The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-27
Speeches Made FaVOriRg EIsc-
ton of R. R, Commissioners
RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED
Say That for Twenty Years People of
Alabama Have Waited In Vain
for Relief From Railroad
Commissioners.

The members of the local post Of the
T. P. A. were entertained last night by
business men who are interested in the
passage of a law making the railroad
commissioners elective by the people. The
affair was given in the Tomlinson Hall,
on First avenue, and consisted of a
smoker and luncheon.
About seyenty-flve were present, includ-
ing Capt. Frank S. White, B. B. Conner,
IL. II. sinnige, j. H. Mccary, Sibley
King, f. L. Bivings, s. w. Lee, r. E..
| Collins, James A. Daugherty, o. p. Cant,
Hughes q. Kennedy and others. Speeches
were made by several of the men inter-
ested In the movement, including Frank
S. White, B. B. Conner. H. II. Sinnige, j.
r. Glover, James A. Daugherty o. p.
Cant J. II. McCary and others. Before
the luncheon was served the following
resolutions were passed:
Resolutions Adopted.
"Resolved. That it is the sense of the
meeting that a railroad commission
should be elected by the people and paid
by the state for the following reasons:
"First-They are the servants Of the
people and the people should be allow
ed to select their servants.
''Seoond-Tney are created by law to
prevent railroads from depressing the
people. The people should be permitted
to select those who are to stand between
them and opprC ssion.
"Third-A commission elected by the
people will reduce freight rates, and
thereby reduce the cost of living and
increase the value Of the products of la
Dor and make the farmer and laborer
prosperous.
''Fourth-The railroads want high
freight rates-they oppose an elective
commission and they fear such cominis-
sion will reduce rates.
"Fifth-The people elect justices of the
supreme court and all other state and
county officers-why not allow them to
elect railroad commissioners?
"Sixth-Railroads have the power by
the imposition of freight rates to tax
everything the people produce and con-
sumo; they should be permitted to elect
a commission to stand between them and
the railroads TO prevent exhorbitant tax
alton.
Need Fair Rate.
"seventh-The farmers merchants and
manufacturers of Alabama can only be
prosperous when they have a fair freight
rate. commission elected by the people
'Eighth-It has been openly charged in
the press and not denied by the railroads
that local freieh mt rates in Alabama are
from DO to 100 per cent higher than they
are in Georgia-Georgia has a railroad
commission friendly to the people-the
people of Alabama, if allowed to vote di-
rectly would elect commission friendly
to their interests and local freight rates
wculd be equalized with those OF Geor-
gia.
'Ninth-For twenty years the people Of
| Alabama have waited in vain on railroad
commissions appointed by governors and
paid by railroads to give them relief
against unjust freight rates-the people
want a change-the railroads do not. A
chsnge cannot hurt the people. See that
candidates for the legislature are pledged
to exert themselves to give the people
tho right to elect railroad commissioners
and have them paid by the state before
you vote for them in the primary"
Appeal to the Press.
Resolved, further, That the press Of
the state be requested to publish the
proceedings of this meeting, including
the above resolution"
On motion of b. b. Conner the follow
ing resolution was adopted by a stand
ing vote:
Resolved, That the press of the city
is requested to endorse the movement
inaugusated looking to the election of
members of the legislature favorable to
the passage of a law making the rail-
road commissioners of this state elective
by the people and paid by the state and
favoring the enactment of laws giving
the railroad commissioners power TO es-
tablish and maintain reasonable and just
freight rates, and. further, that the
press be requested to aid the people or
Alabama in this movement"