The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-27
HERE AND THERE
IN THE LEGISLATURE
Senator Hart Denies That Nor
folk and Western Railroad
Bill Was Loaded.
--------------
LYNCHBURG ENDORSES 1T
Senate Finance Committee Ap-
proves Bakers State Health
Commission.

Senator Hart of Roanoke. in speak
ing OF House bill No. 3D. which caused
some debate on the floor of the Senate
yesterday, ana which was the subject
OF severe attack on the part Of an
afternoon paper which claimed the bill
was loaded, said that this was en-
tirely untrue and without foundations.
Not only the Corporation Commission,
but the committee which considered
this bill were fully aware of It's OBJ
ject, which had been explained to them.
and there was no desire on the part OF
any one to conceal anything" said
Senator Hart.
The bill which seeks for q general
law providing that railroad companies
may build. purchase or lease cutoff
or belt line, running from one point
on its line to another around a city
or town for the more convenient hand
ling of It's traffic. is necessary" contin-
ued Senator Hart. THE Norfolk and
Western Railway Company. acting un-
der special act of the General AS
sembly, which passed February IL.
1900, proceeded to construct railroad
twenty-five miles long in one con-
tinuous sweep between two stations
in Campbell county on the line OF the
Norfolk and Western Railway for the
enormous freight traffic OF its road
without going through the city of
Jynchburg, the grade on the line
through Lynchburg being very heavy,
and requiring twice the power to move
the same trains as will be required by
the proposed belt line" said Senator
Hart
In process of the construction OF its
line, Senator Hart went on to say, 1t
n nrsu IN
property belonging to the Lynchburg
Cotton Mills Company.
The latter, in resisting the condem-
nation, raised the point in court that
this was not q branch line, but was
line between two points on the same
road. though not coming in the cate
CORY of sidc-tracks, being more than
the distance permitted from the main
line.
Tho Supreme Court upheld the con-
tention OF tho cotton mills in very
technical decision, and at the same
time suggested that though a railroad
company had no authority to condemn
q right OF way for lateral line. 1t
might, nevertheless, lease line from
another company composed of It's own
stockholders possessing that power"
Acting upon this suggestion" said
Senator Hart. the Norfolk and West
ern Railway Company proceeded to
acquire the necessary right of way, AMI
has nearly completed the construction
OF Its belt line
This bill simply permits the railway
company to acquire this cutoff or belt
line. which is built with its own money
at a cost OF S2.70o,o0o, for the more
convenient financing of the enterprise
and the general conduct OF It's business.
1T would seem clear that this request
IS not for such an amendment to its
charter or for such special favor from
tile Legislature of Virginia as would
come under the intent of the law,
which requires railway company ask
ing favors of the State to surrender
its former charter. and come under the
provisions of the general corporation
law.
"The business people of the city of
Lynchburg. as expressed individually
and through its Board of Trade. are in
favor of the passage OF this bill. as 1t
is of vast business advantage to them.
IL there is opposition to this bill it
arises on the point that 1t Is an in
vason of the law requiring corpora
lions to surrender their charters in
asking further favors of the state
BY special permission of the Senate.
allowing it to sit during acsson of
that body. the Committee on Finance
was in session until late last night.
Many measures were acted upon and
will he reported this morning. Most
important among them is tho bill In
troduced in the House by Captain w.
w. Baker and recently passed by that
body, creating a State Health Commits
sion and providing for the establish
ment OF tuberculosis hospital. This
bill carries an appropriation OF $4,000.
Another measure which will be re-
ported Is the resolution providing tina.
$4,000 DO appropriated for expenses
Incidental to the investigation of
charges against Judge j. w. G. Black
stone.
Many other bills CT minor nature
were acted upon.
Tho House bill creating new judi
cial circuit, composed of the counties
of Franklin and BedSord. was ycster-
day passed in TIL. Senate, and It Is
Very probable that n Democratic eau
Gus Will be held next week to make n
nomination for the position Of Judge
of this. or the thirtiath circuit.
Ihcre are at present two candidates
in the field for the position, and the
race is close and exciting with r..
Lawrence Campbell of Bedford CITY.
and Mr.. Peter Dillon, OF Franklin. in
the race. Mr.. Campbell has the in
dorsemcnt of the solid bar of Bedford
and the citizens of that city and coun-
ty claim that they are justly entitled
to the appointment.
Bedford county has always been a
stronghold of Democracy" said a
prominent citizen of that county, in
speaking of the matter last night"
while Franklin has once or twice
given substantial majorities to Re-
publican candidates. AS another rea-