The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
GOVERNOR COMER
 IS WELL PLEASED Returns from Conference With
 the President IS SILENT ON RESULT ccnfers With State Attorney General and Other Counsel and Seems To
 Be Satisfied With the
 Situation.
IS SILENT ON RESULT

Though he will not tell what was said in his conversation with the President about
 the Alabama rate litigation and the in-
 functions of the federal court, Governor
 Conner is very much pleased with his
 visit to the White House last week.
 This leads to the conclusion that he
 received from MT. Roosevelt encourage
 ment to believe that the national head
 will not get in the way of the states
 working out its fight with the transporta-
 tion companies.
 After refusing to state specifically what
 the President had to say to him or he to
 the President, Governor Conner smiled and
 did say: "The President is fine fellow,
 and his wife is a great woman. They are
 both cordial and delightful hosts, and I
 enjoyed my lunch with them fully. The
 personality of the President Is that of a
 very charming fellow"
 Notwithstanding all this, it is well
 known here that the governor, who
 reached here from Washington at noon,
 is well satisfied with his trip to Washing
 ton, and his talk with the President.
 Shortly after he reached his office he
 held conference with the attorney gen.
 eral and the other lawyers for the state.
 and seemed we'll pleased with the outcome
 It Is not likely that the subject matter
 between the two executives will be made
 public except as 1t woroks out in actions
 taken. However, this much is known:
 Governor Conner went to Washington to
 see the President about the fight of the
 railroads against the state in the United
 States courts. He him, and aftei
 coming home is well pleased with the
 result of his trip. Further than that, one
 is left to surmise.
 Attends Convention. On Friday the governor lunched with the Alabama Congressmen and Senator
 Johnston.
 Governor Conner went to Washington specifically to attend the waterways con- vention, which lasted three days, Decem- Der 4-6. The convention was a big sue cess" said the governor. Renewed vigor was injected into the waterways move ment, and it gives promise of great re-
 suits"
 | While away the governor took flying l trip to New York, where he spent one | day Those large cities are still in the
 same place" jokingly remarked the gov | ornor. "It always gives me pleasure to
 visit great city. My entire trip, might say, was pleasant in every respect The governor was away from the state since last Tuesday night
 Steagall Vindicated.
 Solicitor Henry D. Steagall of the Third
 circuit, appeared before Judge Thomas G. Jones in the United States court to- day and made a statement that entirely relieved him of the charge that he had been discourteous to William Pulliam, a
 deputy marshal following which charge he was cited to appear and show cause why he should not be adjudged in con tempt of court Judge Jones acquitted him of any blame, and In statement said that the young officer was entirely free from any showing of contempt. The case grew out of the service upon him of papers from the federal court In the restraining orders granted on applica- | tion of certain railroads against the state | laws. It was charged by Deputy Pull | liam that MT. Steaga1l threatened to | have him arrested if he tried to serve | the papers. This MT Steag gall denies What he said to the deputy was in a spirit fo levity, and not intended to cast any discount either upon the pro- cesses or the court which issued them. When Solicitor Steagall and his at torneys. District Attorney Parsons and Marshal James Judlkins assembled in the court room of Judge Thomas G. Jones this morning there was nothing to indi cate that one of them was there to an swer a charge for which in the event he did not make satisfactory explana tion, he might be sent to term of i'm, | prisonment The entire party sat about | the office and talked as if they had 1 gathered to have friendly chat, which 1 indeed, it proved to be.
 Appeared With Attorneys. MT. Steagall was acc.-npanied by Presi- | dent Pro Tenn Perry Thomas of the sen | ate who lived at Eufaula Thomas D | Sanford of Troy, former solicitor of the | circuit court now served by MT. Steagall | Manly Foster, one of the district attor- i neys for the Louisville and Nashville | railroad and Assistant Attorney Genera | of the State Thomas l.. Martin. The government was represented by | District Attorney Erastus Parsons. Mar | shaI Judkins was present because one | of his men, William Pulliam, had made | the charge that the solicitor had moi | accorded him proper respect when he
 served the papers in the railroad injunc' | tion suits.
 MT steagall assured the judge that | he did not intend to overstep the bounds | of courtesy nor offer any sort of con- 1 tempt to the. deputy marshal. Judge | Jones was very much impressed witf l the statement of the young officer, and | after a short conference, the party broke | up that MT. Steagall might prepare aH | answer tOo be nled m the regular way
 This answer sets out in full the denial
 of the solicitor that he intended any | discourtesy.
 Order of the Court. Following is the order made by Judge l Jones:
 l United States vs. H. B. Steagall. | In discharging the rule nisi, Judge Jones l remarked from the bench:
 "It was eminenJlv proper that this mat ! ter be investigated. Exaggerated ac- | counts had gone out in the public press | of what transpired, which, uncontradicted l would create the erroneous impression | if the court had not takent notice of | the matter, that it's authority in these 1 matters, could be defied with impunity, | It was due to the respondent. also, that | opportunity be afforded him to have | judgment of the court as to. the facts | After considering the answer and hear | ing the deputy marshal and the respond 1 ent, the court can readily see how er- roneous conclusions could have been | drawn as to the nature of the remarks addressed to the deputy marshall. ''The court is thoroughly satisfied upon consideration of the whole matter thai | respondent never had any intention to be | even discourteous to the officer, mucf | less to commit any contempt of the au- | thority of the court. or to interfere with l the serving of process. and, therefore l takes pleasure in adjudging that the respondent stands fully acquitted. Ar order will accordingly be entered dis. charging the rule.'