The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-09-10
UJSTICE DEMANDS A
LOOK AT THE BOOKS
And Forthwith There is a Stir in the Camp OF
Railroad Officials and Lawyers
Z PEEP PERMITTED

4 PEEP PERMITTED
The Charge Tint the Southern
Was C~onccaling the Facts as to
Big Salaries paid to Officials Of
IN. Southern Railway General
CounsaI Thorn Loses His EquiIib-
rum and Talks Naughty TO Coun-
So, for the Statc-Mr. Plant OBJ
serves With some Warmth That
Tic VIII Not Permit a Drag-net Ex-
animation of His Book-The
Standing Master Rules That An
inspection May BE Made Privately
for the Purpose OF Testing the Tes-
timony Of the Auditor-General
Manager Green say That Freight
Rates In North Carolina Are Fair.
Declares That Railroads Cannot
Borrow Money to Make Improve
ments.
By THOMAS j. PENCE.
Washington, D. G., Sept There
we're lively doing today at the hear
ing in the North Carolina rate case
before Standing Master Montgomery
The States attorneys threw ginger
into the rather dull proceedings when
ihev made a demand that they be
permitted to take a look at the books
Of the Southern railway.
General Counsel Thorn of the rail-
road c~onlbatted the move made by the
state. and ask ed that any examination
Of the books be limited to a verlflca-
ton of statements made in the direct
testimony of Auditor Plant of the
Southern. The latter declared on the
witness stand that he would not con-
sent to q drag net" investigation OF
the company's books.
Standing Master Montgomery indi-
Gated very clearly that he would not
permit a general examination of the
books, and that the examination would
nave to be confined to matters testified
10 by Mr.. Plant.
The States attorneys think the ex-
animation should be wider IN scope,
and they will make a formal motion
for the production Of the books Tor
Inspection by the States attorneys.
TIE demand for a look at the books
arose over a request for the names of
,caI attorneys employed in North
Carolina. Prior to that Mr.. Justice
ma Mr.. Thorn had a clash, with re-
.oe"t to the salaries Of the Southern's
officers.
The Fun Begins.
The fun began when Speaker JUS
lice cndeavored to find out whether
Roosevelt Danville and Western,
Northern Alabama and Mobile ana
Ohio railways, all subsidiary branches
of the Southern, contribute to the
IalaTics Of the executive officials OF
the Southern railway Mr.. Justice
developed the fact that President Fin
ley, Vice-President Andrews, Auditor
Plant and Henry w. Miller, of the
Eouthern each hold executive offices
on these sub-controlled lines.
MIR. Plant said that some of these
lines paid the officers and some did
not.
MI. Thom said the questions of the
States attorneys We're irrelevant, and
that the witness was competent only
to testify to the salaries paid by the
southern.
a Mere Subterfuge.
Mr.. Justice insisted that the wit
ness name the salaries paid the off,
GERS of the subsidiary lines, who also
happen to be Southern Railway Off
Gals.
Mr.. Plant said he could not do so,
nr1 4I1 - - a-+ Al~%
he failed to see how the question was
relevant unless it related to moneys
paid out of the treasury Of the South
err Railway.
My position" said MI. Justice, adj
dressing the standing master in de-
fense of his line of questions, sis that
these salaries paid the officers of the
Southern by the sub-controlled lines
are a mere subterfuge for covering up
the total eXorbitant salaries they re-
ceive. A I wish to do is to get at
the facts"
I resent the language of the States
attorney as offensive" retorted Mr..
cannot be justified in legal ethics"
THE facts are all I DESIRE" OBJ
served Mr.. Justice. land they will
speak as to the propriety of my Nues-
ions. / cannot be deferred from
conducting this cross examination as
L uSSIil proper Dy any lecture as to
my ethical duty or the part of the
Southern's counsel"
This hearing ought not to be used
for a fishing expedition outside the
ease" was the reply Mr.. Thorn made.
THE assumption is a g~ratuitous
one" was Mr.. Justices comment.
Mr.. Woodard argued that it was
eminent!Y proper for the State to
ascertain whether the officers of the
Southern get large salaries from the
sub-llnes for services they have to
perform as officers of the system"
Mr.. Thorn again referred to the
Language used by Mr.. Justice, which
he said was very offensive. Mr.. Jus
tice stated thai there was nothing
Offensive in what he had said. The
States attorney said he had merely
expressed q urpos to prove that
there had been a subterfuge in this
matter. and that he had made no de-
nunciation of anything as intimated
by counsel.
Gould Not See the Point.
The standing master stated that he
DID not see what large salaFies had to
90 with the matter. Mr.. Justice re-
plled that if the operating
Of these small subsidiary lines should
De increased by exorbitant salaries