The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-09-10
Sprung q Genuine Surprise.
(Rv the Associated Press.)

10y the Associated fIeSS.t
Washington, d. c., Sept speak
er Justice, of h North Carolina
House of Representatives, leading
counsel for the State of North Caro-
lima in the southern Railway rate
hearing case now going on here,
sprung a decided SUI prise on the
railway officials today at the hearing
before Judge Montgomery, the mas
ter in chancery, in demanding that
the Southern Railway Company's
books be produced in order that GER
tain points along which Comptroller
Plant had testified, might be Verified
by an expert accountant in the pres
ence of 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 a subterfuge,
was concealing the amount Of sala-
ries paid to the owcers of the COM
pany. Mr.. Plant declared that he
would allow no to go into
ms office and make a drag-net inves-
LEGATION of his books. Judge Mont
gomery ruled that counsel for North
Carolina could see any entries made
on Mr.. Plant books verified in the
presence of the master and Mr.. Plant
himself, but hat the books could not
be opened for public inspection.
These developments were brought
- as IhC icSQIl VI d question MT.
Justice put to Mr.. Plant as to Wheth-
er the officers of the Southern Railway
Company n of some Of the lines in
winch the southern owns stock were
receiving salaries from such lines.
Mr. Plant testified that on the Mo-
bile and Ohio, the capital stock OF
which is owned by the 1.-THE
Railway officials, some Southern Off
Gals did receive salaries from that
road, but on a lumber of other lines
In which h Southern was interested
ana whose officials also were officials
OF those lines, they did not receive
any salaries from such roads.
Concealment of Facts.
1t was then thai MI. Justice de-
clared his object was to prove tina
the Southern Railway COMPANY by a
suoterfuge was c~oncealing the
paid to he officers of the
company. Counsel Thorn of the
Southern Railway, with considerable
feeling, resented what he regarded
as Mr.. Justices assumption. He de-
clared that it was utterly without
foundation, was offensive and that
1t could not be justified in legal ethics.
Mr.. Justice replied that Mr.. Thom's
gua was unethical and offensive.
put Mr.. Thom declared that he used
the language he did because Mr.. Jus
tees language was to him exceed
ingly offensive. IF Col. Andrews and
Mr.. Finley, by the vote Of the stock
holders of the Southern Railway
Company in other roads, or bv he
influence of the Southern in other
roads, are paid salaries BY them"
Mr.. Justice declared, then the South
ern in consideration Of thai fact gets
h 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 onlv question involved was
whether or not there were any nm
due expenditures made by the south
ern out of its treasury in respect to
It's operation. He declared that the
southern might be the owner of half
OF the continent and might be roll
ing in wealth from it's outside in
vestments and still that would have
nothing to do with the justice Of its
rates.
Mr.. Justice reiterated his demand
Tor the production of Mr.. Plants
books and that his testimony be veri-
ned. o this suggestion Mr.. Plant
replled warmly that he would not
pelnllI an expert accountant or any
one else selected by any one to go
INTO ms once and make a dras-net
but that he Uo,5Id he
wiling to go through his records and
SUBMIT details in respect thereto to
any quesuon Mr.. Justice had pro-
ppulloeq IN relation to the facts to
which he had testified. Judge Mont
gonnefy settled the disputed question
by declaring that Mr.. Plants test
s1ons eould be verified in the pres
this point a recess was taken
Green on Freight Rates
Al the conclusion of ComptroI1ar
Plants testimony, l.. H. Green for
seven years general freight trae5a
manager OF the Southern RAILWAY.
took the stand. In response to a o,,a
ton from Counsel Thorn, he testified
that the freight rates in North Co.
DINA were not unreasonably high:
first, because they were made nv fbe
North Carolina Railroad Commission
second, because they had been re-
duced materially BY the commission
from time to time; third, because the
Continued N Page Three.)