The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-18
NORTH CAROLINA
SCORES ON[, BUT
SOUTHERN LAUGHS
Montgomery Orde rs
Books Produced, and
100000 Vouchers
Come, Too.
Counsel for State Stag
gers Against a Life
long Job.

The Southern railway had a laugh
coming today.
And the laugh came.
II was all because Standing Master
Montgomery, appointed by Judge Pritch-
ard TO take evidence in the Southern
railway matter in North Carolina.
granted the dearest wish OF the attor-
neys for North Carolina and ordered
the southern's officials to produce the
books AID papers showing the operating
expenses of the road IN North Carolina
When the hearing. which had been
adjourned from September II, convened
this morning IN the Southern's offices,
Mr.. Woodward, representing North Car
DINA, announced with a note Of tri-
Umph in his tones that ne would Ike 70
have the books and documents produced
showing the operating expenses Of the
Southern's lines. leased lines, and other
wise operated lines in the State of
North Carolina for the fiscal years OF
1906 and 1907.
well, wen have TO seek larger quar-
tiers" said Comptroller Plant, Of the
Southern.
"Oh. we'll see; Wen see" replied Mr..
Woodward, evidently IN fine feather.
Orders in All Vouchers.
Mr. Plant set his militant jaw hl4lly.
Vnd called TO his subordinate to produce
all the records, books. vouchers, and
other papers as asked for by the States
counsel. Then he turned TO the State
counsel and remarked calmly:
There viii be about 1900 vouchers
a month, making about 290.O 600 vouchers
nr md f7e
books and papers"
Then began a curious scene. Into the
small room on the NTH floor of tn,
southern's building trooped boys and
half-grOwn young men. each weighted
down with boxes, containing wha
turned out 10 be but a small proportion
Of those go, 600 vouchers. Solemnly anC
Ceaselessly, the pilgrimage Of the vouch
ers proceeded. They apparently, came
from every floor on the building, ant
from other buildings. They were plleC
on tables, chairs and the floor. Eaci
little box bore cabalistic sign intelu
gible 10 the roads officials but Xix
Greek to the States attorneys.
Finally, Mr.. Bryant, of counsel To-
the state, asked that one of the records
these being books containing the col
lccted information of the vouchers, b
brought in. 1t was done II turned on
to be a book OF about 2 feet wide ant
1l5 feet tall. It's expansive pages Dor
figures in red ink that looked like
wilderness of meaningless mathematics
Little Joke of Mr.. Plant.
Nr. woodward and Mr.. Bryant looked
at it in despair and turned the page
in disgust Mr. Plant staggered. Gen
eral Counsel Thorn. OF the Southern
smiled broadly. Then Mr.. woodward
asked Mr.. Plant to explain what tina
awful array of figures meant. Mr.
Plant tried TO do so.
Meanwhile the pilgrimage of TIT
vouchers went on. Steadily and re
lentlessly those vouchers poured in.
Charlie remarked Mr.. Plant as h
lighted another cigar, keep that Wagon
all day Well need It,"
1t was then that Mr. Woodward re
marked that he and Mr.. Bryant. Nj
Justice being absent today, would spent
the remainder of the day looking
through tie books, and finding on
what they meant. Something in hi
tone indica ted he knew the size OF tn
task he was mapping ont
There fell a silence. broken only b
the tramp, tramp Of the willing worker
carting in the vouchers.
This. gentlemen remarked Nh
Plant, in the tone In which one praise
2 good comic opera, sis q big railroad
It's vouchers are many
Some one remarked that the State vii
tomorrow have two expert accountant
on hand TO dive into the books and sc
what they mean
We'll they'll need EN-. and need 'er
bad, was the parting shot Of an irrev
erent wag.