The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-05-02
STATE CAPITAL NEWS.
FIGHT FOR BETTER RAILROAD
SERVICE MADE BY LATTA.
Railroads Make Common Cause in the
Effort to Carry Their Point and Dis
regard the Orders of the Railroad
Ccmmission-Oth Matters.

decided that the railroad commission
had authority to compel the Coast
Line to either stop its Florida Flyer
train at Latta or provide an addition
al train TO take care Of local business,
will go to the Federal Supreme court
on appeal. An allowance order was
served on the commission today from
Justice Brown, Of the federal court,
granting the road permission to ap-
peal from the State Supreme courts
recent mandamus order. The Federal
court order was secured just in time to
obviate liability to fine from the state
court.
The railroad commission looks upon
the case as an extremely important
one in its nature as a. pioneer on the
questions involved, and is watching
the outcome of the fight with great in
terest.
"The Coast Line has for some time
been assuming the attitude that it
could easily run the bull over u.s. said
Commissioner Caughman today, "but
that road will find out before this
game is over that the commission is
going to have either the fast train
stopped or a local train to accommo-
date the public. It cannot be justly
claimed that the commission has been
arbitrary in the matter. We were
willing to have the local train if the
road did not see fit to stop the fast
train. And in view OF the orders Of
the commission in the past twelve
months we think it should abide by
the decision of the State courts and
not appeal this case to the Federal
Court"
"I happen to know" said we'll
known railroad official 70 your cor
respondent today, that all the roads
doing business in this State are watch
ing this case with unusual interest.
The other roads are backing the Coast
Lise in the fight and of course the
case was to be taken to the Federal
court. 1t is a matter Of vital interest
to all roads as to whether fast train
may be stopped at the will of the com
mission
Governor Hayward today granted
three weeks respite to the two Will
liamsburg negro murderers, Epps
Snowden and Arthur McFadden, sen
fenced to hang here next Friday, in
order 10 allow the new pardon board
opportunity to pass upon their petit
tons Tor commutation. The COVER
nor called a special meeting Of the
pardon board to be held on the 18th
of May to pass upon these cases. The
pardon board Will also consider sever
al other important cases.
4 meeting of the joint committee,
composed OF members Of city council
and representatives from the Pythian
lodges Of Columbia and Brookland,
was held tonight to discuss the castle
hall proposition. 1t is understood
that the formal bid for Columbia Will
be drawn up in a few days and pre-
sented at the meeting Of the knights
Of Pylhias grand lodge in Sumter next
month.
There are now four new county pro
jects under way. Petitions for election
fo.r two counties have been filed. One
is for Eairview county and the second
for Highland county. The people OF
Fountain Inn in Greenvlle county,
are fostering one of the undertakings.
and those OF Greer's. also in Greenvii!e,
are pushing the second plan. Hey
wafd county. With North Augusta as
the point Of infection, is coming to the
front again With a new county. Latta,
in Marion county, has for a long time
desired TO be a county seat. and the
statement is made that the ma achinery
is now being set in motion looking
towards an effort in that direction.
The work of securing homes For the
visitors here reunion week is progress
ing satisfactorily and Mr. ~ O. Pyles.
who has charge of this department,
reports very good progress II is nee
essaly 20 secure from practically ev-
cry householder in the city the prom
ise Of accommodations and the citi-
zens of Columbia can greatly aid the
work by notifying the Chamber Of
Commerce at once the number that
can be taken care or A few days ago
Secretary Clark sent out to all adju-
tants of the camps a circular letter re-
questing the complete rolls of the vet