The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-09-15

point a committee to represent US be-
fore the court"
"Why don't you put that in the
form Of motion?" asked Governor
James Hawley of Idaho.
"I move, Mr.. Chairman" was the
reply, of the Alamaba governor,
that this conference appoint a COM
mittee Of five governors to take such
action as may be necessary before
the United States supreme court to
see that the rights Of the states are
properly protected"
Opposition was encountered from
several delegates on the groMnd that
the expenses of the committee could
not, legally, be paid pro rata by the
states, and Governor Stubbs. OF Kan
sas, moved the appointment Of IL COM
m'ttee Of three, who could employ
their own states attorneys to draft
such papers as might be necessary.
Under his motion, the committee was
appointed by this conference to rep
resent the governors conference in
this case, and to file briefs with the
supreme court as q protest against
Justice Sanborn's decision"
Governor Hadley of Missouri, sug-
gested that Governor Harmon Of
Ohio, be appointed chairman Of the
committee. Governor Stubbs embodi-
ed the suggestion in his motion and
included Governors Hadley and AID
rich as the two other members.
Governor Gilchrist Of Florida, who
at first opposed, later supported the
amendment, as substituted, but urged
that the gentlemen sleep on the ques-
tion over night" called attention to
the fact that the hour for adjourn
ment had arrived. His voice was
drowned by cries for the motion and
when quiet was restored, Governor
Shafroth Of Colorado, urged that the
action of the conference be made
unanimous.
Suppose, governor" asked Cover
nor Gilchrist, that the supreme court
had already made up its mind. would
your committee go up and bulldoze 1t
into changing its opinion?'
The reply was last in the laughter
that followed.
Hoke Smith, governor of Georgia,
supported the motion.
"1f the decision of Justice Sanborn
becomes the law of this country" he
said, then the twilight scene will be
SO broaded that we will never see
daylight again in the regulation of
passenger and freight, rates. Once
the question is decided this way. the
states railroad commissions will be
emasculated and then we will return
to that condition where the interstate
commerce commission will have no
/ control Of interstate rates. and the
carriers can do exactly as they
please"
Governor McGovern of Wisconsin,
supporting the motion, urged post
ponement upon the plea Of Governor
Gilchrist, but the latter announced
that he supported the sub-measure
Governor Kitchin then said that he
wanted no postponement, and, while
favoring the principle, would oppose
the motion because he thought that
the action was beyond the confer.
ence's scope. The vote showed that
he was alone in the negative.
The twenty-five states whose gov.
ernors voted for the motion are:
Alabama. Colorado, Florida, Georgia
Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, Massachu.
sets, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana
Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jer.
sey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island. Utah
Virginia, Washington, West Virginia
Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Il have no idea as yet how we will
present the matter to the supreme
court" Governor Harmon said after
the session. Il have yet to talk over
the subject with other members OF
the committee. l suppose we will
call meeting and map out line to
pursue"