The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-15

:
- eral Assembly at the present
session was that relating 70
2 the liquor question, offered by Speaker
Byrd and passed in the House yestcr-
Cay.
The bill not only codlfies all the pres
ent laws concerning the sale OF ardent
spirits. but II creates new statutes de-
signed to cxterminate all fake clubs
and to make the crossroads grogshop
impossible. 1t was reported unanimous
]y from the committee, and though it's
consideration consumed nearly Bll of
two long sessions of the House not a
single speech was made against 1t.
Speaker Byrd left the chair and took
charge of the measure on the floor.
explaining it's provisions at great
length and answering a number CT
questions propounded by various :neHe
Lers
Byrd's Quick Work.
Perhaps twenty-five amendments
Were offered first and last, but none
were adopted save those either pre-
scented or accepted by the patron.
The first vote was 69 to g. the only
members recorded in the negative be-
ing Messrs. Clement and Wilson, OF
Pittsylvania, and Cox, of Richmond
city. The applause which greeted ths
passage of the measure was liberal.
and the Speaker was congratulated by
his friends upon his days work. Hc
was iirul upon from many quarters on
the start. but at the finish the oppo-
.ition had dwindled down to very
small number. The measure was per
1laps the last OH a long calendar, but
the Speaker succeeded in having II
taken, up out of Its order and passed.
The first point raised was that the
printed bill was not on the books OF
III
should have been distributed. aud d.
1ected that this be done at once.
The objection having been removed,
he proceeded to discuss the merits OF
the measure. and at the end OF the al
ternoon session he had won great
victory. according to those who are
friendly, TO the proposed new law.
The DILL now goes to the Senate. ana
1t is SAID that though 1T may pass there
its sailing Will not be so smooth as u
was in the lower branch. and, indeed,
i, may strike an impossible snas. I'M
portant amendments are almost certain
I,urIn,, the entire course OF the debate
ON the bill the Rev. James Cannon. Jr..
ono of the leaders of the anti-sa!oon
forces in the State, occupied promi-
nent seat in the House. and 1t was
freely stated by Mr.. Byrd that his
proposition was agreeable TO both the
whiskey and the anri-saloon forces.
To be more exacvon this point. he said
that the Anti-Saloon League favored
the bill. and that the wftiskey people
would not fight 1T.
1t is significant Tact that many
admirers of the Speaker started a
boorn-In his interest for Attorney
General around the Capitol yesterday,
and they declared that his fine man
agement OF so Important "a measure
would augment his popularity and
make him a most formidable candi-
date should he decide to run. The bill
will be referred to the General Laws
Committee when il gets to the Senate.
and will be considered there as speed
lily as possible.
In the House yesterday Speaker Byrd
offered bill which has created a great
stir in several directions. the measure
being admittedly aimed at the Rich
mond. fredericksburg and Potomac
RAILWAY. with view TO compelling
that road to secure new charter and
submit to taxation, under penalty OF
having the terms of its original char
i ter enforced, including several extra.
ordinary provisions.
Under its old charter. which exempts
Il from taxes. the Richmond, Fred
-ericksburg and Potomac Railroad IS
Obliged to stop It's trains whenever re-
:. auested to do SO, which fact has FREE
quently been pointed out by The
iTimes-Dispatch. This provision is not
Observed and under the modern con-
ditions of railroad transportation can
not be enforced without destroying
through train service and making time.
/; tables farce. Richmond especially
lwould suffer by such legislation.
What 1t Is All About.
Under the same charter the Rich.
mond, Fredericksburg and Potoma:
Railroad can charge s cents mile for
passengers and conhscatory rates for
( freight. AS matter of fact, the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac ac-
qutesced in the . cent agreement.
though 1t believed that under Its char
ter 1t had perfect defense. And in
freight rates the charges of the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
were so low that it was not even made
party to the suit brought by the
Corporation Commission to adjus.
freight rates in Virginia,
II would seem evident therefore,"
said aFpublic man conyersant with the
situation, that the sole object of Mr..
Byfds bill is to force the Richmond,
fredericksburg and Potomac by special
legislation and Indirect means to apply
Tor newscharter in order that it may
be compelled to pay taxes. II this end
was proper in itself, why did not the
bill seek 1t directly and openly.
An amendment to the act concern
ing corporations requires that no rail-
road company, in which the state has
sn interest. shall take a new charter
until authorized to apply for same by
furtner legislation.
las the Corporation Commission
alone can grant a new charter TO the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac, and as the State still maintains
Its interest in that road, 1t is difticult
to see what was really intended by
Speaker Byrd's BILL If Virginia wants
to take up the old charter and compel
the Richmond, fredericksburg und
Potomac to pay taxes. then let the
State make that intention and desire
apparent by legislation that will ALLOW
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac to comply. AS 1t now stands the
railroad cannot get new charter, and
Will be destroyed If the bill introduced
by Sneaker Byrd becomes law and its