The age-herald., 1899-09-02
COMMERCIAL CLUB ON RECORD
 AGAINST R. R. COMMISSION
Continued from Fifth Page.)


 was then introduced by MT. Chalifoux.
 MT. Beitman moved the adoption of the resolution MT. Steiner thought the mat ter an important one and as a substitute moved that it be referred to a special com mittee of five to report back at the next meeting.
 MT. Chalifoux explained that the matter had been thoroughly considered by the Freight and Transportation Bureau and the Board of Trade and had been adopted by both organizations.
 MT. Conner favored the resolution and stated that the present commission was a reflection upon the integrity of the state. He explained that he made no reflection upon the personnel of the commission, but that under the present law it was 8 farce and fraud upon it's face. He stated that at the present time a gigantic railroad trust was being formed in the state of Ala bama, and thought that something should be done to protect the interest of the peo- pie. He favored the Georgia law and stated that it had been adopted by many states and had even been carried across the waters as an intermediation between the people and railroads. He further stated that there never had been move ment to amend the law that had not met with opposition from the members of the commission themselves and he thought the people should take the matter in hand and demand reform.
 Rhodes Favored Resolution
 MT Rhodes also made a strong speech in favor of the resolution, in which he stated that the present commission was of no earthly use to the people, and, in his opin- ion, should be abolished. Instead of serv- ing the people the commissioners were ser wants of the railroads, who paid their sal aries. He favored a new law which would change this status of affairs and take the appointing power out of the hands of the governor.
 Mir. Rhodes related his personal exper- fence with the commission when as an in- vited guest about eight years ago, he ac- companied the commission on tour of in- spection of the Louisville and Nashville railroad north of Birmingham. on which oc- casion he stated, that only once on the trip did the members of the commission get out of their car and then only at the personal request OI OuperlnleHuenL 1NeW- bold, who asked them to inspect new station house which had just been com- pleted at one of the small stations along the line.
 MT. Tomlinson also spoke in favor of the resolution and explained that when the matter was first called to his attention two years ago by the merchants of the city he suggested the adoption of the Georgia law. MT. Beitman and others favored the res olution, which they thought would bring about beneficial change.
 Steiner Opposed It
 MT. Steiner thought that the club would make mistake in adopting the resolution. He explained that he was not thoroughly posted on the Georgia law and was there fore unprepared to vote on the question. There were other gentlemen, he said, who were in the same position, and he thought the matter sould be placed in the hands of a committee for thorough Investigation before any action was taken. In the course of his remarks lhe stated that nothing good had come from Georgia except water melons, and thought that the Georgia law should be subjected to close inspection, before it was placed on the statute books of Alabama.
 Conner Defended Georgia
 MT. Conner took exceptions to MT. Stein- CTS remarks about Georgia, and made an eloquent defense of his native state, which he said was recognized as the most pro- gressive of the southern states He pointed MT. Steiner to the early history of Ala bama, and in conclusion again expressed his approval of the Georgia railroad com mission law.
 A vote was taken on MT. Steiner's sub stitute, which was lost, and the original motion was carried. MT. Steiner asking that the negative vote be recorded
 The meeting then adjourned.