The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-17
ADMIT ownership
! BUT DENY CHARGE
tContinlied from First Pagc.)


erlcksburg and Potomac failrond was
bhown to be equal to any doube-track
line In the country and able to handle
promptly double the present amount OF.
traffic
The mortgage Of ss,o00ooO for the
cost OF double tracking was claimed to
hnye been entered into under the be-
lief that the state statutes would pro-
tect the road from further parallcling
of the line. In conclusion, IT was
Claimed that the granting of this CHAR
Aer with It's constitutional rights. OF ex I
Aension and branches would enable the
new line to connect with the Alcxan-
drin and Mount Vernon or the South
ern Railroad by merger or consolidn-
tlon, and thus would give N through
tine from Richmond into washington
In competition with the through traf-
hc OF the Richmond fredericksburg
and Potomac road.
Others Speak.
AZ counsel for the fredericksburg
and Southern. AIR. Henry Anderson, OBJ.
jfcted to the filing Of this petition.
arguing that the statutes do not per-
nit Intervention BY any one ~ pro
c.eding for the granting of a charter.
"If the applicants lave complied With
Qhe law the commission has no discrc-
Gon," he declared.
Tho escrved decision and the dis
Hussion was continued on the suppo-
sition that the paper OF the Richmond,
FREDERICKSBURG and Potomac had Dcen
filed as an intervention, Mfr. Anderson
noting in exception. should the COM
mission rule 1t a part OF tire record.
Judge a, l.. Holiaday Resented sup
Elementary paper on behalf OF the
State proxies indorsing the position
taken by the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and potomac Railroad. ana holding II
to be to the injury Of the Interests OF
the Commonwealth should any permit
20 build from fredericksburg to Dos
well be granted. even II 1t did not carry
with II the right to extend from either
terminal.
Attorney eneral William a. Ander-
eon asked leave TO file similar petit
tion on behalf of the Board OF Sinking
Fund commissioners, Directing to the
granting of the charter. indorsing the
objections raised by the Richmond.
fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad,
md reciting the interest of the State
of Virginia In the Richmond. Freder-
icksburg and Potomac Railroad and Its
value to the State.
leyives scnbOnrd Fight.
SIR. Henry w. Anderson also opposed
the admission of any OF these papers.
the commission reserving It's decision.
Mr.. Anderson held that the applicants
have the right OF appeal to the SUI
preme Court. and that the question OF
the charter was matter in which
the Richmond. fredericksburg and Po-
tomac could not legally intervene.
1t was held to be merely a matter Of
whether the applicants for the charter
have. complied with the law on this
subject. Mr.. Anderson argued that
the law prohibited the paralicling Of
tho Richmond fredericksburg and Po-
tomac, not the granting of charter
to operate road through a part Of its
territory.
Further. the State proxies and mem
bers of the Board of sinking Fund
Commissioners arc merely stockholders
In the Richmond, fredericksburg and
Potomac" he asserted. and are not
authorized under the law to take such
proceedings or to appear here in this
cslse. and as stockholders they have no
Fight to appear In u. matter affecting
their company In which the railway it
seif Is present protecting its interests
NJ. Charles V Mertnth addressed
.Ee commissicn at some Length on be-
fITilf OF the state proxies. ,reciting cer-
,atn salient facts in the history OF the
Richmond Fredericksburg and Poto-
tcS'elHtl l@ltIl tSlSNibS sialuteF,
Claiming that the original charter and
tiIe various statutes given to the Mich
rnond. fredericksburg and Potomac
have coiiclusiyely shown that II was
the intention and desire OF the Leg!s-
fatnrc to give monopoly to the Rich
rnond. fredericksburg and Potomac.
MIR. Meredith argued that the Corpora
ton Commission could not give to.ans
one charter right TO do an unlawful
thing. nor could the Corporation Com
mission grant a charter TO any one to
do anything In violation OF law.
Mr.. Meredith revived the history Of
the Seaboard Air Line fight for char
ter to Washington, showing the steps
taken by the State to protect It's liz
tcrest In the Richmond. Fredericks-
burg and Potomac.
IT was not intended to protect the
other stockholders" he said. "lf they
got protection 1t was an accident"
Judge Holladay stated that the value
OF. the stock and dividend obligation
dedicated. to he sinking fund will en-
a BILE the State to retire every dollar
of public debt before these certificates