The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-29

overwhelming majority. having the support
OF MIR. Feathcrston the delegate from
Campbell county. and Mr.. Jennings. the
delegate from Lynchburg. and also had tho
approval OF the board OF trade of Lynchburg.
~ had every claim for my approval. ] am
satisficd that the corporation commission
having tho power OF passing on the condi-
lions on which any railroad would be allow
ed to avail Itself OF the provisions Of this act.
VIII whenever necessary sufcguar! tho in
forests OF tho state. The policy OF tho CON
stitution Is to leave matters In connection
With railroad control and regulation with
the commission, and IL seems to me that this
statute giving them this pwcr OF approval nd
consent Is carrying out exactly the urposcs
OF the constitution. | am ut an utter loss to sec
how any interest Of tho state has been lost
or betrayed In tho passage or approval OF this
bill. The unfair and uncallcd for criticism
to which ] have been subjected by ~political
enemies in connection with the bill furnishes
additional proof of the vicious and vindictivc
character of the campaign that has been
conducted against me. II has not con-
tanned an element of fairness or Just dealing.
The fact that resort must he made TO such
msstatemcntS and Representations fur
nishcs proof that my opponent and his sup
portcrs Will all of their searching have been
unable to discover Il real issue or an actual
dcrcliction. The impression sought TO be
conveyed by ;h!s criticism Is. that I had not
been sufficiently watchful OF the interests Of
tho people I'm connection with railroad legis.
iation. wish 10 say that | invite tho
. closest scrutiny OF my record OF thirteen
years I'm the house Of representatives. four
years As governor and nca rly a year rs senator
In the congress of the United States I have
uniformly supported and voted for measures
giving the federal government through It's
Interstate miner commission mower to
regulate and control railroads and 70 fix
freight and passenger charges. have sus-
TIMED this policy firmly and constantly In
the past and shall continue TO do so I'm tho
F future II am continued In Tho cnpatn T.,
my inaugural address as governor. I strongly
presented the same views and urged tho
same wise policy for the state. During the
four ycrrs that ! was governor. the question
as to the power OF the state corporation COM
mission to regulate the railroads. to fix their
passenger and freight rates became pressing
and important.
Deiied the Railroads.
The corporation commission fixed tho
passenger rates In tho state. The railroads
of the state refused to obey the rates fixed
by the commission. n fc icrai court Is Issued
an injunction prohibiting the enforcement
of the order OF the corporation commission.
No man can say that I failed TO faithfully
and fcarlcssly exercise the powers given me
as governor to compel the railroads 20 obey
the DEGREES and orders Of tho state corpora
tlon commission. I had "A conference with
member OF tho state corporation commits
sion and agreed with them that II tho rail
rondS failed 20 obey their orders. I would call
the general assembly in session and would CO.
operate with the general assembly and tho
corporation commission to SEQ that tho state
law was oheycd. ] addressed n communica-
ZION TO the commission. urging this and er-
pressing my Willingness to take this action.
i signed an agreement rs governor along with
the corporation commission. by which tho
railroads acGulesced in the order OF the rom
mission ana promised TO obey its orders
pending the litigation. Some Of those who
have recently criticised me for signing the cut
Off bill at that time criticised me for being
too active and aggressive in my efforts TO
mako the railroads obey tho Law and tho
orucrs OF tho commission.
The people OF Virginia. I am sure. will
remember the firm stand | took and tho car
nest fight ] made ut that time in their behalf.
Criticisms. unsupported by facts. made to
slibscrvc the purposes Of a political ca mpn!gn
cannot iniurc III" In tho face OF this record.
The r.. F. & =. Matter.
During my administration there also
arose n contention bet wccn the state proxies
and the members OF the sinking fund COM
missioncrs and tho Pennsylvania railroad as
TO the selection OF a president for the Rich
mond' fredericksburg and Potomac rail
road. The representatives OF the state in
sisted thu no president should he selected for
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
railroad who was not satisfactory 20 Virginia.
They commended that tho traffic Owe. the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
was being diverted by the Pcnnsylvan mia over
the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk
I TdliTOE1. one OF It's Drhnrn lines running
from Philadelphia to Norfolk. They in
sisted that the only way the interests OF the
state could be protected would be by having
a president who would see that there was no
improper diversion OF the traffic, reducing
the revenues OF the Richmond. Frcdcricks-
burg and Potomac to the injury OF the state.
! which is a large stakeholder. The Penn
sylvia MIA railroad had selected one OF its own
Officers as president and had so notified the
states representatives. These representa-
I q fItsnG On rna 20 ,.. o., - -
to unite with them and prevent this action.
which they thought would be very injurious
TO the state. | consented to do so and at
their request. took charge Of the matter.
After considerable heated correspondence
and expressed determination and Jeclara-
ton by me. that il the states representatives
were not given this privilege | would cal! the
general assembly In session 10 protect the
interests OF tho state. the railroads controlling
the Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
agreed that the representatives OF the state.
consisting of her proxies and the sinking
! fund commissioners should he permitted to
select n president. These representatives
met and selected the present OF the Rich
mond, fredericksburg and Potomac rail-
road, ! am sure that every state proxy and
every member Of the sinking fund will bear
testimony to the firm and prompt stand
took in this matter for the protection OF the
interests OF the state
MY action at thoI time was the sub
CIV VI wv 'piiiiiit.lt ul over Vie
state. and even from some sources that
are now criticising me for political
purposes.
Mr.. Glass, in abiding TO this master.
has seen proper 10 lnsinuatc by sncers
that while | may have lone this. yet
wha0 had | done while in Washington
toward preventing the PENNSYLVANIA
railroad from having a monopoly of
bridge transportation across the Potomac
river. The impression sought 10 be
made by thiS sheer is that ! had been
friendly toward the Pennsylvania rail
road. and had opposed congress granting
The privilege of constructing Other
bridges across the Potomac in opposi-
zion to 'he monopoly possessed by the
Pennsyivanla. This i%nsinuation is false.
1 En. 20 ,.A.nl L.