Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-03
# The State Corporation Com.
mission Says Ihe W,rd He
Will Do Rest.
WHAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN Do
Can Change Certain Sections of the
State Constitution Bearing on Pas
senscr Rate Laws-Best to Meet Be-
fore October Term Of United States
Supreme Court.

RICHMOND, VA, August at i.
more than probable that special scs
sion of the Legislature will be called
TO consider certain difficulties now oh
structing tho putting into effect oi
crcsed b ythc State Corporation Com
mission.
In fact. Governor Swanson, as he
declared in an interview this morning
stands ready to call the General AS
sembly In special session ut any mo-
mcnt, upon the request of the mem
bcrs of the Commission.
Governor Swanson said today that
the calling of the Legislature togoth-
or to consider certain changes In the
section OF the state Constitution hear.
ing on passenger rate laws had been
under consideration for sometime. and
that If the Corporation Commission
would request him to call the special
session, he would do So
IL tho Legislature is called, 1t will
lie after thirty days notice, and be
fore the United States Supreme Court
meets In October
Tho natural inference from the
above Is that the necessary action will
have to be speedy in order To get the
Legislature in session and have il
amend the law In time To anticipate
the meeting of the United States Su.
prcme Court II Is highly probable
that upon the return of Judge Prem
It's. chairman of the Corporation Com.
mission, and Commissioner Joseph T..
will act upon the Governors suegcs.
ton and forward its request to the
Chief Executive.
Judge Premise is expected back car
ly next week.
Commissioner Stuart's Statement
Mr., Stuart. who is the only member
OF tho State Corporation Commission
now In the city. was seen this morn
ing, and in reply to the direct ques-
tion as to the attitude of the com,
| mission In tho matter of the proposed
call for an ezra session of the legsla
turc, stated that he felt disinclincd to
discuss the matter In the absence OF
his colleagues.
He did not hesitate however. to in
dlcatc his own view. that the present
status of the rate case Is far from
satisfactory, and that II might become
necessary in the States interest Ia
take some very positive action in or
der To clear away the technical diff
ficulties, which are now impeding and
ol'strnctng tire prompt ana orderly
exercise of the powers vested in tho
commission by the Constitution and
| laws of Virginia.
The tic-up referred To above in the
attempted enforcement of the com
missions twoccnt rate decree. results
from that clause of the Constitution
which nccessitates the publication of
the decree for four weeks prior To its
becoming II law. Judge Pritchard, of
the United States Circuit Court. re
Gently onjoincd the publication of the
decree. and MS the matter now stands
all legislation us to passenger rates
is ut dead standstill.
The Legislature. In special session
could change tho constitutional pro
vision in this especial particular, and
obviatc the necessity OF publication
could ut once make the twoccnt Law
effective. The power to make this
change Is given the Legislature in par
| agraph l.. Of section 156. Of tho State
Constitution. which says that all pro
visions in that portion of the Consti
tuition extending from paragraph A Ia
Il. can be amended by the General
Assombly-that is. at the rccommcn.