The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-13

/ when writing to us kindly mention this paper
tor was equally mild. meek and in
nocuous He recounted the parts that
opponents of the majority plan had play
ed and said it was IT. exact keeping WITH
former fights to oppose everything. delay
everything and At the eleventh hour bring
In substitute that was worse than
nothing.
In the course or this recital Mr.. Ham
ilton and nir. Robertson both arose ana
denied having had any conference with
railroad officials as to what plan OF at
tack they should join in.
STOOD HIS GROUND.
CIR. Meredith said he did not mean any
thing personally offensive, but he could
not help calling attention to the fact
that every opponent of the majority re-
port who had arisen on this floor not
only carried a free pass in his pocket, but
was in the regular employment and &C
lively engaged in defending railroads in
the courts and elsewhere. He said 1t III
became such able men to stand on the
floor of the convention and accuse others
of deliberate and populistic attempt 70
confiscate property and destroy the oe-
velopment of the business Interests OF the
State
He declared that the people were deter
mined to get justice. and il they dld
not get relief through the Constitution,
they would never let UP until redress
was secured.
He said the discussion which had been
heard in this convention had gone out
Broadcast. and the people OF Virginia
had at last become acquainted with the
facts, and 10 power on earth could now
stay the rising tide of their indignation.
The only way to keep whlrlWlnd OF
politics from sweeping over the state
Low in regard to this railroad question
Was to incorporate a fair. prudent anu
conservative measure in the Constitu-
ton, such as the one recommended by
the Committee on Corporations. To leave
it now to the Legislature would be Tor
the railroads to run the risk OF suffer-
ing from the wrath of an outraged peo-
rle.
He next reviewed the reasons given by
the railroad advocates why the report
should not be made constitutional pro-
vision, and strongly contended that IN
each and every particular their arsu-
ment was inconsistent, fallacious and
misleading.
Taking up criticisms which had been
made by Messrs. Hunton and Brooke on
the majority report for its verblase ana
,hraseology. Mr.. Meredith asserted that
neither one of them had offered to ASSIST
Chairman Braxton or the committee, or
made any effort whatever TO assist III
perfecting the report, although thes
were lawyers Of great experience ana
ability: that in the Finance committee,
nlltEOteO on any
matter he would go carefully ana con
sc,antio,1sly to work and help i'll proper
,y framing a section, no matter Whether
il met with his former approval OF .ioe-
Under such circumstances crltlcisilis
came with poor grace from those gen
tlemen. he ha,
not been given an oppoituiiies ~ ~,
in perfecting the majority report .ia
Il was adopted without discussion OF llS
provisions section by section and witheu'
an examination OF its contents
MIR. BRAATON DENIES
chairman Braxton denied that Mr.. Hun
ton had not had a copy Of the report he
S,id If was typewriter and placeu IL
tho hands of every member of the COM
,nfttee several days before 1T was auopt-
ed and at MIR. Buatons own request p"s.-
nnnt nent of vote was had Tor the u
n1ici,e purpose of his having every chance
nf examining it and making Suggestions
Judge Kendall also arose 10 sups.sli'
1iato Mr.. Braxton's state ment, "nt,i
Judge Brooke raised the point u o'u .'si
that was made on him .Iuesoas' anu 'ils
chair stopped the diversion
nv. Meredith proceeded 20 snow ina
.be report had been most admiralty pre-
pared and was in every respect cap,ois
az being construed in the light OF gu
| nren1e Court decisions and the experience
rulings and orders OF like commissions
which other States had operateo VIII
treat satisfaction TO all parties LOT many
years.
n the commission claimed tina: It vas the
,,rincipa, virtue, OF the report: that s'u'
thority should be given commensurate
with the great Importance OF the sue
| ;f.t: without power to punish there couie
he no effective law anywhere. Inc iirs
duty of a State was to permit nothing g
exist under her authority, that was no
| sId,;ect to her control from the ou
| irene Court judges. On the bench cow
| 10 The most humGte officer IN the couhties
| every department was subject TO con
FRI, hv impe:,ehn,ent or removal iron
Office for improper conduct.
FOR EQUAL RIGHTS.
This power was placed IN the Cons s ~
1 tion without objection. but when II wa
/ proposed to put the conduct Of high an
| mighty n1asnates Of the railroads sub 'j,
to the same high authority and control
the cry was raised that a crime was con
4 templated against organized capital an
/ blow was being struck at vested right
/ and Industrial development.
/ Mr. Meredith charged that the onl'
real objection the opposition had hinse
i right on this point aad predicted tina
! when they were defeated here they Woul
give up the fight The crux Of the re
4 port was Its giving to the railroad com
q rnissioners power to compel obedience t
4 It's orders and decisions. He read ez
Il tracts from other State Constitutions an
I from statutes in other States to siao,
J that In every instance where the lansuag
of the minority report was used. amend
ments had become necessary to rlaKe tn
8 commission at all effective. He alludc
to the virginia Mason act as snare an
Il delusion from its utter lack of power.
II ECu,f5E5R CONGRATULATIONS