Year: 1879

OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company upon the subject of transpor-
tation upon the B. & o. Railroad, sub
nit the following report:


1t was distinctly understood by the
undersigned, at the time the resolution
providing for the appointment OF this
committee was adopted, that the b. &
o. Railroad Company was willing and
anxious TO make other and material
concessions not embraced in the new
freight tariff, and that they were willing TO
meet the committee in q spirit OF
anIity and concession and adjust the
difference between the people and their
company upon satisfactory and e9ulta-
able basis. We had fondly hoped that
such would be the result, but in this
we have been disappointed. After a
long, full and free conference with Mr..
Keyser, the Second Vice President OF the
company, We were sorry TO learn that
he had no new proposition to make, but
spent most OF the time allotted to the
conference in endeavoring TO convince
the committee that the new tariff was a
proper and just one with which the
people ought TO be entirely satisfied.


We apprehend that it will be a very.
difficult task to convince the people OF
West Virginia that their forests and
mines are more distant from the Last
ern markets than those OF the great
West, or that their farms, fOundries
and factories are more remote from Balti-
more than those of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
and Missouri. 1t will be very difficult
to convince our people that grain can be
transported from Chicago to Baltimore
for less sum than it can he trans
ported from the interior counties OF this
State. The people OF this State COM
plain that they are Disseminated against
by the new tariff, rs they were by
the old, and that these dlscrimina-
tons deprive them OF the legitimate
profits they are entitled to receive from
their industries They claim that under
the charter of, and the laws governing
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany, they are entitled TO the ful1 bene-
fits of the low rates accorded to the pro-
ducts OF the West, 10 enable them to
reach the eastern markets, and that
these benefits should be enjoyed by the
local as well as the through trade OF
West Virginia We are clearly OF the
opinion that the Northwestern Virginia
Railroad lParkersburg Branch is sub
ject 10 and ought 10 be governed by the
provisions OF chap. 227, acts OF
1872 IS, and therefore we cannot consent
that the company operating that
road shall be permitted longer TO charge
shippers from fifty To one hundred per
cent more than the law authorizes. But
We must not be understood to admit
Tor one moment that the Il. 4 o. Rail-
road Company is not subject to said act.


We are sorry to learn that the b. &
4 o. Railroad Company, in the arbl-
tary exercise of an imperiOus will which
has characterized ii for quarter of
century, has seen tit, contrary 10 law, to
withdraw from persons engaged IN the
coal, iron and other important in
dustricS of the State, rates which they
been heretofore enjoyed, thereby
threatening their destruction and COM
pelling those who were dependent there
on for livelihood TO cast themselves on
the charities OF the public. Their ap-
peals to the committee have not dimin-
ished our sympathy Tor them, but has
aroused our just Indignation against
corporation which would thus outrage
the principles Of common humanity for
the purpose of gaining an undue advan-
tage over their victims; and applying
the rule governing banditti, they de-
mand ransom for the release OF our
citizens whom they hold in bondage.


We cannot but be convinced that the
purpose OF the company during this en-
tire controversy has been Ia lntlmidate
the legislature i'm the manner above re-
ierrcd 10.


Believing that the resolutions agreed
10 bv the majority Of the committee will
fail to secure to the great body OF our
people the justice they are entitled TO,
and is surrender for the time being, II
not permanently, Of their rights.


We look upon this resolution As
granting to the company the absolute
right TO charge cents per ton per mile
for the transportation Of all irelghts IN
West Virginia except from competitive
points, and deprives them OF the pro-
lection they have heretofore had
through the low rates granted at termi-
nal points. Ii enables the company
10 I'rAGllIt greater hiNailihlilaNi'iaS
against West Virginia ship
pers than heretofore and such dis
circumstances, il practiced, will he used
as a strong argument against any tu-
ture attempt Of the Legislature TO inter
iere in behalf OF the people OF the State.
In our estimation the whole scheme is
iull Of mischief and fraught with evil
consequences 10 our people. We have
not time in the short period given us 10
fully set forth our objections 10 the ma
jori,y report, but for the reasons above
stated. among others, We cannot concur
in the conclusion at which a majority Of
the committee has arrived, and would
ask the legislature 10 carefully consider
their Recommendation before giving
them the srlemnity Of legal action-thc
effect and fore ot law.


u. ID. JOHNSON,


LA. {. Posi-.


J. MARsHALL HGSAs,