The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-06
THE RETURN
Feel Confident Virginia LEGISLATURE
Will Not Pass Bill That VIII Prove
Detrimental TO Trucking Industry.

/ The members Of the executive COM
.,mittee of the East Carolina Truck and
Fruit Growers Association returned
from Richmond yesterday morning
where they had been to appear before
the committee on railroads of the Fir-
'ginia legislature. 4 bill had been in
itroduced TO prevent freight trains OF
all descriptions from running through
the state Of Virginia on Sunday and
truck growers and railroad men from
all over the south fastened TO Rich
mond. A delegation OF truck growers
was present from Charleston, s. c..
Georgia, Florida and Norfolk and also
presidents OF all the railroads in the
state OF Virginia.
There is now a statute in Virginia
against allowing freight to be operat-
ed on Sunday and the reason
given as to why another bill was in
ltroduced was, that the railroads had
Ia custom Of putting a ear in the mid
die of a train with n or two steers
lin it and the other. 40 Or 80 ears be
lloaded with various kinds of freight.
This custom is said to have been very
general with the n. & w. in operat-
ling their coal trains.
The committee returned feeling GER
tain that the Virginia legislature
would pass no bill hat would prove
detrimental to the trucking industry.
The Times-Dispatch had the fol-
lowing in regard to the hearing before
THE roads committee on bill to pre-
vent freight trains from running IN
state of Virginia on Sunday:
Important and far-reaching were
the hearings had yesterday before
the House committee on roads, relat-
ling to the various railway measures
now pending before that body, and
lit required three strenuous sessions
Ito get through with a small part of
the work. At 10 o'clock there vas a
conference at wnGt no particular bill
Twas discussed, but in which the gen
leral subject of railroad legislation was
under in formal advisement.
1.-THE big railroad men-the presi-
dents of the companies operating in
Virginia were present and were heard.
Those who spoke were President
johnson, of the Norfolk and Western;
president Stevens, of the Chesapeake
land Ohio; President Emerson, of the
lAtlantic Coast Line; President Spen-
lcer, of the Southern.
There was no crOss-firing; no dis
lcussion; no interrogatories, but The
presidents were simply heard as to
the friendly relations existing be-
tween the roads and the state, and
1.-THE lack of disposition On the part of
1.-THE former to infringe upon the rights
Iof the people. The session was a most
satisfactory one, ard resulted in at
least a better understanding between
Jour companies, and the law makers. At
"A o'clock in the afternoon the Guild
hill to prevent the running of freight
trains DIE Sunday was considered st
length. Strong speeches were made
on both sides and amendment after
Iamnedmenr was offered.
'"The Rev. James Cannon offered the
suggestion that only one mixed train
containing cars of live stock or perish
liable freight be allowed over any one
division of a road OF any given Sum
day.
Another amendment was offered,
land finally adopted in lieu of all he
other propositions, requiring the COM
Ipanies to refer the question of the ne
|cessity of operating freight trains on
Sunday to the corporation commits
isTon."