Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-10
MPL!IE|TE II THE DRAFT
Sub Committee Has Framed
Corporation Commission Bill
QUESTIONS y :: OF ELIGIBILITY. / ! I
Public Sessions are to BE Held IN
the City OF richmond.
EslPLorEEs MUST BE VOTERS.
.--------------
QUESTIONS I OF ELIGIBILITY.
EMPLoYEEs MUST BE VOTERS.

I-HE Lo 1ILs NCSi DE StOIEteS.
Body is to Meet March For Or
ganization-Govern to Appoint a
Member Next Janunry-separnte
Waiting Rooms for the Races at
Railroad Stations-AuthorIty to
Fine for Contempt-Commiss ssion-
ers to Receive $4,000 u Year-sum
OF $4,000 TO Be Appropriated for
saIaries-Jurisdictio Not to Inns
pair That of the Courts.
The subcommittee Of the House Com
nlittee on Roads late last night cornplet-
ed the draft Of the bill comprising the
statutes supplementary TO the corporation
article of the Constitution, and designed
to carry out its provisions. The documen
is one Of thirty closely typewriter pages.
comprising seventy-nine separate sections,
and covers the entire subject in every
detail. and provides for every contingency
that may arise as far as may be foreseen.
It provides fora chief. clerk at salary
of s1,5o0; a bailiff. at a salary Of s1oon,
and a messenger at a salary of $3.50.
While the is combined work Of the
subcommittee of FIVE members, of which
Mr.. j., r. Cation. of Alexandra, is chair
man. it is known that Mr.. Cation IS the
chief draughtsman and architect .of the
bill. and that he has gwen great deal
of thought and study to it. For weeks
the bill has been !n process Of formation,
and the utmost care has been given to the
framing of the report, and upon the Ian
Guage.9 and every detail. In fact, Mr..
Caton and the committee have been at
work on the bill for more than a, month,
and the Alexandria member. it is known.
put in much of is time during the recess
perfectng the tii' a tentative draft Of
which was completed before the holidays.
Mr. Cation is a fine lawyer, and is noted
for his care in drawing of papers aid
framing of laws which must stand the
closest test Of judicial scrutiny. All the
other, members CT the committee have
worked laboriously upon the bill. and ii is
a composite product of the best thought
OF its trainers. 1t is conservative, fair
and designed to carry out with the utm .st
fidelity and conscientiousness the aim CT
the constitutional convention. Mr.. Brax-
ton, the Trainer of the corporation article
Of the Constitution. it is understood, h:,s
seen the provisions of the bill, and highly
comm ends it. The other members Of tue
subcommittee, b.siacs Mr.. Cation, arc:
Messrs Green, Fulton. Armstrong, and
Weaver.
Will Provoke Opposition.
There are features of the bill which IN
doubtedly prov oke opposition. and which
may be amended, but the bill In its other
particulars is as complete as 1t can be
made by careful and thoughtful work, and
nice discriminate. n in the use of clear
terse English.
Here is complete summary of the bill
as it has now, bean perfected by the sub
committee and will be offered to-day:
Section provides for the creation and
appointment and organization OF the Coz
puration Commission
Section 2 provides that the Govern>r
shall appoint a member OF the commits
sion by January Is. 1904 and one Tor eacn
alternate year thereafter.
Section provides as to eligibility OF
persons to serve on the commission j ne
Qualifications are the same as those for
Supreme Court Judges
Section prescribes the oath OF ott1 &c.
Section 8, that public sessions Of tbs
commission shall be held in Richmond, 81.
lowing for extra public sessions else
where.
Section 6 provides that the offices Of the
commission shall be establlshed IN tns
State Library building.
Section is OF great interest to the
rLblic. prescribing the officers and ern-
ployees of the commission. THESE are:
a clerk. first assistant, a bailiff,
s,tenographer. and a messenger. Thai:
terms of office shall be six years, tha
first a appointce to rs.ire February LIST. 1s''>,
and all thereafter to serve for six years.
Section s prescrlbes that all the eE'-
p,oyees must be voters except the mes
eenrerI who may be minor. This VIII
give him training in the office and Mt litn
for greater service IN the future. lAe
Sclerk of the commission to be pers n
of five years experience ii the tra'Hc
dens rtment Of some trunk line railWaA
4, this State, and one familiar with the
ma king of tariffs tables, rates and sche.s
ules The first assistant clerk shall be ID
expert accountant
Section 8 prescribes that the present
commission shall meet March !, lsos. ana
take the oath and organize.
section 10 provides that if any member
| or. e,nployse fail to qualify within tbs
thirty days, the Office be declared vacant
and be filled as otherwise prescribed.
| section II states the duties OF the CLERK
In some detail.
Section .la pcescribes the duties OF the
! first assistant clerk. ,,s
Section 13 states the duties OF the oalnli'
| ano section IA OF other employees.
Section. Is requires bond OF not less
| than 800 of the two clerks and ballih
each.
Section 51s defines the general powers OF
the commission about as outlined IN
The Constitution. and provides that the
commission shall require all railroads tf.
| +, ,rovide separate waiting rooms for the
roces at every station. and 1t may re-
outre separate accomna oda tons on trains.
steau,boa is. etc, provided this shall MT
,sneal any laws now in force.
Sections II. 49, 10. 20. and impose on
the commission duties heretofore imposed
| on the railroad commissioner as to sur
| vei1ance of railways and transportation
companies.
| section % defines who shall be COM
plainants and defendants, and provides
that any. party shall have the right TO
| process, and convene parties. and sum
mon witnesses. and for the production OF OF
papers required.
Section % provides that in hearings
before the commission they shall observe
| the common and statute law rules OF