Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-19
CLASH OVER RATE LAW
EPIDEMIC OF INDICTMENTS
AGAINST RAILWAY AGENTS.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

RALEIGH. N c.. July 19.-special tele-
grams received here today by a local
newspaper give the information that an
epidemic of indictments has been started
all over the state against the Southern
here. Among the cases that will attract
attention is that of the agent at ASHORE
Con a branch line of the Southern.
State Solicitor Hammer indicted Agent
McLaurin Crawford for exacting in ex-
cess of legal rate between the towns Of
ASHORE and Randleman.
Solicitor Hammer has also indicted the
agents at Albemarle and at other places,
and will follow this course all through
his judicial district. he declared this
morning.
Trial of Agent Green Resumed.
The trial of Ticket Agent Green of the
Southern railway was resumed in the
state superior court this morning before
Judge Long. the prime mover in the In
d1ctments against agents of the railways
not obeyng the "a cent passenger rate
law. Argument of counsel is expected to
consume most of the day. General Coun-
sci Thorn of Washington making the
principal argument for the defense. Much
speculation and anxiety Is manifested In
what legal procedure will be adopted If
Green is convicted and he continues to
follow the advice of the Southern railway
attorneys, who constitute his counsel in
this case. and refuses to pay the fine or
give bond on appeal
OF course, the case will be appealed this
afternoon if conviction follows the judges
charge. and it Will go to the Supreme Court
of the United States. That conviction will
be the verdict reached Is the general ex-
pectation, the defense having offered no
evidence to rebut the testimony of the
state witnesses There are rumors current
that Judge Pritchard. who left Raleigh last
evening, returning to Ashevile left some
papers behind him that will yet cut a
figure in the Green case. and that Pritch-
ard. as circuit judge, may return to Ra-
leigh.
If the papers in question. which are said
to have been prepared yesterday while Cir
cult Court Judge Pritchard and District
Judge Purnell (whO resides here) were In
consultation. are served tonight or tomor-
row, after Green's trial is ended, Purnell
can hear the proceedings in the United
States district court here or in chambers.
But 1t is both possible and probable Judge
Prtchard will return In such case, there
would come the real and bloody clash be-
tween the state and federal courts that Is
causing much suppressed excitement.
At / o'clock counsel was still addressing
the jury In the case of the state against
the Southern railways ticket agent Green
in the state court here. Ex-Judge Avery
consumed most of the day for the defense
He will be followed by General Counsel
Thorn Of Washington and two Of the states
special attorneys-former Gov. Aycock and
Speaker Justice.
The whole of the afternoon session will
be consumed with these speeches and 1t Is
possible the Judge may not deliver his
charge till night. 1t Is therefore doubtful
what hour the jury will get the remarkable
case. possibly not till late tonight or to-
morrow
In speech to the jury this afternoon
counsel for the Southern railway ticket
agent Green asserted that Green didn't
which Indictment IS brought: that Green
was out of the city. srecifytng where and
the hour of return; that the defense proved
this by state witness. The ticket in
question cost only cents from Raleigh to
a village called Gary. in this county. Rail-
way counsel also argued that the new rate
law Is unconstitutional. The leading con-
tention for the unconstitutionality of the
law made after dinner by Lawyer
Thorn. general counsel for the Southern
Railway Company.
Gov Aycock. for the state. argued for
the entire constitutionality of the new law
and the state.
The business of a public or common car
rer," said Gov. Aycock, 1.-The state and ma
ton have a right to regulate-the nation to
Ak interstate rates. the state to fix intra-
state rates, and that is what the North
Carolina law does"
Proceeding. and referring to the argument
of uncOnstitutionality. because rate fixed in
law is confiscatory. Gov. Aycock said: 1.-The
remedy of the defense is in the state courts
and the Supreme Court of the United
States He declared the railways had
shown contempt for the law in this case
Western Rates Effective.
CHICAGO, July 19.-New interstate pas
senger rates between all points in Illinois
Iowa. Missouri Minnesota, Wisconsin and
North and South Dakota were made eff
fective at midnight last night. This re-
duces all interstate passenger rates to the
basis of cents a mile except in Wisconsin
and the Dakotas. where the rates are based
on 21e cents a mile. The law recently passed
in Wisconsin making the rate cents a
mile will become effective August 10, and
rates to points in that state then will be
further reduced