The courier-index., 1917-08-17
THE FEDERAL COURT
 SUSTAINS RAILROADS
GRANTS INJUNCTION RESTRAIN ING COMMISSION FROM IN-
 TERFERING WITH R. R.

On Saturday of last week Federal Judge Youmans at Fort Smith grant ed a restraining order to the Missouri Pacific railroad company against the Arkansas railroad commission, for bidding the commission to interfere with the railroad in it's determina- tion to annul trains Nos. BOA and 307, running from Helena to Knoble. The railroad announced several weeks ago it would take off the passenger trains in Arkansas in order that men and equipment might be available for transportation of troops. The Arkan- sas railroad commission, upon the fill ing of protests by representative citi-. zens of Helena and other points, is- sued an order prohibiting the railroad from carrying out it's purpose to take off the train on the Helena and Kno- ble run. At the hearing before the commission it is stated the railroad attorney failed to produce any evil dence to show the immediate needs of the government demanded this action on the part of the railroad. The officials of the road immediately took the matter to the federal court with the result that the order of the commission was Overruled. On Sun day the Helena and Knobel trains made their last runs. Marianne now has but one passenger train each ta south from here at 9:20 a. m., and north at 6:25 D. m. Passengers de- string to go north in the morning can leave here at seven o'clock on the local freight. This train reaches For rest City in ample time to enable pas sengers to make connections east and west with the Rock Island trains. The local leaves Forrest City at $50 and arrives at Wynne at 10:15, in time to make connections with Mis- souri Pacific trains east and west. The local leaves Wynne at 12:3c on the return trip and reaches Mari anna at 3:15 D. m. The service on the Marianna Cutoff is not affected by the change in schedules.
 Chairman Thos. E. Wood of the Arkansas railroad commission, in a personal letter to the editor of the Courier-Index, has the following to say with reference to the action of the federal court in overruling the commission:
 q suppose you saw where Judge Youmans issued the restraining order preventing the commission from inter- fering with the removal of trains BOA and BOT. From the decision of the Judge and his assignment of reason for the faith that he held I am sure that he accepted as absolute truth the allegation of the railroad relative to the needs by the government for the use of cars in the transportation Of troops and munitions of war. lnas- much as the petition for an interlocu- tory injunction would have to be heard before the same judge, sitting with two others, I believe it best to get from under right now by rescind- ing the order. This would enable the commission to at least retain jurisdiction of the trains to be as- serted, if necessary, after the war. It is possible that if the case goes on to a permanent injunction, the rail- road might endeavor to keep the trains off even after the war.
 sT regret the inconvenience that will be caused the people of Mari anna, but I am sure under the cir cumstances, all will realize that Fed eral Court has tied the hands of the Commission"
 AA MNnMnM