The Corporation Commission of the
State, it is now stated, will not as has
been generally understood, establish
a flat two-cent passenger rate over all
Virginia. The business of the railroads
and the profits accruing therefrom will,
if the advices are correct, govern the
commission in arriving at its conclu?
sions. For instance a road doing a
heavy business and paying a reasona?
ble dividend upon its legitimate stock
may be required to cut its passenger
rates to 2 cents, while some smaller
roads, operating under difiiculties may
be allowed to charge 2* cents a mile
or even 3 cents in extreme cases. The
Commission, in other words, will not
make unjust demands upon the rail?
roads, which ia right, but will not per?
mit them, as it is their duty, to make
burdensome charges when they can
afford to give reasonable rates.
Argument in the case of Brickhouse,
a colored man, against county elec?
tion officials is being heard in the
United States Circuit Court at Rich?
mond this week. He wants $5,000 for
not being permited to exercise the
right of suffrage some yeare ago to
which he was not entitled. Hon.
John S. Wise represents Brickhouse
and doubtless would like to continue
to do so, "as long as the hat is passed
around for him." He knows though
as well as everyone else doe.s. that
ms client has no case and cannot win
fri the fight. The validity of the new
Constitution of Virginia, which went
into effect July 10th, 1902, is being
attacked by him in his effort to sus?
tain the claim of the negro.
