The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-10
THURSDAY. MARCH 19, 1910.
THE MERGER AND THE CLUB.

~ AHEEas Ea&FFANH aIb ZHsHalHH ErEIJ
T11E MERGER AND THE CLUB.
The senate Committees on Finance
and Courts of Justice have rejected the
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
merger on the ground that 1T would
be prejudicial to the interests OF the
state. This action is regarded as q
death blow, and 1t Is possible that
4 there will be no further attempt TO-
lcEislate upon this subject at the
present session OF the General AS
sembly. The reasons given by the
senate committees for their action are
not. in our opinion. conclusive. But
as their action was predicated upon
the welfare Of the state 1T would nor
he unfortunate If, for the same cons.
trolling purpose, the Legislature should
now reconsider the two other btlls
passed at this session providing for
tho coercion OF the railroads-the sun
dav bill and the Flag bill.
The merger having been disposed OF,
the Legislature should now throw
away the clubs. There has not been
a more vicious attempt at legislative
rompulsion than the so-callcd Sunday
bill. In this bill express provision
is made that no railroad shall
move any of its trains on Sun
day except where they are used>ex-
clusiyely for the relief Of a wrecked
train, or for the transportation of the
mails. or for the transportation OF
passengers or where they constitute
Interstate freight trains exclusively.
or for the transportation of live stock.
or for the transportation of articles OF
n. ner,shable nature. There are other
provisions also in the bill. but In It's
third article the true purpose OF the
measure is fully exposed. This article
declares that ANY railroad company
taking advantage Of Any OF the pro-
visions OF this act shall thereby give
UP and surrender any exemption from
County, District or State taxation con-
!erred by the charter OF said company"
This means. OF course, that any rail-
road that transports either freight or
passengers OIL Sunday will thereby
forfeit its exemption from taxation,
and this means, of course. that the
Richmond. fredericksburg and Pc
MA Railroad cannot do the thing
which the other railroads in the Stat
can do without penalizing itself. sac
.irificing the rights which it enjoys un
der Its charter. These rights, 1t 4
claimed, must be determined by TIL.
Court OF Appeals.
The third article, or Cooke amend
ment, of the bill is aimed directly a
Tie Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac Railroad, it's purpose being, as
its prepayment has declared, to force
this company to stop business on Sun
a or give up its exemption from
taxation, which the railroad claims to
be part of its contract rights made
with the State scventy-five years ago
n acauiesced in by the State for all
that period of time; g!here is an IN
sdirectness about this whole business
tina is wholly discreditable to the
State. IL the Sunday law shall not be
reconsidered and rejected, it Will mean
simply that the stream of
moving from the South over the Rich
snond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad to the North will be obliged
absolutely to stop at the Southern bor-
der of Virginia from Saturday night
at midnight and there remain until
sunday night at midnight. and the
trains moving South will BIO obliged
to stop at ouantico, the northern ter
minus OF the Richmond, Fredcricks-
burg and Potomac Railroad, at midnight
on Saturday night and there remain
until Sunday night at midnight before
they can BIO moved. IT does not re.
quire any expert knowledge upon the
subject to Justify one In saying tina
the effect Of such a rule as this won't,
be disastrous not only to the .Atlanti
Coast Line and the other soutlie-
roads, but also TO tho business 9
Richmond. because the enforcement Q
such a law would inevitably result i
the diversion of@this trade throus
the Norfolk gateway.
The case is SO plain that we do nc
sec HpW ~ !.& poSsIplc ioF ANY meTlDc
of The L legislature who is at all iii
tercsted inf.le welfare OF the state I,
sixe his consent to this method {
compelling a creature OF the state
sacrifice the rights and privileges MI
immunities granted to II BY the Stat,
The Iichniond, fredericksburg ana re
totnac Railroad as we understand,
perfectly willing n ready to sun
render lis tax exemption and TO J.
placed on q. narity with al other raj
roads In the state. bearing The burdor
which they bear and sharing Tho priv
leges which they enjoy, IL The state, {
2 s~,cekhoidnr of this company, In cor
sideration of such surrender, sAa
aite up Its special privileges az
stockholder and assume an cana1i
with either stockholders, This seen
II be fair, and upon this basis II
question should be settled. The inerg
Bill LAYING been rejected, temporari