Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-07-23
Especial to The Daily prcss.J

RICHMOND. VA. July 2g.-Not
n single word would the Cover.
nor, tho Corporation Commission
ers or Attorney General Andcr.
son say about the result of the con.
Terence concerning The railroad rate
hsht, when the meeting adjourned
this afternoon at O'Clock.
Although tho officials named. ana
Allen Caporton Braxton. who has as,
sisted the State in her gigantic bat.
Tie, remained behind closed doors for
more than two hours, they were care.
iul 10 withhold reference 10 ANYTHING
mat occurred between them.
Governor Swanson referred report
ers TO Attorney General Anderson.
ana The latter firmly declined TO dis.
cnss me situation. or To Intimate in
me Vasuest way what the State OF
virginia contemplates doing.
Judge Prentis. the chairman OF the
commission. seemed particularly anx.
lous Tor the papers to abstain from
saying that sensational moves are
contemplated, and appeared to think
thnt they had made too much of mat.
tiers In the past.
When Attorney General Anderson
was asked whether the Old Dominion
was likely TO resort to tnctis analogous
10 those pursued by North Carolina
he cvaded the question by saying that
The North Carolina case was different
from Virglnia's.
Those who attended the conference
admitted that they had reach d de-
cision. but one ana all declared they
ala not think II proper to announce
what II was.
While the conference was going on
Inc officials in the Governors Office
saw the afternoon papers Announcing
the fact that United States Judge
Pritchard had declared that North
cardinals new rate bill was uncon.
Governor Wants Action.
Something stirring is pretty apt to
happen in this city shortly In con.
nection with Virsinia's fight for two.
cent passenger rates on the railroads.
ana while no one appears to know
exactly what form the contest viii
assume. all are awaiting with batcd
breath the result OF today's confer
ancc in The Governors Office.
As was explained Saturday. Gov
ernor Swanson Is anxious TO sec
done in This important
matter, and so he invited the At
orney General, Allen Caperion
'raxlon ana the members of the Cor
1oration Commission to meet with
him ut II o'clock this morning.
Ills idea is To evolve from this con
Pence some method of procedure.
Which will accelerate things. and
ivoid the long delay which will be n
necessary incident of the litigation II
hinss take their normal course.
In other words. Virginia In her
'attle to procure reduced passenger
'ates, Is likely to follow course
analogous to that now being pursued
~ North Carolina. though there will
'c many technical points of differ
nee
In the Tarheel State for instance.
{ was the Legislature which put the
'educed rates into effect--or attempt-
ID 10 do so-whilc in this Common
Ycalth the first steps were taken by
he Corporation Commission. after it
lad spent months hearing the an
wers OF the corporations and had
'iven them every opportunity to show
ausc against the proposed change
Fight Injunction.
The railroads of Virginia showed
stubbornness almost from
he beginning. They procured from .
ndge Pritchard Of the United States
,ircuit Court an interlocntory injunc-
ion forbiddng the commission to
nblish its order regarding he new
atcs. This order tied the hands of
he commission as cffcctually as If
had never existed. for the Virginia
provides that before any
iiange of rates can become opera
i've. notice of the change must be |
ublished once week for four weeks t
J some Richmond paper Of acknowl- 7
dyed circulation. c
The complicated litigation in the !
I'D North State has developed the ]
let that the Federal judges do not I
pnear 10 be Mt all certain of their d
round, and this. 1t Is believed. has a
ID the Virginia officials In fool that a