Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-18
State Officials Will Continue Fight
For Two Cent Rate.
RAILROADS MADE NO oVERTuRES
Believed Railroad Attorneys Purpose
Beginning Over Again Fight
Aeains! Passenger Fare Reduction
MAY Enter Plea Of Poverty.

terablc opposition to "abJect Surreh
der may be described as today $
attitude of the state Officials in IN"
two-cent rate matter.
Ii now tranSpircS that the railroad
lawyers. at their conference with the
corporation commission and attor-
nev general yesterday. made no def
ni;e overtures looking towards a COM
promise OF the pending litigation,
though it is no longer a secret that
the TRANSPORTATION companies are Sc
riouSlv embarrassed by the preSt mt
situation and far from feeling that
they have the whip hand in the night.
There is every reason to believe
from the things said and don" yes
terday that the attorneys for the raft
roads now purpose instituting new
proceedings and beginning the whole
fight de nOvO before The corporation
commission.
Appeal to Equity.
Such a contest, it should be eX-
planned. would be an appeal to the
equity of that tribunal and would be
ba Sed on present conditions.
BY present conditions is the last
year or so. as affected by the twncent
rate now temporarily in effect
If such new proceedings are instl-
tuted and the decision of the com
mission is adverse to the railroads.
then. according to the recent decision
of the United States Supreme Court.
they can appeal to the Supreme Court
of Virginia and from that tribunal
to the Federal courts.
Wouldn't Be Compromise.
Such move on the part of tn"
railroads could hardly be classified
las a compromise. if any opposition
from the state officials. for b" it re-
membered, that during all the period
covered by such a fight. the present
twOcent rate would continue.
This much is certain for an agree
ment between the state and railroad
representatives SO prescribes
Some doubt seems to exist in GER
tain quarters as to what would be-
come of the present case If proceed
ings de novO were instituted before
the corporation commission. The
question is asked: Would this mean
q complete abandonment CT the pend
ing litigation and a willingness on
The part of the railroads TO stake
their chances OF victory On the fu-
ture decision Of the commission? TIL"
answer varies according to the views
OF the persons to whom the gu, stion
is put. The general belief. however.
is that il would be easy enough 10
get rid of the present case. This
query. however. involves a maze OF
technicalities
Roads Would Plead Injury.
II the railroads actually DO reap
pear before the corporation commits
sion. they. Of course. will essay 10
prove that the two-cent rate has caus-
ed them heavy losses end tha- bust
ness within the last year or so has
been wretchedly poor This depres
SION. in short will be the basis OF
their plea for equity
1t may. however. prove difficllt Tor
them to explain the recent rise in
the price of railroad stOcks-a thing
that would hardly be expected if Fl
aancier; were in such despairine
condition about the profits OF trans
pcrtation companies.
The old suit in the rate cases
that just decided b. the Unit d States
, Supreme Court-did not attempt &C
| decide the case upon its merits. b1'
| simply touched points of law and
Jurisdiction. proceeding de move
is liable to /" far broader in lis
scope
; Unnamed Official Talks.
| One state official-a lawyer ny pro
| lesson and a man who has been pref
ny we'll schOoled in political economy
said Yesterday afternoon: you
newspaper people keep saving that
the states representatives are willing
TO come 10 terms on the two and
| half cent basis. Well. for my part.
must admit that 7 haven't heard am
Of them say as much And for my
part. I'm In favor Of fighting ont this
hing TO the end in The courts What:
the use of a sovereign body like ih'
state tsmporising and d. ferrinS al
issue which sooner or later must h'
settled in the courts? say fight i
OFT 10 the end Why let few ihou
sand dollars hold US back? II ;h'
two-cent rate he declared confiSCI
tory. why then let us try another hg
Ure. and IL that. in turn. meet III
same fate lets tackl" ;h" 6ubj"c
again In another way.