Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-31
AN EXCITING SESSION.
The North Carolina Railway Com
mfssiou-NeNs from Raleigh.

missfOn--News from kHlcfSh.
RALEIGH. n. c., March 30.--(SpecalD
In the Superior Court this morning Judge
Timberlake rendered his decision in the
cases against the Seaboard Airline ana
the Southern railways, the former for
issuing a free pass last year 10 John ii.
Pearson, and the latter for issuing one
to H. L. Grant, both being members OF
the Legislature. The Judge decided that
both roads were guilty. A motion was
made 10 set aside the judgment. rms
the Judge Overruled. He also oYerruied
some other motions The railways ap-
pealed to the Supreme Court. The YER
dict was an agreed one. The cases are
for a test. The current belief is that
the Supreme Court will not find that
there was an actual violation or the law
but only technical guilt The Judge mas
not announced the amount of the penalty.
Ii was reported early last evening that
by to-day an arrangement for the leasing
of the Atlantic and North Carolina rail-
way TO the Southern would very prop
ably be consummated by tonight Late
last night there was an explicit denial
that any negotiations are now pending.
OVERCHARGES FOR PRINTING.
The suits for overcharges in the mat
ter of the public printing. when the
State brought against the stewart
Brothers, public printers, were Tor SzV"OV.
The courts only give the State ABOUT
Sl1 600 The Stewards actually made the
claim that the State owed them money.
Suit will now be brought on their bond.
A North Carolinian, who has just re-
turned from the KlOndike, says IL is the
greatest delusion OF the century.
Revenue officers made a raid yesterday
in Granville county and captured a 10
gallon still.
The action of the Council Of State yes
terday in the John Evans case, in keep
ing the decision a secret, is commented
on as a most unusual proceeding. or
course the decision leaked out. 1t was
said to-day that the purpose was to let
the news come out from Rockingham;
that people there would see Sheriff smith
preparing to put up the gallows TO hang
Evans.
The State organ OF the Baptlsts says
II considers the work of the Mormons in
North Carolina to be exaggerated by the
press of the State.
A CONVICT ESCAPES
A convict named William Garnet, sent
from Rowan, has escaped from the peni-
Tertiary. and boasts that 1t was after
only one weeks stay. He is at large,
armed with a repeating rifle. His crime
WAS highway ApbD~AJ eA-- 49,
for ten years.
The doctor who has in charge Alfred
Impey. the South African prince. says
the latter has galloping consumption,
and is doomed, unless, perhaps. return
to Africa and the necessary sea voyage
will benefit him. There is cavity in
one lung.
The Chamber of Commerce here has
appointed a committee to secure options
10 cit a
is said that 100 acres Will cost some
thing like $4,000.
Another shell was yesterday dug up
I'm the Capitol Square.
1t is limited that the Railway Commits
sion may at an early day consider the
question of reducing the freight rates on
coal.
THE RAILWAY LEASE.
The ending of the fight by Governor
Russell TO set aside the lease of the
North Carolina railway TO the Southern
was predicted in this correspondence last
week; also, the abandonment by the Gov
ernor of the contempt cases" against
Vice-President Andrews and others The
statement was verified yesterday in every
particular 1t was clear that the Gov
ernor could never gain his case. His
proceedings had degenerated into farce
at which all laughed The following is
the text OF the resolution adopted almost
at midnight last night by the North
Carolina railway directors IN session
here.
whereas, it is represented to this
board that the suit I'm the United States
Court Of Equity, wherein the Southern
railway is the plaintiff and the North
Carolina railway and others are defend
ants, can be settled by the payment OF
all the costs Of the case by the plaintiff,
the Southern Railway Company; and
Whereas. such settlement does not I'm
any way affect or impair In any way the
rights Of the State TO adopt any policy
that may be determined upon by Its Lee
gislature with regard 20 the ownership.
management, and operation of domestic
railways by foreign or nonresident cor
porations: II is, therefore,
Resolved, That the attorneys for the
North Carolina Railway Company are
hereby authorized 10 take such steps as
will end tho above-named litigation upon
the terms hereinbetore dictated"
A MOST EXCITING SESSION.
To-day's session of the Railway Com
mission was the most eyentful in its
history 1t ordered that on and after
April 18th the charges for 2O0O-mile mile
age tickets be $40, and 4000-mile tickets
SIS, these to be good for a first-class
passage on any passenger train by any
person presenting them, without limita-
ton as 10 individuals.
The matter Of the passenger rate. which
was reduced at the last meeting, then
came up. Chairman Caldwell read a let
ter to Governor Russell. in which ne said
he intended 20 vote to restore the old
rate: that he felt ne had done wrong
in voting for the new rate. In the face
OF no evidence in its favor, but mass
OF evidence against II.
He concluded by stating that fearing
the Governor did not agree with him In
this course. he placed his resignation at
the Governors disposal Chairman Cald-
well then moved that the order making
the new rate be rescinded The motion
prevailed. only Pearson voting against IT,
Governor Russell sent word TO the com
mission not 10 adjourn. as he wanted TO
address Il. He appeared in few min
utes, and said: II am greatly astonshed
at hearing Chairman Caldwell voted TO
restore the old passenger rates, and
stu further astonshed TO receive the
letter Just placed in my hands. contain
ing his resignation. or tender OF resigna-
ton. With reference TO the passenger
rate question and the change OF Mr.. Cald-
well. | want 10 say | do not impugn his
motives, but deeply regret he has taken
this course. / believe IL not only places
him In an unfortunate position with the
artt-xnnnonoltafa b.It without any inteu-