Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-31
IN THE OLD DOMINION
TWo-CENT PASSENGER RATE A
TOPIC OF INTEREST.
Special. Correspondence Of The Star.

Special. Correspondence Of The Star.
RICHMOND. Va, March 80, 1907
The railroads have submitted the question
of two-cent passenger rate to the corpora
ton commission without any argument.
The commission has been hearing evidence
for several months, all the railroads op-
posing the notice of the commission that
1t would hear evidence to show why the
two-cent fiat rate for passenger traffic
should not apply in Virginia All the rail-
roads in the state were on hand when the
time came for arguing the question, and
Hill Carter, for the Richmond Fredericks-
burg and Potomac railroad. arose and said
that he was authorized, on behalf Of all
the companies in the state to say that the
case would be submitted without any argu-
ment whatever. The announcement came
as surprise for it was expected that at
least month would be consumed in argu-
ing the case The attorney general of the
state acQuiesced in the suggestion. Allen
Caperton Braxton of this city, representing
the T. P. A., said that he would also agree
that no argument should be made, and thus
the case practically ended. The commits
sion, however, fixed Wednesday next as the
date for filing any additional data on the
question of rates.
The impression prevails in the state that
the commission will order the enforcement
of the rates on all lines in the state. Then
1t is expected that the counsel for the rail-
roads will carry the case ito the federal
courts. decision by the commission is
expected to come down by June l Of this
year.
Validate Unwritten Law.
Many of the foremost lawyers of the
state are discussing the question of having
the general assembly enact what is gen.
orally referred to as "the unwritten law"
in certain cases. One of the lawyers in
the celebrated Strother case first made the
suggestion several weeks ago. and Senator
Lewis H. Machen of Alexandria has come
out and openly advocated such an enact
ment. Mr.. Machen thinks that the sane
tity of the jury system, which is jeopardiZed
by jurors when a certain class of cases are
being tried, will be Safeguarded. The idea
is to permit juries to be the sole judges of
the cause for the application of the law.
The suggestion Is being Endorsed in many
sections of the state, and Senator Machen
Will introduce bill to effect the decided
change.
Gov. Swanson has informed The Star
correspondent that on the occasion of the
visit of President Roosevelt to the James,
town exposition June 10-Geergia day-the
corps of cadets from the Virginia Military
Institute will be in attendance and will act
as a special escort to the President Gov.
Swanson will be on hand and will entertain
the President al the Virginia building. The
governor of Georgia and the bulk of the
militia from that state will be in attend
dhCe vi llldl udy, dCCOTulIlS " lHo
best information obtainable the crowd will
be record breaker for the exposition.
Prison Report.
The report of the state penitentary, sub
mitted to the governor a few days ago. |
shows that some 600 convicts were received
during the fiscal year. the vast majority |
being negroes. Single men predominated |
among the criminal class, more than two
thirds being unmarried. About 80 per cent |
were absolutely illiterate, while 25S of the |
negroes can read and write. More than |
one-half Of the convicts say they are total |
abstinence men. and ten confess that they |
are inebriates. The net earnings of the prs- |
on last year reached s45, 900 90, the largest in
the history of the penitentiary. One preach |
er was sentenced to serve a term. while |
there Is not a lawyer. a doctor, a barkeeper |
or an actor In the entire 600. OF the con-
victs, $50 are citizens of the United States. |
two-thirds are native Virginians and four |
are foreigners. The causes for imprison- |
ment embrace about every crime known.
There are thirty-five life prisoners in the |
walls, one of whom has been in the peni- |
tertiary for more than forty years and is
now about seventy-five years old He Is a |
white man from this city, a thief and Is |
allowed the freedom of the place. working |
when he feels like it and resting as long
as he pleases. There are two colored wom- |
en- in for life-one for a third conviction
for larceny and the other committed from |
death sentence. The rest are colored men, |
mostly third-term men. The value of the |
penitentiary property owned by the state |
Is close to three-quarters Of million dol |
lars
More than twenty years ago Rev. Hall
and wife, aged people living in the lower |
end Of the county of Henrico were murder
ously assaulted The officers arrested David |
Anderson, negro, and he was convicted |
and sentenced to the penitentiary for a |
term OF twenty years. His counsel found |
a flaw in the trial and the man was finally |
released. Anderson was fatally injured
Thursday by a falling tree and while he |
lay on his deathbed he confessed that he |
was the man who committed the assault |
and that the object was robbery. But for
the escape of little grandchild of the aged |
couple, who went nearly a mile at midnight |
to summon help, the neighbors responding |
to her calls, the man would have murdered
the old people.
Museum Project for Lawyers Blocked.
For several years the American Bar AS
ISOLATION has been figuring on buying
the old John Marshall home in this CITY, to |
be used as sort Of museum for members |
of the legal profession throughout the |
country. The idea was to fit the place up
with paintings, books etchings, all sorts of
relics and souvenirs of the great chief JUS
tice and to have the place open at all times |
But the contamination of the scheme has
been blocked by. the city, for it has pur-
chased the home and will use it in connec- |
ton with the new high school which is be-
ing Dullt on the ADJOINING iOt Inc price
paid for the Marshall home was about 49,
600. The old brick house, built after plans
drawn by John Marshall. still stands and
is in an excellent state of preservation.
The decision of Judge r. Carter Scott of
Henrico circuit court is that dog stealing in
Virginia cannot be made felony, regard
less of the value which may be placed on
the animal by the owner. he contends that
the statutes applicable were enacted prior
to the new constitution and are valid.
Six circuit court judges are to be elected
by the general assembly which Is to con-
vene here the first Wednesday in January,
1908. Under the new constitution the terms
of one-fourth of judges of the circuits of
the state expire each Two years. Those who
Will have to be elected at the next session
Judge Walter A. Watson Of the four
teenth circuit; Judge John M. White of
the eighth circuit Greene, Madison and
Alternately: Judge T. r. B. Wright of the
twelfth circuit (Richmond, Westmoreland,