The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-11
GIVE Us LIE FACTS.

Orr vigorous contemporary, lic NoIIolk
Sirginian-Pilot, takes us pretty Sharply
10 task for opposing the majority report
Of the Committee on Corporations IN re-
card to the powers of the proposed KAN
road Commission. we think the subject
:. .singularly proper ono for discussion,
and hope II will be thoroughly ventilated,
both in the convention and the press
With a just regard for one OF the es-
sentiaI clements of a reasonable discus
sion, oar contemporary says; I'VE take
It that they rhc members Of the conver-
sion> are next on this proposition, and
WANT FACTS, not mere clatter." We
say, Amen. And apropos of this VIC want
facts from the Virginian-Plot on tho
several propositions they challenge us to
deny. We cannot prove negative; no
one is required TO do SO; but we would
be glad for the Nirginian- Pilot to furnish
The facts upon which 1t bases its charges.
1T says;
I'VE challenge It (Thc Times to deny
that the railroads OF this State discrini-
,iatc against one shipper and in favor Of
another. and We further challenge 1t 10
deny that there is now absolutely no
practical means by which the shipper,
Disseminated against, can obtain redress.
Ought a great common carrier TO be al
lowed TO charge one citizen of the Com
1nonwcaltll higher rate for a service
than it charges another for exactly the
same service? Has ii any moral, or
equitable, right to charge the farmers of
the Valley of Virginia q higher rate TO
Norfolk than Il charges the farmer OF
Tho Mississippi Valley TO Norfolk? WHAT
right has :. railroad company to dcprcss
Tho business and dcpreciate the proper
~ of one town by charging it higher
freight rates than it charges another
town? All of these abuses, we say, OK
tst in Virginia. We invite The Times, on
a plain issue OF fact, to deny that they
exist and TO point out how they may now
be corrected.
we have absolutely no knowledge that
such n condition of things as our con-
temporary describes exists in Virginia.
If such does exist, we would have ex-
73ected the violators of the law to be pro-
cceded against under the provisions OF
the present law to expose the iniquiies
complained OF and enforce the penalty,
for under the thirteenth section of the
railroad law OF Virginia to-day, approved
March 3, 1892, it is provided that a viola
ton Of the law shall be deemed mfsde-
meanor, and on conviction the offender
shall be fined not less than one hundred
collars nor more than five hundred dol
lars.
We have some practical acquaintance,
as shipper, with the operations OF rail-
roads, and we have never suspected the
existence OF such a state of affairs as
our contemporary describes.
We know that the fixing of railroad
rates is one Of the most difficult prob
lems in modern business and VIC know
that some places like Norfolk are more
1avorably situated Than others, both for
railroad and water transportation. II is
impossible, in the very nature of things,
that all places should have exactly the
same rates, because they are not justly
entitled to them
Il may be- in the great future, that
railroad transportation. both of freight
and passengers, may be like the postage,
or better-the same price 30 carry you
or freight ar7ywherc-or like the five cents
on n street car-which may take you
lave not reached that stage yet, and
meantime the railroads of Virginia, with
cut the autocratic rule of the three wise
men, have given us the lowest rates and
best service IN the South. What We fear
is the Inauguration Of a wrong princi-
pie. The training of our people in the
socialistic doctrine of looking to the gov
cratic; it is unnecessary. 1t is, moreover,
most unwise to put down a hard and fast
method in the Constitution which n brief
experience may prove 10 be very unsatis-
factory.
AS TO supposins that our objections arc
holders OF the railroad, we simply say
that it is not in our mind.
We do not believe that the stockholders
OF the present railroads will suffer. but we
do believe that the adoption OF the dras-
tic measures proposed will defer outside
capital from coming in the State and that
their effect will be TO mix the powers of
government with private interests in a
very ullwholesoIne way.
There is nothing more offensive than
The arrogance OF power, and it was the
exercise of their power in our politics
ty the railroads that so deeply offended
large body of the people of Virginia
We earnestly desire TO take them out of
politics and keep them out; but the pros
rect is not cheerful now.
We detest as much as the Virginian-
Pilot the iniQuitics-if such there bc-to
which it refers, and believe that if the
present railroad law is not sufficient to
correct thcil-and VIC don't know why it
IS MOTT should be so amended as to
accomplish this purpose. But what we
Low want are the FACTS on which our
contemporary relies.
Bring them out in detail and particu-
lar.
=----------@-
PhlL0a0 ILL., VIEW.
The Danville Register, in discussing With
the Norfolk virginian-Pilot the question