The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-08
BENEFITS IS COME
FROM new Law
CONTINUED from First Page.)

people To this end the commission is
clothed with ample authority to inquire
into and prevent neglect and oppression
of the public by public service corpora
tons, in the matter of rates. service
ard facilities; but at the same time, IN
order that this authority may not oe
abused by the commission itself. 10 the
injury or oppression Of the companies
the fullest provision is made, whereby
the COMPANIES may. by appeals to the
Supreme Court of Appeals, protect them
selves in every case from any possible IN
jrsticc. It is believed that the rights
both of the public and of the companies
are fully protected in the elaborate sec
tions of the Constitution concerning th's
commission, which is probably the inosl
thoroughly equipped body of It's KING
III the United States SO lar as inc extern
and efficiency of its powers are con-
cerned. The commission will be com
nosed of three men. to be appointed by
III. Governor and confirmed by the Gen
eral Assembly in jc-lt session Ihey
viii holS Office for six years. one term
e.uirinG every two years. and Wal! nave
= clerk and bailiff and such other oincers
as the law may provided. Their powers
ore partly executive, partly legislative
srd nartlv judicial There is probably
no single act to be performed by the
Governor fraught with SO much import
ance to the people Of the State as the
selection of the men to fill this comms-
son.
Every corporation, private and public,
Hereafter chartered by or doing business
in this State WAL be required to register
oace year with the Corporation Com
mission and pay 4 small annual regis
tration fee of about s.. This is in order
To keen the track Of such corporations
and to defray the expenses of the COM
mission. all Of wmch it is believed Will
he mere than paid for out of the agSre-
gate amount Of these fees
The we'll known long and short haul
clause is embodied in this article. with
some few notifications suggested by ex-
pericnce. to make 1T more efficient anu
prevent oppression.
All public officers. State, county. and
municipal. are prohibited under penalty
of forfeiture of office to accept or use
any free pass or telegraph or telephone
frank.
Al, elaborate and carefully drawn ''em-
nloyers' liability act is made part
of the article. Under this benefcient
provision it is believed that all the harsh
ness and injustice of the "fellow-servant"
doctrine as applied 20 railroad men is
relieved.
The free right is secured to all rail-
road companies TO construct any line
of road specific in their charters, regard
less of whether it is parallel to any other
lire Of railroad or not. and to intersect
or connect with any other railroad. The
effect OF this is that no road will by
lobbying, itigating or otherwise, be able
to keep any other road out OF its ter
-ltcry," nor to prevent small branch
lines built by local interests to develop
properties or communities in the neigh
hor:,ood OF trunk lines. from compelling
such trunk line to prevent physical con-
nectjon of the roads and to carry the
traffic OF The branch line on reasonable
III, ough rates. The last section of this
article requires all corporations to re-
pert at once to the Corporation Commits
sion all issues of stocks or. bonds and to
specify the basis or financial plan upon
which the issue is based. This 1t is
thought will materially mitigate the
evil CT '.>watered stock and at any
ovent give publicity and reliable inforna-
ton upon subject Of corporation man
agement, which the State and the pub
lie generally are entitled to reliable in
formation upon.
The foregoing are the principal features
of this important article on corporations,
which in point Of bulk makes about one
fourth of the entire Constitution
A c. BRAXTON