Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-11-28

Inc SGuhl0 viii luSlSt tudL tuO Scno1AS
sion shall have nothing to do with the
appointment of the 5000 or more men
and women who will be required 10
take the next census. Less than 2O0
people will be put to work at first, ana
they will include the high-priced per-
sons who will have to get matters IN
shape. The rank and file will not be
Amounted until the winter and spring
of 1900.
The Supreme Court met to-day in
the old quarters, the damage by the re-
cent explosion having been fully re-
paired. Justice Gray read the instruc:
tons of the court as to the mode OF
procedure under the new bankrupt
law. This wes provided for by the
act. but when it was passed the court
was not in session, and there has been
much confusion. The rules as laid
down to day will not go into effect un-
til January 2nd. 1t is an important
matter to the business and professional
classes. Among the most important
decisions handed down by the court TO-
day was that of Engelbert Meyer
against the city OF Richmond, Va, and
the Cnesa peake & Ohio Railway Com
pany. Meyer claimed by obstructing
the streets his property was injured.
He lost in the State court. Justice Nc
Kenna rendered the opinion, and the
decision of the Virginia court was sus-
tanned. Chief Justice Fuller and JUS
tice Brewer dissented. They held that
no federal question was involved in the
contest.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
is on trial before the Interstate Com
merce Commission for discrimination
in coal rates and violation of the law
that prohibits carriers from departing
from their published tariffs. q. q.
Blake, a Cincinnati coal dealer, Is the
complaining witness. He brought his
case because the road had agreed to
give him 81 low rate aud then, it Is
said, violated the compaci Quite a
sensation was created when General
Wickham, counsel of the road, arose
after the mplainant's attorney had
presented his charges and confessed to
willful violation of the law. We
have di-crimiuated," said Mr.. Wick
ham. The exgencies of the trade
compelled us to do SO. We ad-
nit that we have charged certain ship
pers one rate from given point while
charging other shippers other rates
from the same place. Nor road In
the entire breadth and length Of the
United States has not done the same.
We did it in order to live" Mr.. Wick
ham then said that the road was now
in position to treat every shipper Oh
equal terms, would do so in the future,
aud that moreover Mr.. Blake's at
torneys and the attorneys OF the
road could reach on understand
ing and settle their trouble with
cut longer consuming the time of the
commission. Chairman Knapp tsrtly
remarked that the commission had 9
public duty to perform and the public
had right to know just how fragrant
ly the Chesapeake aud OHIO was violat'
ing the law. He therefore or
dered the Investigation to proceed
Mr.. Wickham hinted that if the matter
was to 60 on, it would prove much
larger affair than the commission
dreamed OF and would drag 10 every
road in the country. He begged Mr.
Knapp TO be fair enough mot to crush
the Chesapeake and Ohio which is no,
as powerful financially as some other
ccal carrying concerns" He added
that if the law was strictly enforced
che commission would "revolutionizt
the railroad business Of the United
States" He said that the reason the
Chesapeake and OHIO could not pub
lish the real rock bottom rates it gave
TO shippers was that such action
would give all its competitors tarpe
to shoot at." The examination OF wit
nesses then began. Traffic Manager
Benjamin testified that q contract va:
u lde by J W. Hopkins, agent OF the
coal operators, 10 sell 100000 tons tc
the Kroyer Coal Co., of Cincinnati, a.
81 800 cents for the coal aud 60 cents
for fright. Hopkins, the witness ssid
was the Chesapeake and Ohio Goa
agent, but be denied that the road wa:
in the coal b. sin SIS. He said all road:
have such an agent. Ia 1898 the rate:
from Nanawha to Cincinnati were
scheduled, but ''com mission" was re-
turned 10 the consignee by the road
s'Iu other words rebate ?" asked one
of the comm ssioners. 1--WE don't call
it that sny more" admitted Mr.. Benja.
min. He exhibited a paper showing
that Blake and the Chesapeake and
Ohio Trust Company got the same re-
bate
The ladies of the auxiliary of the
Confed rate Veterans Association Of
this city will give euchre party to-
night IT the rooms OF that association at
which valuable prizes will be awarded.
This will De preliminary to the enter
tainment they are to have at the Ma
sonic temple next week.
Orris NJ Parks was appointed post
master at Pestoria, Accomac county,
Va, to-day, vice John T. Byrd, re-
signed.
Some of the Southern Congressman
now here say the malign influence Of
Northern money has already appeared
in the opposition to the reelection OF
Mr.. Bailey to the leadership of the
democrats in the next House. They
also say that the movement in favor OF
Mr.. Bankhead, of Alabama, was start
ed, not with any hope of success, but
simply and solely to draw strength
from Mr.. Bailey, who is conceded to be
the strongest man on the democratic
side.
The case against the Bennings race
track proprietors and the book-makers
at that track, charged with violating
a NJ n lo Af oif -