Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-08
SESSION WAS A SPIRITED ONE
Counsel for the Railroad and the
Lawyer for the State Indulge In
Heated Remarks On the Ethics of
the Professionalism Carolina Now
Has Lowest Rates In the South, 1t
is Claimed.
(Bv Associated Press.)


WASHINGTON. u. c.. Sept -
Speaker Justice. of the North Carroll
ma House of Representatives, leading
counsel for the state of North Caro-
lima in the Southern Railway rate
hearing case now going on here.
sprung decided surprise on the rail
way officials today ut the hearing he
fore Judge Montgomery. the master
In cnancery, In demanding that the
Southern Railway company's books
he pDduced in order that certain
points along which Comptroller Plant
had testified, might lc verified by an
expert accountant in the presence or
Mr.. Justice, Mr.. Plant and Judge
Montgomery.
Mr.. Justice stated that his object
in securing the books was to show
that the Southern Railway Company,
by subterfuge was conccaling the
amount of salalies paid 10 the Off
GERS of. the company
Mr.. Plant declared that he would
allow no accountant to go into his
office and make drag-net invostiga-
ton of his books. Judge Montgomery
ruled that counsel for North Carolina
could see any entries made on Mr.
Plants books verified in the presence
OF the master and Mr.. Plant himself,
but that the books could not be open
ed for public inspection.
These developments were brought
about rs the result of question Mr.
Justice put to Mr.. Plant as TO wheih-
er the officers of the Sonthom Rail-
way company and of some of the
lines in which the Southern owns
stock, were receiving salaries from
such lines.
Mr.. Plant testified that on the Mo-
bile e. Ohio. the capital stock OF
which is owned by the Southern Rail
way. ana whose principal officers are
Southern Railway officials. osme
Southern officials did receive salaries
from that road, but on numler OF
other lines in which the Southern
was interested and whose officials
also were officials of those lines,
they did not receive any salaries from
such roads.
Mr. Thorn Indignant.
IL was then that Mr.. Justice de-
clarcd his object was TO prove that
the Southern Railway Company by n
smbterfuge was conceaing the
amounts paid to the officers of that
company. Counsel Thorn of the
Southern Railway. with considerable
feeling resented what lie regarded as
Me Justices assumption. He declar-
ed that it was utterly without fonn-
dation. was offensiv and that il could
not be justified in legal ethics.
Mr.. Justice replied that Mr.. Thom-s
language was unethcal ana offensive.
hut Mr.. Thorn declared that he used
The language he did because Mr.. Jus.
tees language was to him exceeding
ly offensive.
IF Colonel Andrews and Mr. Fin
ley. by the vote of the stockholders
OF the Southern Railway Company in
The other roads or by the Influence
or the Southern in other roads are
paid salariesby them" Mi- Justice de-
clarcd. "then the Southern in consld-
clntion of that fact gets the services
OF these gentlemen at less than what
It otherwise would have to pay and
We are entitled to know it,"
To this Mr. Thorn objected. saying
that the only question involved was
whether or not thee were any undue
expenditures made by the Southern
out of its treasury in respect to its
oDerations. He declared that the
southern might lie the owner of half
the continent and might he tolling in
wealth from its outside investments
and still that il would have nothing
to do with the Justice of its rates
VIII Have Private Accounting.
Mr.. Justice reiterated his demand
for the production of Mr. Plants
hooks and that his testimony be VERT
fled. To- this suggestion Mr.. Plant
renlied warmly that he would not per
NIT an expert accountant or any one
else selected by anyone 10 30 into his
office and make dracnet investiga-
ton. but that he would be willing TO
go through his records and submit de
tails in respect thereto to any cues.
tion Mr.. Justice had proponnded in
relation to the facts to which he had
testified.
Judge Montgomery settled the dis
puted question by declaring that Mr..