Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-07
SOUTHERN FINED
FOR GIVING PASSES
Railway Is Sharply Condemned
in Opinion of State Corpo-
ration Commission.
COMPANY ADMITS ITS GUILT
Passes Sent Sheriffs in Payment
of Fees for Services to
Railroad.
COMPANY ADMITS ITS GUILT


oHlcers in various parts OF the State.
Tor which 1t was to receive certain
valuable services in return. and be-
cause this action Is a violation Of the
Constitution and the laws OF Virginia.
the State Corporation Commission yes
terday punished the offending company
by fine of $500 and cost of investiga-
ton. which must be paid to the clerk
OF the commission within thirty days.
from date.
From the opinions OF the two con-
curing commissioners in this case IL
is evident that the fine of $500 was not
Imposed as an attempt to mele out Il
| punishment to suit the violation. but
that 1t was merely imposed on this
| company to serve warning and a
reminder that such practices would
not be tolerated.
Notice that the Southern Railway
was making practice of giving free
passes to officers in this State in re-
turn for certain services was brought
to the attention of the commission by
A. d. Kelly, Of Fauquier County.
After giving the charge an extensive
investigation. during which time the
authorities Of the Southern Railway
Company were afforded the opportun-
ity OF filing an answer. the commission
decided that the company had been
guilty Of nagrant violation of the law
and breach OF good morals
CONDEMS FALSE, IMMORAL
AND ILLEGAL" PRACTICE
The case upon which the commission
rendered an adverse decision to the
railroad company reads: Common
wealth of Virginia. at the relation of
a. u. Kelly VS. the Southern Railway"
| Concurrirg opinions against the South
ern Railway Company were handed
down by Chairman e. B. Garnett and
Commissioners Rhca. The opinion of
Chairman Garnett is particularly a
stern arraignment of the false. i'm
moral and illegal" practices OF the
railroad company.
Commissioner Rhea concurred with
his colleague. Chairman Garnett. In
that the action OF the company consti-
tuted an offensc meriting severe pun
ishment. but differed with him as TO
the relevancy of certain technical
Il points and certain decisions that
Chairman Garnett cited AS preccdents
i'll reaching his conclusion. Both,
however. agreed that the position OF
the railway authorities WAS indefensi-
BILE. and that the proof was clear and
lated the Constitution and tho laws
| Of the State on numerous occasions.
They both agreed that the fine was
very reasonable. TO say the least.
A. l.. Kelly, the complainant in the
! case, had brought TO the attention of
the commission only one case Of vio-
lation, which was the giving of IA
free pass to the sheriff of F'auquier
County. However. investigation
brought To light the fact that the
guilt of the company was by no means
limited to the case cited. but that il
/ was in keeping with well-established
! policy Of the company. and that the
ma jority of sheriffs in the State had
been the recipients of such discrimina-
! tions.
SOUTHERN ADMITS GIVING
PASSES TO SHERIFFS
The Southern Railway did not deny
/ that it had given a pass to w. S. Woolf
sheriff of Fauquier County. 1t even
admitted that it had made a practice
of it The following letter was sub
mitted TO the commission a. proof that
w. S. Wooif. sheriff of Fauquier County,
had been given a pass over the South
ern lines in this State
Norfolk. Va. January 1. 1917.
Mr.. w. S. Woolf. Sheriff Fauquier
County, Warrenton, Va:
Dear Sir.-I inclose Southern Rail-
way Company annual No. C-l152s. in
your favor for 1917, good between
Strasburg and Warrenton; Culpeper
and Alexandria,: Calverton and War
renton; Mana ssas and Front Royal,
which is delivered to you in full pay
ment Of and compensation for all fees
and charges for any and all services
which you may be called upon to per-
form for which this company may be
or become liable during the year 1917;
or to which you may be entitled OH
account of any action growing out of
litigation in which this company is
interested. and of all fees and charges
in your favor against this company for
1917, and of all commissions that may
become due by virtue of any executions
against this company which may be
placed in your hands during the said
year.
] am sending this letter in duplicate,
and would thank you to acknowledge
your acceptance Of this plan under the
conditions named on the carbon and
return to me for my files.
Yours very truly.
(Sgned)
ROBERT B. TUNSTALL,
Division Counsel
PASSES ARE SENT OUT
TO MANY OFFICIALS
Further examination proved beyond
doubt, for even the railWa,- company