The age-herald., 1901-07-15

fully on those main points so there can be no misunderstanding
 2 Please advise us date in full and also your record of power to enforce orders, ' and state what reason you have to think railroads will obey your orders, If you should give any, regarding railroad de- lays at points of destination.
 g. Will you not re-read papers and ac- knowledge your error and that 1t is a petition filed for relief regarding railroad delaying our freight and merchandise af- ter reaching destination, and not a com plaint, and that the complaint Is against the railroad commission themselves for failure to answer business questions which are of great and serious business importance to us?
 f. Will you please kindly bear in mind that 1t Is quite deal of trouble and ex- pense for committee of business men Ito leave their business and bring attorneys and pay railroad fare and hotel bills with out we can get some answers satisfactory on our file from you?
 D. Is it not unreasonable for you to sug- gest our appearing if you fail to answer our letters and questions, which are of serious importance to us? So our associa- ton can consider them, take prompt ac- tion. Yours very respectfully, I'll SHIPPERS AND BUYERS MUTUAL
 AID ASSOCIATION.
 Office of the Railroad Commission,
 Montgomery, Ala, July 5, 1901. The Shippers and Buyers Mutual Aid
 Association. Birmingham, Ala.
 Gentlemen:-Your letter of July re- ceived and noted. Replying thereto will say:
 First-If the question of jurisdiction is raised on next Wednesday, the 10th of July, before the commission, we will pass upon it then. Your own sense of pro- priety should suggest to you that no per son acting in a quasi-judicial capacity should decide any question in advance of hearing.
 Second-You have filed a complaint or petition" as you may term it, against the Alabama Car Service Association and you hereby appeal to our jurisdic- ton to relieve you in what you conceive to be a wrong.
 Third-I was not aware that your com- plaint was against the Railroad Com missioners themselves, because in It's face you appeal to us in a petition to remedy what you claim to be wrong done you by the railroads. This com mission is ready at any time to answer, courteously and promptly, any question pertaining to its powers and duties, but when any individual, or any corporation or association seeks to obtain In advance of a hearing, an opinion favorable or unfavorable, upon any question coming before us, we must respectfully decline to give it.
 Fourth-As to the matter of expense to you. we will hear this case promptly and have no unnecessary delay and thus save all expense possible
 Fifth-It strikes us as being singular that you should file a complaint here, and then after we have given due notice to all the railroads concerned to appear here to answer said complaint that you should at this time question the very authority that you yourselves invoke.
 Your letter to Governor Jelks com- plained that you could not get a hearing before this commission and the very minute your complaint reached us the commission took steps to give you a hearing and we hope that you will follow up the complaint by being here July 10.
 This commission has great respect for your association and is more than will ing to remedy any wrong done you.
 Having answered all of your communi- cations promptly and having answered every question which the proprieties of the occasion will admit of I trust this will be satisfactory. Yours very truly,
 JOHN V. SMITH, President.