The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-06
Annual Statement SuSmitted' to Governor.
Reduction of Freight
 i Rates, Status of Mobile Depot ; and Other Transactions l During Past Year.

Tho Alabama Railroad Commission filed yesterday with the Governor its report upo, the work of the past twelve months. The year just ended has seen more
 changes in matters affecting the Commis-
 sion than anys year since the Commission
 was established. The Commission has beer made elective, it has been given in-
 creased powers and vigorous campaign has been waged before 1t for a general re- ductionr of" freight htsratcs' The powers of the Commission relative to the removal of depots has been defined by a decision of the Supreme Court to which fact the report calls attention, as well as to the marked improvement m the roadbedss of Alabama railroads. The Commission under the Mobile depot bill, is instructed to proceed against the rail- roads entering Mobile. which do not unite in the building of union depot. within a certain time. The report calls attention to the provisions of the law with their bearing upon the Railroad Commis- sion.
 Text of the Report. The report to the Governor in full Is as follows: ..ofice of the Railroad Commission of the State of Alabama.
 "Montgomery, Ala. Oct. 10, 1s03 '.Governor wm. D. Jelks. Montgomery, Ala:
 "sirEAs required by law. we respect
 fully submit a report of our acts ana
 ddfngs' for the year ending June 90. 1908. Since our last report many important changes have been made in the law gov- erning the powers and duties of the Con- mission which law will be printed in full in this report. We are much gratihed that the recommendations of the Commisi xaF~ t..< fv.r enforcenaeHeT of all lawful orders made by us shsNeabeen enacted into law. which win enable thea Commission to more effi- cieflyT discharge it's duties. and bring, about many reforms in the adjustment of the tarfff schedule of the various rail- roads in A1abama.. It Is also proper to state that under the law now. the Rail- road Commission will. hereafter, beelect- ed by the people instead of appointed by the Governor. as heretofore.
 We beg leave to report that in May of this year the Commission heard an ap- ip.ication filed before us in writing. signed by a very large number of citizens. pray ing for a general reduction of all the
 freight tariffs in Alabama: this cause was heard finally in July. but being. com menced in May will be included herein. In the course of this hearing much evil dence was introduced and the law cover ing the question involved was discussed at great length.
 ] We found that the Supreme Court of
 the United States in the case of Smythe vs. Ayn1es ct als. Vol. 16s, United States
 Reports held that in fixing intra- a-State
 rates the@ earnings on interstate business.
 nor the profits derived therefrom, could not be considered by the Railroad Com-
 mission The law of Alabama also pro-
 vides that In revising the tariffs theHrail-
 roads must be allowed to yied a fair and
 just return upon the value of the road,
 its appurtenances and equipments. Fol
 lowing these rules, the Commission was
 compelled to deny tfleR relief prayed for
 in said petition