The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-29
.PRENT|S AGREES
WITH GOVERNOR. /:
AllAre Moving Concert,
Chairman Of Com
mission Says.
TIME OF ACTION
is NOT DECIDED
State Officers Will Act on Adj
vice Of Counsel, and There
Nill.Be No Secrets, Judge
Dcclares-Much Dis
cussion Of Cover
nor's Interview.

Ii Z
nor's Interview,
Throughout the city yesterday the
chief topic of conversation among
business men and citizens generally
was the outspoken statement Of Gov
crnor Swanson concerning his attitude
in the passenger rate matter. The Gov
ernor's fiery denunciation OF the ac-
tion Of the Federal court in the mat
ter and his declaration in favor OF ig-
uoring the restraining order OF Judge
Prtchard aroused much comment and
many opinions were expressed one way
and another.
Attorney General Anderson and Hon.
Allen Caperton Braxton, counsel for
the State In the rate cases, declined
yesterday to discuss the interview OF
Governor Swanson. Judge Prentis. of
the Corporation Commission. however,
was more outspoken. The other mem
bers of the commission, who are out
OF the city, could not be reached. Over
the long-distance telephone from Suf-
folk last night Judge Prentis said in
effect to representative OF the Times
Dispatch:
.F"I have read the Governors in-
teryiew, and I quite agree with
him. The Governor, the counsel and
the commission arc acting In con-
cert nnd harmony for the best In
terests OF the State, and they will
scc TINT Its rights arc protected.
They, are not unmindful OF the 4
gravity of the situation. The pur-
pose OF the Governor, the commis-
sion and the counsel Is to get the
case to the United States Supreme
Court as quickly 8an possible. AS 6
to the precise way this Will be done
g- do not know Mt the moment, an 1T ~, i,
will depend upon great many $cir-
cllmstnnces. Counsel for the State
are giving the case nil their at
tention, and l am sure the people
Will believe thut the interests of
the State are safe In their hands.
There are no secrets about the mat
ter and hardly any reason for
thinking so. Certainly the COM
mission will be guided by the ad-
vice Of counsel. 1t would he gross
LiScourtesy not to do so. There ix q
no disagreement on any of the main
auesuonx,& and, az T have said, the N
case will go to the Supreme Court
& Mt the enrlicst possible time"
Being absent from the city and not
having consulted counsel since the
conference in Richmond on Saturday,
Judge Prentis was not prepared to
say whether immediate publication OF
Would Not Discuss It.f
Commissioner Stuart was at his
country home yesterday, and tele-
gram to him from The Times Dispatch
asking for an expression OF opinion
Z be delivered. Commissioner Willard
is still in New England. Governor
Swanson said last night that he had
nothing TO add to what had been pub
lished from him. Mr.. BraXton and
Attorney General Anderson did not feel
called upon to discuss the utterances
OF the executive
AS explained by the Governor, there
Is now no two-cent law in Virginia
which he can enforce. To make the
ruling of the commission effective. as
required by the Constitution. formal
and official notice had to be printed
cnce week for four consecutive
weeks in newspaper OF general cir
culation In the city OF Richmond. This
notice, signed by Mr.. Richard 4. VIII
son, secretary of the commission, was
prepared and published for two weeks
In The Times-Dlspatch, when the
newspapers and the commission were
restrained by Judge Prltchard from
further proceedings. Consequently.
the Wilson notice was not printed
thereafter. and SO far as that goes. 1t
has been wiped out. Should the COM
mission decide to disobey the Prltch-
ard Injunction. the move which Gov.
ernor Swanson favors, another notice
would have to be published for four
weeks, at the expiration of which time
the two-cent rate would go into effect.
Failure them by the railroads to COM
ply would give Governor Swanson full.
opportunity to see it enforced "and to
do this" he says. "I shall exercise all
the powers possessed by me as Gov.
ernor."
Wants Action ut Once.
All along It has been evident that
the attorneys were prepared to protect
the rights Of the Commonwealth by
having the United States Supreme
Court rule on Judge Pritchard's In
Junction, hut just when they would
act was not made known. 1t has been
their intention from the first, however.
to present the case on habeas corpus
writ in october, and it has been
shown, moreover, that the State could
proceed In September as we'll as in
July. From the tone of his state
ment It was plain that Governor Swan
son wanted the commission to so ahead
with the publication OF the order, thus
ignoring the Injunction. and 1t re-
mains to be seen whether his sug-
sestlon will be followed Immediate
ly. IT 1t is, and IL Judge Pritchard
Ia still disposed to insist upon COM
pliance with his Injunction, Mr.. Will
son. the commissions clerk may be ar
rested. Moreover, II ono newspaper
continues to publish the two-cent no.
tfce for the specified time. Governor
Swanson can then regard the new
rate effective and proceed as he thinks
best. AT all events however, the Su-
pre,ne Court Will not hear the case
before October.
Contention of State.
It is the contention OF the State