the pub
| lic interest han a great and controlling
| In .luence in fixing rates, Judge hendai
| declared that since the Pennsylvania -ali
| road had acquired its foothold. there was
| no competition between railroads In VIZ
! GINA.
Mr.. Thorn suggested that 1t was com
| petition of markets as well as roads
| Mr. Kendall replied that he was shor
oughly acquainted with that claim but !
| was not tenable. 1t was only an excus
| by the railroads for doing just ABOUT d
! they pleased regardless of the fact ina
! it was applied to markets in which ther
was no possible competition with othe
| markets or other roads.
| de alluded to the argument maze o.
4 $t,k.
| and ridicued the OIL gument mace .ilei
| and on the floor of the convention. til't
the railroads could be safely trusted
barge the very lowest rates oecaus
IT enhanced the productive capacity or
community and gave the ROADS more pa
tronage
MASSACHUSETTS PLAN.
The Massachusetts, Railroad connlls
sion, which the railroads recommend 10
Virginia, was dissected and It's ahege
inef1lciency pointed out, Inc iho.'se ~
| ,:.:. tI,j- law Inv the railroads, q