Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-08-30


rules, regulations and orders governing
railroads are imposed by the State Cor
poratlon Commission. 1t seems to me
that II the Commission can be entrusted
with these great powers it can be safely
entrusted with the power of giving its
consent to a railroad availing itself of
the provisions OF this act on conditions
which would reserve to the Commission
full power whenever necessary to con-
troll, regulate or tax the railroad. This
bll! gave the Commission the power OF
passing on this question. Being con-
WINGED that the interests Of the State
were fully protected, and the bill hav-
ing passed the General Assembly with
such an overwhelming majority, having
the support OF Mr. Featherston, the del.
egate from Campbell County, and MIR.
Jennings, delegate from Lynchburg, and
also had the approval OF the Board OF
Trade OF Lynchburg, it had every
claim Tor my approval. | am satisfied
that the Corporation Commission, hay-
ing the power OF passing on the condi-
tons on which any railroad would be
allowed TO avail itself of the provisions
OF this act, will, whenever necessary,
safeguard the interests OF the State.
The policy OF the Constitution is TO
leave matters in connection with rail
road control and regulation with the
Commission and it seems to me that
this statute, giving them this power OF
approval and consent, Is carrying out
exactly the purpose OF the Constitution.
am at an utter loss TO see how any
interests CT the State has been lost o.
betrayed IL the passage or approval OF
THIS bl!l The unfair and uncaIlcd ior
criticism to which | have been SUBJECT
ed by political enemies in connection
with this bill furnishes additional proof
of the vicious and vindictive character
OF the campaign that has been conduct
ed against me. 1t has not contained
an element or fairness or Just dealing.
The fact that resort must be made to
such misstatemcnts and such misrep1e-
sensations furnishes proof that my
opponent and his supporters, with all
their searching, have been unable to dis
cover real issue or an actual derelic-
lion The impression sought to be con-
veyed by this criticism is that l had
not been sufficiently watchful of the
interests of the people in connections
with railroad legislation. l wish 10
say that | invite the closest scrutiny
of my record of thirteen years in The
House of Representatives, four years
as Governor, and nearly year as SEN
ator.
In the Congress of the United States
| have uniformly supported and voted
for measures giving the Federal Gov
eminent, through its Interstate Com
rlerce Commission power to regulate
and control railroads and to fix freight
and passenger charges. have sustain
ed this policy firmly and constantly i'll
the past and shall continue to do 50 III
the future if l am continued in the
Senate. In my inaugural address as
Governor | strongly presented the same
views and urged the same wise policy
for the State. During the four years
thar was Governor, the question OF
tie power OF the State Corporation:
Commission TO regulate the railroads,
TO tx their passenger and freight rates
become pressing and important. The
Corporation Commission fixed the pas
senger rates OF the State. The, rail
roads of the State refused to obey the
rates !:xed By the Co nmissior. The
Federal Courts issued An injunction pro
hibiting the enforcement Of The order
of the Corporation Commission. No
man can say that l failed to faithfully
and fearlessly exercise the powers given
Inc as Governor to compel the rail
roads 10 obey the DEGREES and orders
Ct The State Corporation Commission.
| ,lad a conference with members OF
the State Corporation Commission and
agreed with them thar if the rallroaus
failed TO obey their orders, l would call
tlic General Assembly in session ard
wc,i!d cooperate with the General AS
se,nbly and the Corporation CoEinis-
ed | addressed communication 10
tie commission urging this AMI e..
pressing MY Willingness to take this &c
ton ] signed all agreement as Gov
crnor along with the Corporation Con-
mission, by which the railroads acqui-
esced in the order OF the Commission
and promised to obey its orders pend
ing the litigation. Some OF those who
nave recently criticised me for signing
the Cutoff" bill, at that time criticised
me loi being too active and aggressive
in my efforts to make the railroads obey
the law and the orders CT the C~l.1NIs-
sion. The people OF Virginia, am
sure, will remember the firm stand
took AMI the earnest fight | made at
that time III their behalf. Criticisms
unsupported by facts, made to subser,e
the purposes OF political campaign
cannot iDjure me in the face OF TITS
record
During my administration there also
arose contention between the Stare
PROVES and the members OF the Sink
ing Fund Commissioners and the Penn
syhania Railroad, as to the selection OF
4 president for the Richmond, Frcdcr-
icksburg & Potomac Railroad. The rep
resentatives of the State insisted that no
president should be selected for the
Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac
Railroad who was not satisfactory to
Virginia. They contended that the trai-
fic over the R. F. & P. Railroad was
being diverted by the Pennsylvania over
the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk
Railroad, one OF its branch lines run
ming from Philadelphia TO Norfolk.
They insisted 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 R. F. & D. to the IN
jury Of the State, which is large stock
holder The Pennsylvania Railroad had
selected orc OF its own officers as pres
ident, and had 50 notified the States
representatives. These representatives
came to me as Governor and asked me
10 unite with them and prevent this ac