The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-15
THE TRUTH ABOUT IT
Railroads Have Delayed the
Tax Case Hearing.
The Soulhern's Attorney Gets His Facts Badly
Twisted About the Hearing Before
The Master,

Capt. Chas. Price, attorney for the
Southern Railway, while here this week
gave to a paper in this city an inter
view in which he alleged that the delay
in the taking of testimony in the railroad
tax cases was due to the Corporation
Commission and was not secured at the
instance of the railroads.
This interview was yesterday called to
the attention Of Commissioners Mcneil
and Rogers.
They said that the Commission had
never thought of Offering q compromise
in the Railroad Tax Cases, and that the
continuance in these eases had been at
the request of the attorneys for the rail-
roads. The last continuance they said
was granted at the request of Mr.. Bur-
ton and it was agreed to by the counsel
for the Corporation Commission upon the
idea that the railroads controlled the time
for three months and had right to use
it as they saw fit. This continuance was
not agreed to until after Judge Shepherd
and Colonel Hinsdale had reached Colds
boro on their way to Wilmington to at
tend the hearing. Neither the Corporation
Commission nor it's attorneys have asked
for a days delay since this case was in
stituted, but have been ready every day
that was set for hearing, and they pre-
sumo that Mr.. Price made this statement
without having ascertained from the gen
tlemen who represent the other railroads
the facts relative to the continuance at
the last hearing.
Judge Conner and Mr.. James H. POu, of
counsel for the Corporation Commission,
said that they had never heard until to-
day that anybody expected the Corpora
ton Commission to make an offer of com
promise. Mr. Pou said that the contn-
uance of this case the last time was
agreed to by himself after consulting
with the other attorneys for the Corpora
ton Commission by wire, and it was made
at the request of Mr. r. 0. Burton. at
tCrney for the Atlantic Coast Line Rail-
road Company. 1t was made after Judge
Shepherd and Colonel Hinsdale had
reached Goldsboro ON their way to Will
mington
The defendants in this case have been
ready at all times and have been anxious
to have the cases disposed of, and not
one day of the delay can be charged to
them.
Col. John w. Hinsdale, of counsel for
defendant, said that he never had heard
any one suggest that the Corporation
Commission would offer compromise.
and that the defendants had never asked
for delay. That he was at GoldsbCro on
his way to Wilmington to attend the
hearing in May when he was stopped by
telephone message from Mr.. Pou, stating
that MIR. Burton had asked for a contin-
uance; that he only consented to this
continuance upon 2 suggestion of Mr.
Pou that the railroads, having three
months in which 10 put in their evidence,
were responsible for all the time lost
That this continuance was agreed TO by
the defendants and by the Special Mas
ter, Judge Shepherd. at the request Of the
attorneys for the railroads that having
consented under these circumstances to
the continuance. he wired Judge Conner
not to come Judge Conner would have
gone to Wilmington on the night train
but for this wire.