The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-23
WHITE RAS T|lT
With: MONTAGUE \ u !.
Presidentsof Railway and
Former Governor Deny
what Each other Says.
ATMOS OSPHERE WAS
TENSE FOR WHILE
--- ------------ ----------
Both Disclaimed Intention to Be
Discourteous, However, and
Grew Callner-Long Argu-
ments Over Repeal
Bill Before Com
mittee.
ATMOSPHERE WAS
BY LEWIS II. MACHEN.

BY LEWIS II. MACHEN.
The fight over. tho repeal OF the stat.
ute prohibiting the paralleling OF the
Richmond. fredericksburg and Poto-
mac Railroad was the central fact In
yesterdays legislative history. There
were other events. OF course. at both
ends OF. the Capitol. but they were
ovcrshadowed. by this. Judicial dress
reform received a setback when the
Senate refused to concur In tho House
resolution requesting tho Judges OF the
Court OF Appeals to wear gowns. and
further declined to reconsider the vote
by which the resolution. had been re-
jected. There was aawarm debate in
the Senate over the effort to pass by
temporarily the bill appropriating
:le5.ooo to tho sinking fund. but no
action was taken. No bills were passed
by the Senate
In the. House number Of routine
matters were considered. and few
local and unimportant bills were
passed.
The r., F. & p. Fight.
The Committees on Roads OF the Two
shou ses convenedin Joint session tn the.
chamber of the Corporation Commits
sion alto A. NJ. aud sat until nearly
noon. They reassenbled In the Senate
chamber at P. ~. and sat until s.
returning at for a session OF over
three hours.
Large. crowds were In attendance at
each meeting aud the deepest interest
VAS manifested. Many speeches Were
made. and. at times. the proceedings
-I,~@. knI ISee& - ~
At the morning session considerable
time was consuned in determining
how much time should be given to the
hearing. 1t was finally determined to
allow three hours to those fayor!ng
the unconditional repea! and like
period 70 those opposing all repeal.
while an four was allotted to those
who are seeking a conditiona1 repeal
The representatives OF the various
municipal bodies and business associa-
tionsTin Richmond and Fredericksburg
were first heard. Their contention was
that the thing that was needed was
greater development. through increas-
Ing lines OF transportation. Complaints
were made that the monopoly enjoyed
b. the present railway between Rich
mond and Washington was inimical to
through which It passes. One speaker
epitomized this argument by saying:
I'VE are enmeshed In the tentacles Of
an octopus" There was much talk
OF the dcsirability of opening up the
portion OF the State now closed against
new railroad enterprises by the pres.
enr statute. Strong opposition was ex-
pressed TO the sanctioning by the State
OF a monopoly which established a dis
crfmination. There were charges that
the rates Were not as favorable as they
appeared from the schedules. and that
the road was run In the interest OF
through traffic and transportation.
which did not concern the people Of
: Virginia The doctrine against special
privilege was invoked with great earn
esrness nnd with apparent effect.
Value OF States Interest.
The afternoon session was occupied
chiefly By the argument OF the State
Treasurer. representing the Sinking
Fund Commissioners He showed the
value Of. the interest OF the State in
the road. declaring that it was sufl-
cient to take care OF the public debt.
z He pleaded earnestly with the COM
mittee not to teopardize this valu able
asset As to the probable effect OF the
( proposed repeal upon the value Of the
stock OF dividend obligations, he was
reluctant 70 proph hesy. but said that he
was unwilling in a matter OF such I'm
portance to the state to take any
chances. He was freely piled with
questions, which he answered with
promptness and spirit, and which con-
siderably extended his remarks
The night session attracted the large,
crowd. both on the floor and in the
galleries, and some feeling developed
among the opposing speakers, which
vas. more pronounced than pleasant
Senator Lassiter further complicated
the situation by the introduction ol
another conditional repeal measure
giving the road five years in witch Il
build branch lines satisfactory to Tho
Corporation Commission, the price q
failure to be an unconditional repea
and compliance to be the retention o
the present plan.
I I The general counsel and former pres
ident OF the road gave a historicul re
view OF the roads history and Of til,
reasons which led tho State to safe
guard itsFintercst.
The sidept of the road smoke an :
nestly and strongly against the repea
dn9,, dnu,, aete!aFe.a ataa ., ahat the road was no
I,hlss was, In reply to numerous insInua
tons and some d lrect charges that til
pe'ninsylyanip ee'inS H. Rail5ead dasonsyolled I'll
1rs aaa esoaas ee RslToad dffcssss5as
BHt by far ~ most stirring fsatur
sSsy aesasEtsg Tsa s Ss orgsa gta;
: proXlesT-Messrs M Ioore, Montague an
Mered sth-from their Ave colleague
By declaring that tnftheil. opinion til
interests Of the State would not b
damaged BY the repeal. They wer
aharply cross, ,examlnel by presider
White and Others. and some. OF til
passages, bid fair. t to$precipitate q cris
President White especially resented Ii
that the PannsylvaniaS was the dom
nant Influence In the mana cement (
the Richmond. Frederick sburgs and re
tonlaoS SRail lWay,g O. n d declared the tate
men OF the ex-C.overnor witho,
foundatl on Thereupon the latter .prt
nounced, d, q q, previous stat te.nent OF Ires
The >atmo sphere was tense for severl
N minutes, There We're q isclalm lmers 4
lntention mlsre epreasentat tton. .ol' di
lcontlnued on Third Pase.l