The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-28
4 WORD NlTH THE CONVENTION.

The Times has shown no disposition, as
the members must agree, TO lecture the
constitutional Convention. The men who
compose that body are earnest and honest
and intelligent Tho responsibility OF
mailing Constitution is upon them, and
they have given diligcnt attention to The
work They know the ms and outs and
the difficulties better than outsiders can
possibly understand them. They are as
members OF a jury who sit in a case and
hear the evidence and the argument. We
have always been slow to criticise the
verdict Of a jury. and so VIC have been
slow to c,iticise the action of the con-
yention.
We take it that the delegates Know
what they are about in The matter OF
creating a Corporation Commission but
before they take the final vote on the
ordinance as reported by the malor,sN OF
tile committee, they ought TO be very
sure in their own minds that they GO
know what they are about, that they
do fully understand what Will be the re-
sui OF this measure IL made a part OF
Our organic law, upon the moral, mater
iai and political welfare OF The state
The members OF the convention know
full well that nc of vi sinia are as much
dependent upon corporations as upon
iat,or-saring machinery. or any other in
strumentality. for tho development of our
resources and the means of competing
with other States in progress. II we
adopt any measure that will be reason
ably construed as hostile TO the principle
of organization in trade, if they adopt
any measure that will practically elimi-
nate that industrious and indcfatsacle
individual known as the promoter, they
will undoubtedly retard progress III TINS
State. and put a serious obstacle IN the
way of material Development IL thes
a5opt any measure that will put 1t into
the power Of the Corporation Commission
absolutely to fix railroad rates in TINS
State the; viii be putting most oan-
Gerous power into the hands of lev
men, and we believe that II VIII lead 20
the most serious consequences.
Leaving out the material question or
Jl9npeIlils liis v II Siiiid i'iiii SstN''' 80 0N'
in existence and retarding railroad pulld-
ing. which we believe will be one of the
results. there is still another phase OF the
question TO which our attention has been
called and which demands the most serl-
Gus consideration. Ne refer to the politl-
cal aspect and influence OF such a meas
,lrc Ne all realize the Importance of
Keeping the railroad corporations OF this
State as far as possible out Of State poll
tics. If not, our memory is very short.
But if a Corporation Commission is Great
ed, with powers to fix rates. and WITH
other powers to distress the railroads and
if me members of the commission are TO
lie appointed by the Governor, the rail-
roads Of the State vii. be forced, in their
interests, to take an active part in The
election of Governor.
it is not necessary to s. into an extern
siye argument Of this aspect of the sub
sect. 1t sreaks for itself, and forces It
self upon the attention of the convention.
Nc repeat. in conclusion, That the mem
bers should lie quite sure that they know
what they are about before they ensratt
such n system as this upon the organic
law OF the State, which alteretl! not