The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-29

of passing on the conditions on which
any RAILROAD would be allowed to
avail itseH of the provisions of this
act will whenever necessary safe
guard the interests of the State. The
policy of the Constitution IL to leave
matters in connection with railroad
control and regulation to the COM
mission and II seems to me that this
statute giving them this power OF
iapproval and consent, is carrying out
exactly the purposes OF the Constt-
tuition. | am at an utter loss to see
how any interest of the State has
been lost or betrayed in the passage
or approval Of this bill. The unfair
and uucalled-for criticism to which
[ have been subjected by political
enemies in connection with this bill
furnishes additional proof of the VI
cious and vindictive character OF the
I-campalgn that has been conducted
against me. 1t has not contained an
lelement Of fairness or Just dealings.
The fact that resort must ne made
To such MEASUREMENTS ana mlsrepFe-
sentation furnishes proof that my OPP
ponent and his supporters. with all or
their searching. have been unable to
discover real issue or an actual
dereiictios. The impression sought
to I've conveyed by this criticism IL
that mad rot been sufficiently wafch-
fuI Of the interests of the people in
| wish to say that ! invite the closest
scrutiny Of my record of thirteen
years in the House of Representa-
tives, four years as Governor and
nearly q year 40 Senator. In the
congress OF the United states have
uniformly supported and voted for
m ga urrs giving the Fedora govern
ment through its Interstate Com
rnerce Commission power ia regulate
and control railroads and to fix
freight and pa ssenger charges
have sustained this policy frnly and
constantly IN the past and shall con-
ttnue To do SO In the future If am
continued in the senate. In my In
auxnral address as Governor strong
/ " presented the same views ana
urged the same wise policy for the
State. During the four years max
4 WAS Governor. the question as to
the power Of thu state Corporation
Commission to regulate railroads In
fix their passenger and freight rates
became pressing and important The
Corporation Commission fixed the
passenger rates Of the state. Kali
roads If the state refused to obey
the rates fxed bv the commission.
The Federal courts issued an in
junction prohibiting the enforcement
8 Of the order Of the Corporation Com
mission NJ man can say that /
failed Ia faithfully and f@ar|essly es-
ercise powers given me as Governor
4 Ia compel the railroads to obey the
: DEGREES and orders of the State Ger
a paratieu Commission nan a con-
! ference with members ar the State
! f-oroors.ion Com nj ssion and agreed
= win them that II the railroads failed
o TO obey their orders. would can
the General Assembly in session ana
. cooperate with the General Assem-
hlv and Corporation Commission 10
SEC that the state law vsS ebefsd.
q addressed com nunicston TO TINS
= commission urging this and express
g ing nf~ Willingness To take THIS Ac-
: ton. signed an agreement IS
= Commission hv which the railroads
. seau.esceA In the order OF tho eon1-
G mission ard pronY ixed 10 obey It's or@
ders pending the litigation
Some af those vho have recently
: criticised me for signing the 'eut-nT
: bin at that time criticised me Tor feihs
teo active and aggressive in my eHers
:, 10 make the railroads obey the iaw
!. and the orders of the commission.
:. The people Of Virginia. am sure, Viii
remember the fFm stand | tooS, ana
. the earnest FIGHT made Al that TINS
= In their behalf criticism unsupported
:, by facts made 10 subserye the per-
pose ef a political campaign cannot
!, inil!re ne in the face Of this record
F. Daring my administration there aiso
arose contention between Stafe
:, proxies and thu members Of the SINK
ing fund cautui Ssluners. ana the f*n"-
syivan!a Railroad, as Is the seiectan
T Of president TOR the Richmond ffea
; erich sburs and Potomac Railroad
: RaprpsentattNaS Of the state insisted
= that no President should he selected
:, for the Richmond. fredertcAshurg ana
!. Potomac Railroad who was Not sat
F" lsfac1ory to Virginia They contender
r. thai, The Traffic oYtr the r. + ana T.
y vas being diverted ny the Fennss,-
: yania over the Mew York, Phiiadel-
: uhta and Norfolk Railroad. one ~ its
= branch inex running from fGiladei-
= phia to Norfolk They insisted mat
= the only Way the interests IF The state
= could be protected Would he ny haNlng
- n president who would see That there
:. VAS no improper diversion o. The traf-
= fic- reducing the revenue a The r..
!, r and +. tn he injury ~ the Sfate,
- witch Is a large stockhelder. The
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad had selected
one nf It's own officers as president,
and rad 60 notified the states repre-
a sentaEives Those representatives
II came 10 me, as Governor, and asked
40 me to unite with them and prevent
: this action, which they thought would
"a be very injurious 10 the State. ! CON-
Il sented 10 do So and ~ their request
"a teae,t-eh4ree ~ the matter After cnn-
4
:. expressed determination and dec'arr-
tiun by me-. that il the states repre-
a sentatives were not given this prtNi-
"A ege / would cali the General Assem-
a bly, In session 10 protect the interests
~ of the state, the railroads control
"a ing The r.. + and p. agreed That tha
l. representatives Of the state. consist
&, ing of her proxies and sinking rund
=, comml ssioners. should be permitted to
-, select president These Representa-
- Ftives, met and selected the present
"A president ~ the r.. f. and p r. X.
40 | am sure TINT every State proxy. and
a every member Of the sinking fund
- commission will bear testimony to the
"a nrm and prompt stand took in this
"A matter for the protection OF the in
- terests Of the state. My action at
~ that time was a subject Of favorable
-, comment all over the State and even
- from some sources that are criticislng
~ me for political purposes.
-, Mr.. Glass in abiding to this mat
W ter has seen proper TO insinuate hy
snears that while | may have done
'e this. vet what had | done while in
- Washington toward preventing the
'" Pennsylvania railroad from having a
iss monopoly Of bridge transportation
~ across tho Potomac river? The I'M
=, preston sought TO be made by this