Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-05
PRESIDENT OF [. & n.
MUST ANSWER QUESTIONS
court Holds That I. G. c. Has Right
I" Information Bearing. on po-
1itiCal Contributions
ROAD EXpEcTED TO Aprr,1
Decision Is That Gifts to Comn,;y,
FUNDS Affect Question of Rcnson.
nnIeness OF Rates and Important
Questions OF Railroad Accou,.;,,,,

WASHINGTON, October 4-,,i,,,
H. ""''h' president. and other officials
Oh the Louisville and Nashville Rail
road must answer Question. w
! pounded by the Interstate C.op,,nroa
commission regarding contributions. Nv,
| inc road t" political campaign fund.
justice stafford 'of the DISTRICT ot
Columbia Supreme Court. decided
day w.
The court held the commissio, ,,.
inc right to know about such con,rihu-
tions. not because of their noIitic,,
nature, but because they AFFECT n,,o.
lions of the rcasonahlencss of ratios ,na
important questions of railrond ,c-
counting.
The decision says. i'm part:
me conclusion of the court 10 that
When Il case is presented from which
II clearly appears that the informntion
sought may we'll he needed by the com
mission to enable ii To enforce III,
existing provisions OF the act in ra-
SDcct to tho duties which tho mi ~.
impose" upon carriers in the trans
action Of interstate commerce, and NOT
sincerely 10 INFORM tho mind of the COM
'hiSS'"n L" enable 1t to recommend
future legislation, Il question does
-
emitting the commission TO institute
an inquiry and examine witnesses and
consequently upon the refusal of the
witness to answer, 10 invoke tbc MIA
Of the court
1T is difficult to avoid the conclu-
sion that if the amendment of 1919 is
TO be given any force whatever !,
must II" considered as having en-
powered IN" commission To proceed bv
way Of investigation and the >rXamjrn
zion OF Witnesses with respect to such
matters not because they world IN
volvc political activities of the carrier
but bcoaus" they involve the cxpendi
turc of It's funds ana affect the ones
non al III" rcasonablcncss OF rates. and
AIS" involve IT'S method of accounting
under which by means of false sys
tom ii would he possible to keep the
commission in ignorance of importan,
elements in the problem with which il
has 10 deal"
Mr. Smith refused several months
a@o l" answer questions Of Joseph w.
Folk, counsel for the commission, in
an inquiry into the affairs of the
louisville and Nashville, and Nashville.
chattanooga ana st. Louis Railroads.
based upon Senate resolution intro
dnccd By Senator Luke Lea. \ series |
OF such questions dealing with alleged
political contributions was submitted
approved by Chairman Meyer. of the /
commission. and unanswered by Mr.. ,
Smith on the advice OF counsel
Rccours" to the courts was had by
the commission TO compel testimony. /
and both th. commission aud the |
Louisville and Nashville presented
briefs and argued the merits orally.
For the commission ii was con-
tended that il was Il matter vital TO I.
proper enforcement of the law TO rc:u- !
late commerce that il have authority to |
obtain full! Information regarding "A !
carriers expenditures. The railroad !
denied the existence OF such broad au-
th"rity. said the commission obviously |,
was not concerned in Il carriers politi- !
cal activity, and asserted that the in |
vcStiGati"n was inspired 10y political !
reasons. !!