The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-17
slatins to the details of the Canadian

.S.esas " sse ~sss VI e3o SohsNsess
 Commenting on one of these letters. Captain Falkner said:
 Down to date, the Louisville and Nash vile has never charged the Alabama Press Association one cent whatever for transportation"
 Another letter from MT. Rountree to Captain Falkner contained lists of per- sons who had applied to go on tho trip. An answer from Captain Falkner was read in which Mir. Rountree's attention was called to the irregularity of Mir. Rountree's lists. In this letter. Captain Falkner told Mir. Rountree that he had discussed these abuses with Mir Roun- tree, and he would thank him to relievs him of the burden of choosing who should l.go on the trip. This letter also statef that application for passes should pe made to Captain Falkner direct from the newspapers.
 Threw it on Committee. Replying to this letter, Mir. Rountre,
 wrote Captain Fa1lxner that the Executive Committee had passed on the lists and they were correct. He cited the names of 6 number of persons on the lists whom, he said, were bona nde. He ap- peaied to Captain Falkner not to adhere to his plan of allowing but three persons l to each paper, as many papers wanted to. and had the right, to send four persons. Captain Falkner also presented let- | ter from MT. Rountree announcing that he had received passes for the entire par ty over the Evansville Road. for the names contained on his original lists | furnished Captain Falkner. June 27 Captain Falkner wrote MT. Rountree that the Louisville and Nash- vile Railroad would not issue passes OK. lcept to three bona fide newspaper men and women. but since the matter had gone as | far as 1t had he would assume the au- | thority subject to approval of the company | to issue passes according to lists furnish ed by Mr. Rountree, but in no case would passes be issued to more than four per- sons to each newspaper. He said the Grand Trunk Railroad and the Evansville
 route had agreed to issue passes accord | ing to the lists furnished by him. | These letters, Captain Falkner said, were presented to the committee to show how careful he had ben to ascertain 1T | the applicants for transportation were bona fide newspaper men.
 Then Captain Falkner produced list of the members of the Association sup- piled him by Mir. Rountree on his Gap tain Falkner's) request. Several letters relating to individual persons were hled
 with the committee by Captain Falkner. Offered to Pay up. Coming down to the return from Cana da of the so-called press excursionists Captain Falkner submitted the letter of
 Mir. Rountree containing his remarkable proposition to have Alabama newspapers
 pay the Louisville and Nashville Railroad I in advertising if Captain Falkner thought a fraud had been committed. This fet-
 ter and the answer of Captain Falkner
 indignantly declinin gto accept the propo-
 sition, have been published by The Adver- | tiser.
 Captain Falkner then read a letter to
 Mir. Rountree on July Si. In closing this letter Captain Falkner wrote: | "I have made no charges of criminal
 character against anybody. I have said,
 and say now, that I think in view of the
 many courtesies extended to the Press
 Association by the Louisville and Nash
 ville Railroad Company. through me. for
 many years past that we were shame
 fully treated on this occasion.' Captain Falkner then introduced
 check signed by Thomas Purvis of Brew
 ton for ssO payable to J. A. Rountree. for
 transportation on the trip.
 In concluding his testimony Captain
 Falkner said that Mir. Rountree had at- tempted to fix the blame on him. He
 cared very little for the statement, but
 merely desired to refute 1t. | Chairman Doster asked President Yerby
 of the Association if any meeting of the
 executive committee was held relative to
 the press trip according to the statement
 of MT. Rountree. Mir. Yerby replied that
 no meeting had been held. | Captain Falkner asked Mir. Rountree
 how many persons went on the trip who | had no passes. Mir. Rountree replied
 that he could not say as the persons came
 with the passes in their hands.
 How did you come into possession of
 these passes?" Captain Falkner asked MT. Rountree.
 "1t has been customory to do that" re-
 piled Mfr. Rountree.
 "It has been customary to do 1t that
 way all of these yearsT' asked Captain
 Falkner. "when have been complaining
 to you about these abuses. I have no | further nuestions."
 The audience laughed outright and the
 committee then at 1:40 o'clock recessed
 until 2:45 o'clock.