The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-28
HAS NO APOLOGIES
SAYS THE MASTER
Mr.. Montgomery, Before Pro-
cccding With Investigation,
Replies to Criticism.
LOOK FOR A COMPROMISE
tspcclal to Tho 1,Imes- pi.patch.

LSpcclal 10 THO Tim cS- Dispatch ali X.
RALEIGH, N. c., November 2T.-Be-
fore the introduction of witnesses to-
day Master Montgomery delivered him
self OF q sharp dcnunciation OF g criti-
cism OF him printed In the Raleigh
News and Observer to-day because he.
as master. had declared that hude he
known that the continuance which
was procured from yesterday was be-
cause ono of the counsel for the State
10. j. Juctice, could not be present
that day he would have refused to
grant the continuance. He said the
criticism was entirely unwarranted. as
In refusing continuance for such a
reason he would have been following
the regular practice OF the Supreme
Court, that no case be continued on
account OF one member, OF counsel
when there are several others of coun-
sci who can direct the case He had
no apologies to make for what he had
said or done. The State had a number
of well-equipped attorneys amply ia
miliar with the case to proceed in the
absence OF Mr.. Justice. He said he
had really thought that there would
be no further hearings inavicw5 of the
propositions that were known by hun
dreds OF citizens to be pending for set
ticmcnt OF the case out OF the courts:
he really had not expected to be called
u
the masters court before the whole
case would be settled under the pro-
posed compromise known to be pend
ing.
Whit the Figures Show.
In the examination of Secretary
Brown. of tho State Corporation Com
mission, to-day the questions were
lengthy and complicated involving the
receipts. gross and net earnings and
other figures from the annual reports
of the Southern to the commission
from 1901 to 1907.
The general trend was with a view
to proving that from 1901 to 1907 the
reports OF the railroads to the COM
mission show steady increase In earn
inss until they get to 1907, when the
report shows such marked differ
cnce in decrease OF net earnings as TO
make this year an exception to all
previous years. both in the increase of
operating expenses and decrease In
earnings. Secretary Browns testimony
tended to show that the increases IN
the coal account for the year ending
juno 30. 1907, was about $1,00O.O0O
more than 1t should have been. allow
ing reasonable increase for the adj
dttional business for the year, as COM
pared with 1906 over 1905. He also
submitted figures which the State con-
tends show that the Southern charged
up to operating expenses for 1867 about
sc.000.000 for equipment, the life OF
which Is about twenty years, SO that
this lump sum should by no means
have been all dumped in the 1907 ex-
pense account.
Takes Up Whole Day.
The hearing before Standing Master
Montgomery continued until o'clock,
when recess was taken to 1880 Friday
morning, the whole day being devoted
10 the examination of HenrysC. Brown,
secretary of the North Carolina Cor
poration Commission.
His examination will require at least
another day and then the cross-exami-
nation by Southern Railway Counsel
Thorn. 1t is significant fact that
Chairman c. G. McChord, OF the Ken
lucky Railroad Commission, who was
here as an expert witness for the
State. has returned to Kentucky with.
out going on the stand. Many who are
watching closely the progress of the
rate litigation are more than ever con-
WINGED that the State authorities arc
seriously considering the matter OF
acting on the proposition of the South
ern for compromise of the whole
matter, the Legislature to be called in.
extraordinary session to ratify the
compromise.
In fact. they take the position that
the further hearings in the case now
under way are merely for the counsel
for the State to get in as much as
possible Of the States evidence in re-
buttal Of the Southern's evidence given
In Washington and New York. so the.
status of the States case will show
up as strongly as possible when the
Legislature is called to act on the pro-
posed compromise, which, 1t is under
stood. will involve a little higher rate
and regulations as to mileage books,
the ultimate purpose being to bring
about very much the same passenger
regulations in this and several other
of the Southern States, including Geor-
gia and Alabama.
PRETTY WELDON WEDDING.