Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
IN THE OLD DOMINION
STATE OFFICIALS VIEWS ON RATE
CASE DECISION.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

publication touching the recent decision of
Judge Jeter c. Pritchard of the United
States circuit court of appeals in the pas
senger rate case. While they are not given
to talking for publication it Is not going
too far to say that the officials referred to
are unanimous in their belief that Judge
Pritchard has fallen into error in his prem
Use of the case and that he will be reversed
when the case goes to the Supreme Court
Of the United States, which 1t will certainly
do. Gov. Swanson Is known to be firm
believer in the right Of the state to regu-
late corporation within the state holding
that the great principle Of state rights Is
involved. That he will ask the general as
sembly to make provision Tor a continuance
of the struggle by making an appropriation
for the employment of additional counsel
to assist the attorney general and also to
employ experts to take the figures submit
ted by the railroads and analyZe them and
to present the same figures showing that
the railroads are not being conf1scated by
the state.
"One effect of the decision said law
yer of this city, will be to increase the
number of people who believe that the gov
eminent should own and operate the ROADS.
The action of the federal courts In this
matter Is all the argument that the advo-
Gates Of the movement desire. for they Will
say that the railroads are too powerful for
any one state to cope with, and that the
government will have to step in and take
a hand. Also, when there Is a suit against
one of the railroads 1t Is barely possible
that counsel opposing the roads will make
some reference to the action of the roads In
resorting to technicalities to defeat the or
der of the corporation commission, and with
that in the minds of the jury there Is no
telling just how much latitude the jury
will take and proceed to assess damages 1t
is hard time ahead for me railroads.
IF the contention of Judge Pritchard Is
t1,n nryic 10 Irn vxytl1 q va ~
fix rates. If that is done in Virginia it is
an easy guess to see that drastic regula
tons are Iii store for the transportation
companies. for the rural members are gen
orally inclined to pass 1t up to corpora
tons in general when they get to making
laws"
And the people of the state are known to
favor carrying on the contest, and to that
end they will approve the action of the
governor should he recommend to the gen.
eral assembly the expenditure of half
million dollars to press the matter for
final decision and Il Is known that Gov.
Swanson Is not the man to retreat after
little skirmish-when the state has scored
one victory and the railroads one. Things
are at stand-off. and the arraying of tai
emf and capital to begin the Anal struggle
will be watched with interest
The railroads are still giving rebates to
passengers for cash fares, and the federal
court has required bond Of each OF the
roads in order to protect the travelling
public in case of an adverse decision. In
Issuing the injunction against the corpora
ton commission Judge Pritchard included
the newspapers of the city. prohibiting the
press from printing the order of the COM
mission an advertisement.
After Ofhcious Policemen.
Gen. Cecil C. Vaughan. jr.. commanding
the state troops, has forwarded to Gov.
Swanson the report Of Judge Advocate
Thomas w. Shelton. who conducted an in
tiuo{ Of fha h1
men at Pine Beach Of members Of the
Alexandra company during, the recent en-
campment. The soldiers were subjected to
many indignities at the hands Of the po-
licemen. That a riot was averted Is the
wonder of those who are cogniZant Of the
facts Gen. Vaughan. in forwarding the
report to the governor. indorsas the find
ings and says that the soldiers. including
the officers. acted with courage and dis
cipline when faced with the coarse and
insulting language employed by the po-
licemen," and he commends them for their
conduct.
He urges that some steps be taken to
compel respect for the uniform Of the state
militia. and If that is not done to pro-
vide that the men wearing the uniform
| shall not be subjected to insult and In
dignity by petty officials of the counties
Gov. Swanson did not hesitate to act In
the matter writing letter to Judge W.
Richard c. Marshall. attorney for the state
in Norfolk county. demanding hat an in
vestigation of the "reprehensible conduct
of the officers be made. and that If the
facts shall justify, to him 1t seems
clear. he asks that they be removed from
Office and punished for their acts.
Richmond Light Infantry Blues. the old
est military organization in the state. Is
arranging to have an encampment of six
weeks near this city. The reason for this
Is that the men did not have chance to
camp at jamestown, and they have been
away much of late that they cannot af-
ford to make another trip. To get the
benefit of the camp life and experience
they propose to erect their tents near the
park in the west end OF the city and to
rema :, in camp for six weeks The men
are to report at camp each day after they
have finished their labors in the city. and
are to spend the night in the tents. Drills
the intention-to build pavilion for dane
ing three nights in the week. and the pa
yilion will be used for drills in case the
weather is rough.
Endorsed Senator Daniel.
The defeat of Senator A. F.. Thomas Of
Lynchburg for the senate is received here
with expressions of approval-not thai
Senator Thomas is not a popular nan and
one of influence and strength, but he boldly
proclaimed when he announced his cam
didacy that he was opposed to the return
of Senator John w. Daniel to the United
States Senate In that way the senior sena-
tor from Virginia was made an issue in the
campaign. and while the fight was of
the fiercest kind. it was conducted without
any show of feeling.
Senator Thomas is an admirer of William
Jennings Bryan and his government owner
ship of railroads idea. and he arraigned
Senator Daniel for criticising the speech of
Bryan on his return to America after his
trip abroad. Don p Halsey. who won the
nomination. is a former senator for the
district which he will again represent. hav-
ing held that position some six years ago
He is nephew Of Senator Daniel. and Is
noted as a speaker and advocate.
Interest here attached to the contest in
Lynchburg because Senator Daniel will
have to be reelected by the senators chosen
this fall. and had he been handicapped by
the opposition of the senator from his own
district it is believed that he would have
had some trouble in being chosen to sue
coed himself. especially in view of the fact
that the belief is growing that the state
primary will not be party law which re-
uuires the nomination Of such officers by
the democratic voters.
Notes.
The old . armviile and Powhatan rail-
road now the Tidewater and Western
bought three years ago by bondholders, has
again changed hands. being sold to Col
Edward DeVeau Morrell of Philadelphia
The road Is about 100 mics in LENGTH Nv