The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-30
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS
 SHOULD BE APPOINTED

the owner of the large bale received the
 small bale and the owner of the small
 bale received the large bale This was
 his reason why every bale of cotton ship
 ped in Alabama should be weighed as i stated
 have known persons with petty griev- 1 ances. without taking proper steps to
 have them rectihed. and who thought
 over and nursed their wrongs until they 1 allowed themselves to be prejudced
 against railroads and all other corpora
 tions. do not consider railroad mana
 gers and employees perfect by any means
 they make mistakes as other people,
 and some of them. for the good of the
 railroads and the public, should be en-
 gagged in some other business. Sometimes
 the ticket agent in village assumes the
 air of large ownership. and some sub
 ordinate officials readily take on the au-
 thority and dignity of the president 1 These short comings should be attributed 1 to the weakness of human nature. II should be remembered that discourtesies 1 of employees and errors committed by railroad men seldom become known to the management It is only just to the 1 mana gers of railroads that the parties who have these grievances should bring l them to their attention; besides, 1t is as difficult for railroad companies at all times to find efficient and satisfactory 1 employees as In other lines of business. l Their business has enlarged and extend- ed but the supply of competent men has not increased In proportion.
 l One very important question to be con- sidered. is whether or not the railroad 1 companies will consider the election of 1 commissioners by the people so menacing 1 to their interests as to constrain them to take an active part in politics. Rail- I road companies have large influence na- | turally, and large number of employees,
 rffta would likely lead to their taking an ac- l tive part in other political questions 1 do not believe that railroad companies in 1 this state. up to this time, have ever
 made any organized effort to bring about any particular legislation in their inter est through their attorneys or authorized agents they have attempted to prevent
 the enactment of laws that they believed
 damaging to their properties. This Is 1 perfectly legitimate, and individuals, communities and other corporations feel l at liberty to do the same. With my l knowledge of and acquaintance with the l railroad managers in this state, l do not i believe they desire to enter Into politi- cal scramble and, therefore, believe It all the more important that no steps should be taken leading them to adopt such a policy. I believe as l have said, that the governor and the senate, are thoroughly capable of selecting the most
 
 and the legislature Is without limit in its power to enact laws enabling the com mission to be effective and to properly guard the interests of the people. Those who have the appointing power can be 1 held strictly responsible for selecting 1 competent and suitable men.
 It Is well known to many that those
 persons in the state who have been most 1 dissatisfied with the present methods of adjusting differences with the railroad l companies, have desired nothing better l than to have railroad commission pro- 1 vided and operated as exists under the 1 laws of the state of Georgia It Is well 1 known that the Georgia commissioners | are appointed by the governor, and | believe are considered today the ablest | board of commissioners in the south. They appear to give entire satisfaction
 to the people, and I think reasonable | satisfaction to the railroad companies. The same is the case In Virginia. The | convention in that state. which recently | adjourned and remained in session far | longer than any other state convention has ever done. discussed this question in all its phases and left the power of | appointment in the hands of the gov | ernor.
 Reference has been made as to the com
 missioners in this state being paid by the | railroad companies. It Is true that the | railroad companies are assessed priv | slege tax, which probably in the aggre- gate amounts to the salaries of the rail- | read commissioners, and the expenses of l their office, but this money goes Into the
 state treasury revenue as from any
 other source and is not applied direct ly to the payment of the commissioners. | who draw their salaries from the state | treasury The school teacher or any of l ficial of the state. is as likely to receive
 the railroad money as the commissioners.
 l am satisfied that this assessment of the
 railroad companies has no effect what
 ever upon thu action of the commission
 CTS. It would be ridiculous to think so.
 It has been conceded by all the legis-
 lature, which is to convene next winter,
 will have grave and important questions
 to consider and that there is a demand l for the best and most conservative men
 who can be induced to accept the position
 of legislator. Many provisions of the new
 constitution will have to be put Into
 force and effect by law hence the need I of wise and experienced men. Can 1t be possible, then, under such circumstances | that any Of our citizens should think that 1 the voting for the election of railroad l commissioners by the people should be
 tho chief qualification of a legislator.
 Are they willing to choose the men who l simply promise to vote for a bill pro viding for election of commissioners by l the people in preference to candidates who are qualified to consided all kind of l important questions, but prefer to att 1 txnd the legislature with their hands un- 1 tied, or believe 1t Is best for the people | that the commissioners should not be 1 elected
 I wish 1t cles-i7 understood that have not written this communication to cham pion the railroad interest but have talk
 en this position in the interest of the peo-
 pie, as well as ths railroad companies
 believing that enc cannot prosper with
 out the other believe, therefore how
 ever sincere the business men who have
 organized in the interests of electing the
 commissioners by the people may be,
 they are making a mistake. I have pre-
 sented this question in this way so as
 to cause thinking people to consider 1t
 without passion or prejudice. l believe
 1t Is useless to undertake to pass any law
 that will please everybody but we cer- | tainiy desire to have laws that will bring | the greatest good to the greatest num-
 her. l nave no personal interest to serve
 in this matter. have been in the past, | in the active management of railroad prop l erty, which enables me to better see both | sides of the question. My interests lie ! as a patron of the railroad companies, as 1 owner of farm lands, merchant and l shipper of manufactured d products. It has 1 Teen suggested that the iron people In this district have held before them the | fear of the rates on iron and coal being 1 advanced if other rates should be re- | duced I do not think that the iron and | cOe1 neopla entertain any such fears