The San Francisco call., 1898-05-18
HUNTINGTON ON
 HIS KETTLE Lively Proceedings at the Hear ing of the Robinson
 Case.
The Railroad Maenate Squelches the Attorneys on the Opposite
 Side.

Coli1s F. Huntington was evidently on +he Warpath yesterday afternoon, and this iact served to relieve the dolerul morot- ohy or the proceedings at the meeting of the Railroad Commissioners, who had gathered to hear the complaint of John R- Robinson against the Southern Pacific company and numerous other defend ants.
 Just before the meeting was called to order Huntington made his appearance. and Robinson, the plaintiff in the case, ac- costed the railway magnate and in urbane accents said, ''I am MT. Robinson" Hun tlngton gazed at him for moment and salo, Oh, yes; you wrote me some let ters the last time I was out here.' He referred to some interesting communica- uons he had received in regard to stop- overs. Robinson replied "I don't remem- Der having done so'' "Oh yes, you do,' replied Huntington, land you are ashamed to own it." Robinson gracefully retired and the incident closed.
 Those present felt that Huntington had his war paint on, and from the steely gilt ter in his eye an explosion was looked for at any moment. The old gentleman had become tired of the eleven days examina- tion to which he had been subjected. and it was clear to see that he had reluctant ly answered the summons of the Com
 
 When the hearing began, E. s. Pills bury appeared for Huntington, while Robinson was represented by George w. Monteith. assisted by Horace ". Phil brook, the disbarred attorney. J. M. BaS- sett was there in the capacity of outside adviser to the latter. MT. PillSbury mani fested the plan of defense by objecting to huntington being sworn on the ground that the Railroad Commissioners had no jurisdiction in the case. The point was taken that Robinson in his complaint did not state that he had a personal griev- ance, nor that he had been charged too much. and that such complaints were the only ones hearable before the commission. They could only hear cases where their could not inquire into any general com plaint, like the one of Robinson, on the part of everybody. Huntington could be kept here for the rest of his natural life ne salQ, by getting up one complaint after another and causing him to be subpenaed. The commission had announced that they were through with him as a board, and Pillsbury argued that it was not right to harass him and that his client would de- cline to answer on those grounds.
 Then 1t was that another little scene enilvened matters, Monteith replied that it was the right of every citizen to come before the board and make complaints, as 1t exposed the frauds of the railroads, and to bring these frauds face to face with the railroads. At this Monteith turned around and looked full at Huntington. The latter with unruffied countenance sald, T admit that l am face to face with a fraud and Monteith, too subsided.
 La Rue rebuked the attorney and said that MT. Huntington as a witness was en- titled to due respect.
 The whole question was settled by the commission referring the matter to the Attorney General for advice as to the Jurisdiction of the board, and they will meet on Thursday at 10 a. m. It is expected that by that time the opinion W.. be rendered.
 At adjournment Philbrook made some suggestion about appearing before the Attorney General Bassett interposed with the remark, "All we want is to pro ceed according to law" and turning to Huntington said, ''Is that not true, MT. Huntington?' The railroad potentate, flushed with his two previous victories replied, Anything you say cannot be true; there is no truth in you!" and grasping his cane with a firm grip he seemed about to bring it down on the head of Bassett if the latter made the least move. The blow, if one was intend ed, was not struck and the session closed without further incident