The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-19
SUPREME COURT ACTS
IN RAILROAD CASES
Decides Against Short-Haul
Rate.
CITIZENSHIP OF SOUTHERN
Great Railroad System Pronounced to
Be "a Citizen of Virginia"-Status
of Bills for Services.
CITIZENSHIP OF SOUTHERN

The decision. of the Interstate Com
short and long haul suit against the
Louisville and Nashville and other rail-
roads. was reversed yesterday by the
Supreme Court of the United States. The
matter was brought up on petition Of the
town of La Grange, which is on the line
of road between New Orleans and At
lanta, Ga. 1t was alleged that the town
was Disseminated against by the Louis
Vile and Nashville Railroad and its
contributory lines in the assessment of
freight charges. While the haul is short
er from New Orleans to La Grange than
from New Orleans to Atlanta, neyerthe-
less it was said higher rate OF freight
was charged for the short haul than
for the long haul.
The opinion of the court was an
nounced by Mr.. Justice White, who said
that the rate in favor of Atlanta was
justifable on the ground that Atlanta
is competitive point.
Various Oil Cases.
In the case of the Riverside Oil Com
pany against the Secretary of the In
terror. which involved the title to GER
tain oil lands in Southern California,
the Supreme Court of the United States
affirmed the judgment of the district
supreme court, which was in favor of
the Government.
The cases OF the Cosmos Exploration
Company against the Gray Eagle Oil
Company and the Pacific Land Company
against the Elwood Oil Company. were
also decided, in both instances the judg-
ment of tie lower court being affirmed
In these cases the validity Of locations
made upon mineral lands in place of
non mineral lands was involved. The
Cosmos Exploration Company and the
Pacific Land Company claimed title to
certain lands under locations Of this
character. and endeavored to eject the
other companies from the land. The
lower court held that there was not suf-
flcient grounds 10 warrant the eject
ment of the defendants.
". ". Watts and David A. Sachs, the
two Louisville attorneys who were COM
February last, were yesterday released
from custody. The decision in the case
was delivered by Chief Justice Fuller.
The incarceration of the attorneys grew
out of the hearing in the bankruptcy
proceedings of NJ. Zier & Co., OF New
Albany
in the suit of the republic of Colom-
bia against the Cauca Company. the de-
cree of the circuit court of appeals for
the fourth circuit was modified Items
in the award aggregating 1854, 900 were
ordered stricken from the account.
A Railroads Citizenship.
The Southern Railway Company is a
citizen of Virginia. This was the de-
cision made yesterday by the Supreme
Court of tie United States in the suit
of Allison against the Southern Railway
Company for damages for personal in
Juries The principal question involved
was whether the railroad company was
citizen of Virginia or of North Caro-
lima. 1t was incorporated under the laws
of Virginia. and had also filed its charter
in North Carolina The State courts of
North Carolina held that this act made
1t a citizen of that State. This ruling
was reversed by the Supreme Court of
the United States.
In the suit of Randolph & Randolph
against J. w Scruggs, trustee. in bank
ruptcy, Mr.. Justice Holmes held that a
claim for professional services by coun-
| sci TO a bankrupt corporation is not en-
| titled to reference as a claim. though it
does raise a valid debt