Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-01-03
From Washington.
rConesoo udencs Of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, d. O., January 3.

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The passing of the Seabosrd Air Line
Railroad into the hands of receivers can
not fail 10 have its effect, 30 The rail-
roads believe, upon the judgment OF the
members Of the Supreme Court OF the
Uojted States, who are even now con-
sideriDg the alleged con6scatory nature
Of recent railroad legislation In various
States. According TO the railroad
Lawyers. the troubles of the Seaboard
are tracesble directly to wha. they term
lie unfriendly and unreasonable attitude
# southern State legislatures. 60
far. formal attacks have been made
in the highest court of the land sgsinst
The laws of Minnesota, North Carolina
spd Nebraska. In a few days will DC
fled a suit to test the Virginia Law.
Practically the same points are involved
in all the cases. The Minnesota csse
arose over the attempt 10 free tbe States
attorney general, Edward I. Young, by
bsbeas corpus proceedings, from his
sentence for contempt OF the federal
court, in that he did not obey
temporary injunction, which sought
70 restrain him from enforcing the
new freight rates, fixed by statute.
He began suit in State court 10 enforce
the law and the federal judge held him
TO be ia contempt, 6ning him $500.
The North Carolina case under coDsld-
Grafton presents different aspect, in
that au agent of the Southern Railway
was arrested for violating the statute
which fixed the maximum passenger
rate. said 10 be con6scatoty. As the
federal court had already issued an in
junction against the State officials, WAC
arrested the agent to restrain them tenn
porarily from enforcing the law, 1ne
agent, James Wood, was released. From
This an appeal vas taken to the Supreme
Court. As 10 the Minnesota case, much
is said about the jurisdiction of the feders
courts. 10 Nebraska, the State officials
did not wait for the railroad officials to gel
the first move, but entered suit 10 the
Supreme Court of the State for writ
10 compel the railroads to obey the law,
fixing msximum freight aud passenger
rates. But 8 federal judge took the
case away from the State court, and no"
the Nebraska officials are asking the
Supreme Court of the United States to
make the federal judges hand 1t back.
In the Virginia case, the federal court,
Judge Pritchard, who sat la The North
Carolina case, held that the two cent
passenger rate order YVES conhscatory,
and issued O permanent Injunction
Against its enforceusu, This, the State
vii contest before lbe sgprsme Court.
Rear Admiral Albert Ross Tss placed
on the retired lie. Of ths nagy tOday for
age. his refinement iesulllDg IN the
promotion OF Csp.. Willian Swift. Ad-
nirsl Ross will continue temporarily
on duty as commsndan; Of the Naval
Training Station for the Great Lakes at
Cbicfgo, and AdMirai Swift will
continue IS conn a1daut OF The Boston
navy yard.
Secretary Taft is expected to declare
himself on nearly al the important ques-
tions of the day within the next lew
weeks. he has made engagements 70
speak at four different places: January
10, at Cooper Union, New York. Jan
uary IA, before the Ohio Society, Of
Philadelphis; January q, before the
Tippscanoe Club, of Cleveland, and on
Fearusry II before the Lincoln Club, of
Grand Rapids, Mich. Ia visiting New
York and Pennsylvania, he will invade
the territory Of Governor Hughes and
Senator Knox, other prominent Presi-
Dental aspirants. January 9, the date
of his appearance In Cleveland, is the
anniversary Of the late President Nc
Kialey's birth.
President Roosevelt shook hands to-
day with Benjamin MGnster, a young
man who is walking from New York 10
San Francisco in so days. "Tve done
good deal of walking in my day." ssid
the President "but never walked from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, or ecross the
desert. l hope you succeed"
Fire 10 a store room on the supply
ship Arethuss, is the latest accident to
the Atlantic feet to be reported to the
Navy Department. The FIRE occurred
on January 2, while The vessel was st
Para, 10 advance of The battle feet, and
will delay her three dsys. The damages
we're slight.
December was tie record breaking
month for excavation on the Panama
canal, according to the dispatches re-
ceived from the chief engineer by the
Washington Office of the commission TO-
day. The total excavation for the month
was 1900. 539 cubic yards, compared
with l 1913, 436 in November and !, $685.
729 in October.
Fraud orders we're issued today by
the Pc ,toffi,s Department against the
Homeseekers Cooperative elimination
Company, of Hot Springs, Ark, cor
porstion to make drawings on lands for
a new town; Millisou, in Texas, and
against the Rock Island aud Pacific
Company, of st. Louis, operating g sim
liar scheme at Greenland, Ark.
Gen. John G. Meem died OF the STRAIT
ford Hotel yesterday and his remains
were taken to Lyuchburg for ioterment
this morning. Gen. Meem, who was
member Of StoDewoll Jackson's staff
during the civil war, and one Of the fore
most civil engineers in the country, had
been i'll for some time. he formerly
lived 10 Shenandoah county, Va.
JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION CRED
ITORS.
ALI parties in the jamestown Exposi-
ton receivership litigation were yesler-
day summoned to answer motion be-
fore limited States District Judge Wad-