Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-03-03
CORNWELL AFTERDAWSOk
Says the Governor Has Failed to
Enforce Railroad Laws.
TALKS ABOUT The TAX LAWS

Declares That This Question Has
Been Seized Upon to Further Po-
litical Interests of Individuals.
A newspaper man recently called
upon John J. Cornwall. the recent
democratic candidate for Governor at
Romney, and asked him if he had
seen the published statement that
Governor Dawson was considering the
question of calling special session of
the state legislature for the purpose
of passing some anti-railroad legisla-
|tlon, and if he had any stateme emit to
make as to his views Oh the subject.
|Mr Cornwell, in discussing the mat
Eer said in part:
II have seen the statement but have
not thought much about it, as
hardly supposed that it was authentic.
! cannot imagine that the governor
would call the legislature together in
3 special session, incurring that ex-
|bense to the state and Inconvenience
10 the members, until an honest
ffort has been made to enforce tue
tatute we already have.
Governor Dawson in his letter to
Senator Tillman. indicates that he has
[ery specific KIN ow ledge of violation
4 the law by the railroad companies
the state. and OF their discrimina.
ION against certain independent coal
pei ators in the matter of rates and
be distribution of cars take it that
he governor knows what he IL talking
bout, and that such violations of law
md determinations have occurred !;
therwiee he surely would not have
Lade the statements he did in that let
pr and in his published interviews.
10 further stated in his letter to Sen.
tor Tillman, in effect, that there
as no remedy for these conditions in
est Virginia, because he had been
nable to get railroai commission
Gated. and owing to the railroad
AucAcb al UiIC ACk
= What I would like to know, is,
the things Governor Damwst n
(mplains of are true, and assume
ley are, then why has no effort
ZEN made to enforce the laws of our
ate?
Chapter 81 of the code OF West Vir
hia, provides, among other things,
at it shall be unlawful for railroad
mpany to engage directly or indi-
Pity in buying or selling coal or coke
further provides, hat every rail.
hd company, along whose lines tn.
iustries of mining coal or manu-
Eturing coke are carried on, shall,
tbout Discrimination between or
long shippers, and, without un.
tessary delay, make reasonable
bvision for the transportation of all
bh coal and coke offered for trans
ttion over its railroad, and no such
lroad shall discrimi ate In rat o,
tibu ion OF cars or otherwise,
inst or among shippers Of coal or
e. offered for shipment on IT'S linz
Sufficient penalties are provided
the violation OF this atute and il
urther provided that the cir cult
criminal court OF eve,y county
ming through which she 70 d v'o-
ng this statute passes. shall have
rent juris lotion of all the often. es
er and violations of this act.
If things are going SO badly here
has there never been single suit
tinted in q single cou1ty, aRai 81,
Dgls railroad, to enforce the stat
have referred 70?
We have seen how the vital ques-
of taxation can be seized upon a
for she purpose of furthering the
ticai fortunes of iudividu 4ls, an
Astening a political Office holdinp
arohy on the stt'e. Unless 1T
ommon sense aud dis retion is ex.
led by on peopi-. regardl IS of
y. this same political m chine
use the present justitabls re-
nent against the railroad con-
ns in West Virginia 10 SO in
II itself behind laws passed du'
his excitement that it will rul
"a with q mailed hand, for its
selfish purposes for generatio,
me,
am inclined to believe that We
= more vigorous and honest TN.
mrnt OF the laws we have in fhis
10 good deal worse sha we nee
aws = new high-paid oficehold-
play d. tertise for the chief ex.
ve Of the st.se."
fAnrnintad GrarAian