Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-08-02
III. l.. LANG,
Optometr1st,
Staunton, Va.
WASHINGTON LETTER.

| WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Special Correspondent)
| Washington, ID. G.. July 29.-Tht
political event of the week has been
the legal fight in North Carolina by
1.-The railroads against the state law re-
ducing passenger rates to q cents
mile. The railroads evaded the law by
charging the former full rates, but at
tached coupon to the tickets which
promised to repay the overcharge if
the courts decided against it on the
ground of unconstitutionality. Judge
Pritchard of the United States Circuit
Court has decided that the state law,
under which the railroad employee had
been imprisoned oy the state court,
was unconstitutional and void and the
prisoners were discharged under habeas
corpus proceedings. The case has been
appealed by the state authorities and
will go to the U. 8. Supreme Court for
| final decision. In bis decision Judge
Pritchard declared that:
| ANY attempt at punishment under
the statute of the State, any attempt
to punish the company or it's agents
| for the observance of the order and de-
| cree of this court, would be in utter
disregard of the comfy which should
exist between the State and Federal
courts. as we'll as an absolute nulllty."
The state court has also fined the
Southern railroad $4,000 and execu-
| ton has been ordered issued and no
doubt will be resisted. This the ques'
ton of State Rights and Home Rule is
made the chief question and must be
decided before the real issue of wheth'
er the rate reduction ls reasonable or
confiscatory can be settled. 1t is to
be noted that Judge Pritchard is late
appointee of President Roosevelt and
was notOriously favorable to the rail-
roads before he was appointed and
from his actions would appear to be
still of that mind. This would indi-
cate that President Roosevelt although
desiring to appear as q railroad regu-
Iator is actually opposed to the states
protecting their citizens from unrea-
sOnable railroad rates. or he would not
have appointed a friend of the rail-
roads to the important position OF a
Judge. This matter may take on even
more Importance for other arrests for
overcharges in other parts of the state
are certain to follow and Gov. Glenn
is said to be determined to uphold the
rights of the state with all the force
at bis command.
The pot hunting federal office-holders
here are gleefully inquiring of Demo-
Gratis how they stand on government
ownership of railroads now Mr.. Bryan
has relegated that issue to the rear as
a paramount one. The Republicans
are haunting the Democrats with the
declaration that if Mr.. Bryan is nomi-
mated they will see that government
ownerhip is thoroughly discussed up
on the stump in all the close states and
districts and that the Democrats will
have to defend it or backwater. But
our Republican friends should not get
too gay, for issues are born. not made.
While many Democrats much regret
that Mr.. Bryan was led to make gov.
eminent ownership prominent they
feel that tariff protection to the trusts
and the cur bing of predatory corpora
tiOns and Home Rule through the re-
served rights of the states, will far
outshadow other and lesser issues.
Jesse r. Grant, of New York, has
adopted novel course in politics. He
is touring the country to discover
whether he has any chance of receiv
ing the Democratic nomination for the
Presidency. Mr.. Grant Is little known
to the people of the country, and
thinks it pr udent to let them find out
something about him before he con-
cludes whether he will ask support
or not. He has some strong
friends in the Democratic party, and
would, no doubt, draw many votes
| from the old friend element among the
Repu blicans, if he were nominated
He favors revision of the tariff and
further regulation of corporations.
Unlike his illustrations father, Mr..
| Grant has always voted the Democrat
| ic ticket.
The position of the administration
| is, according to the Washington cOrre-
spondent of the New York Evening
| Post, severely criticised by the foreign
embassies in Washington. This au-
thority says:
| 1.-The embassies do not believe that
| the President has any warlike intent
in dispatching great fleet of BATTLE
ships to the Pacific, but they do be-
lleve that he is engaged in the un-
worthy occupation of employing in
ternational paWns in domestic politics.
His motive for playing this dangerous
game they believe to lie in lurking
desire on his part to continue himself
in office, and make imperative his
nomination by the Republicans for a
third term "
The new idea of controlling the rail
roads by buying up a flew shares OF
their stock, is like joining band OF
robbers, and participating in their
business. 1t would be. indeed, ian
honorable sort of thievery." Besides,
it would certainly furnish an immu-
nifty bath for every company in which
the government was interested. When.
, ever the government participates in
the acts of corporations, it ceases to
be in position to prosecute them fol
their crimes. Perhaps, that is just
what ia aimed at.
If the object be, however, to acquire
], a pecuniary interest in the property
i and assets of corporations, as a fOun
, dalton for demanding receiverships
the scheme is a paltry subterfuge un
worthy of any government. 1t is tn,
. duty of government to punish crimes
not to compound with felOns. VIVA
is needed is the enforcement of exist
I ing laws, the filming and imprlsoning o
J railroad and trust managers who vic
late existing laws. Newfangled nos
. trums, and legal quackery are no
, wanted.