The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-04
MERGER BILL IS
GIVEN DEATH BLOW
Page Measure Reported Adversely
Great Surprise OF the
House.

The course Of the Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac railroad in
regard TO the State tax question WAS
helped considerably Friday by the
House Committee on Roads and Inter-
nal Navigation. This committee. to
the great surprise OF the majority OF
the members of the Legislature, made
an unfayorabie report on the Page
bill providing for a merger of the
-FOUR rnads comprising the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac system
and allowing them to take out a new
charter which would put them on
tax paying basis with the other roads
operating in this State. This bill was
carefully drawn BY The joint commit
lee. with Governor Mann as chairman,
which was In consuitatton with OFF,
eials of the road for several days on
the matter. II was introduced in both
houses at the same time and no oppo.
sition was expected to the measure.
The House Committee also compli-
Gated matters Friday with reference
To an amieable settlement of the diff
ierences between tn company and the
State by reporting iavorabfy the Cole
man bill compelling the railroad to
live up to its present antiquated char
ter.
Following the announcement In the
House that his bill had been reported
unfavorabiy, Mr.. Page offered reso-
tuition proposing to take up bills ga
and $50. known as the Powers and
Coleman r. r. & p. bills, and make
them special order for Monday.
This motion was carriea.
Braxton Talks Plainly.
Attorney Braxton. Of the Richmond,
gave The committee a very plain talk
expressing his views on the matter.
He stated frankly that II would no.
enIs be Unconstitutional to pass this
bill. hut would result In the disorgan-
ization of the road and ruin To hun
dreds of women and children of the
State who depend on the dividends
ana earnings of the road for living.
In presenting his side of the case
to the committee he said:
1T would be unwise at this time
for the Legislature to pass this bill or
even report 1t. AS you gentlemen
know, a joint committee has merger
proposition under consideration.
which will be voted on BY the stock
holders OF the road. ANY hostile
movement against the company would
have serious effect on the stockhoid.
ers and would not tend to strengthen
the good feeling between them and
the State.
Not Stop Anywhere.
Mr.. Braxton went on to explain his
conception Of the present charter. 1T
does not require the road to stop at
any point. as people seem 10 think =
he declared. .and ~eaia mot he 70
construed BY any court in the country.
The charter states that the trains shall
be stopped at convenient points. Now,
these points could not be construed as
any other places than stations dcsix.
mated by the company. III, on the
other hand. the charter u held 10
mean that trains can be stopped II
any point, the charter also states that
the hoad shall have the right %
charge cents q mile for al local
transportation. 1t would also be very
dangerous to allow persons TO st0p
trains ut any point. The charter
states that q red Nag shall be ftnod
BIZ day and q red light BY night, which
Is the danger signal. and compeis An
engineer to etop a. short 90 possibie.
This would be very detrimental to the
machinery and would also Mace
trains An tho danger OF rear-end coi-
iisions
Another point Of law continued
Mr.. Braxton. Il that both the road and
the people have been living under the
present rules for sevcnty-five years.
and any court will held that II both
sides have acQuiesced for long time
on matter thetirst contract will not
hold. I