The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-12
.LUSK AND BURNETT TALK CONFIDENTLY Each of Them Says He Will
 Win in the Seventh SPEAK AT FELL CITY TODAY Burnett Says 1t Is Question of Right to Ride on Passes, While Lusk
 Insists That Larger Cues
 ton Is at Issue.
AT FELL CITY TODAY

Congressman J. l.. Burnett and John A. nomination in the Seventh district, arrived in Birmingham late last night from Springville, where they engaged in joint debate yesterday. They will speak at Pell City today, and will probably return to Birmingham tonight.
 Though apparently tired and worn out from the hard campaign work of the past week, both men expressed confidence in their success and willingness to con- tinue the debate.
 "The matters discussed are to a large extent personal said Congressman Bur nett when asked as to the questions at issue, "and I think the people consider them as such. MT. Lusk is attempting to detract from my personal record because he claims that I ride or have ridden on railroad passes, and l generally answer him by telling how he voted against the bank examiners bill, and that while member of the legislature he held some stock in a state bank.
 No Vote Influenced.
 "I have shown" continued MT Bur nett that no vote of mine was ever influenced by virtue of the fact that l have ridden on railroad passes. feel confident of my renominaton ana elec- ton to congress-
 MT Insk expressed himself as equally confident of success and said that he believed he would have sufficient ma jority to relieve any question of doubt as to the feeling of the people on the questions discussed.
 "The issues are not personal said Mir. Lusl. though MT Burnett has at tempted to put them on that plane. l have read letters written by Burnett to show that his close relations with the railroads would not permit him to exer- else fair and just consideration of questions affecting the earnings or pun ishment of railroad companies.
 Lusk's Rate Bill.
 My main constructive issue" he con- tinued, Ifs my intention if elected to in troduce in congress a bill for the pur- pose of regulating the interstate rates on railroads in the United tSates for both passenger service and freight. 1 am in favor of a bill giving the interstate commerce commission the power to regu- late and fix the interstate rates on the basis of fair return and compensation on the amount of money invested in con- struction and maintenance of the rail- roads. l am also in favor of giving this commission full power to enforce the law and punish the railroads for violating it. It is my further intention to introduce a bill in congress giving the railroad com missions of the various states the author ity to fix local rates, taking into con sideration the interstate rate on a fair and just compensation based on the amount of money invested in construction and maintenance. l have never persuad- ed Mr. Burnett 10 discuss this question, but he insists on confining the debate to the mere issuance of passes. I have been given fair treatment everywhere I have been and even in Mir. Burnetts strong holds I find the applause very much divided"
 Both of the speakers left early this morning for Pell City where they speak today.