The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-03-24
SMITH AND Conner
BOTH CONFIDENT
Former Talks Interestingly
About Issues Involved.
HAS BILL TO INTRODUCE
Viii Again Try to Have Legislature
Enact Law Providing Punishment
for Railroads Failing to Refund
Q exchanges in Thirty Days.


railroad commission and candidate for re-
election, was in Birmingham yesterday
and says he is very much encouraged
over the outlook and believes he will be
successful.
| Mr. Smith received a number of friends
at his rooms in the Metropolitan and APP
parently feels very confident. He has
just returned from trip through the
central part of South Alabama and the
tier of counties known as East laoama.
Il find the people are getting over the
first effect of the erroneous circulars sent
| out by Mr.. Conner" ne said, land are
now looking at the question In a calm,
| conservative light. l do not believe the
people will be in favor of any radica, ac-
ton when they have studied the ques-
ton carefully and consequently l feel as
sured of success.
| II notice that Mr. Conner says the s.
sue is whether or not the railroads shall
rule or the people forcing them to give
fair adjustment of local freight rates
in Alabama" he continued Il do not re-
! gard this as the issue. I believe the real
issue is whether or not policy of con-
| servatism and a regard for the law shall
be pursued in the administration of
quasi judicial office or whether a radi-
cal policy shall be pursued which will re-
suit in the crushing of railroad develop
ment in Alabama.
Wants. Equitable Basis.
II am in favor of adjusting freight
rates on an equitable basis in compliance
with the law and gradually lowering
| de
the shippers will be so hurt as to re-
tard progress and development. Mr..
Conner is the candidate of faction and
promises things that l believe he would
| find great difficulty in accomplishing. II
his policy were pursued I fear it would
| cause a clash which would defeat the
very object he has in view.
Having failed to prejudice the people
against me by sending out a circular
claiming that the rates in Alabama were
| so per cent higher than in Georgia, which
he afterwards denied, he now is attempt
ing to prejudice the people against me by
having theim believe that am the candi-
date of the railroads l am not the cam
didate of the railroads nor of the shippers
but as much can not be said for him. He
was nominated by a faction and is rum
ming in the interests of the shippers alone.
Since being in office I have, with the as
sistance of the other commissioners,
brought about enough reductions in rates
to save the shippers and consumers of the
state something like 100000
Bill In Legislation.
TT is my intention to introduce in the
next Legislature bill which was de-
feated by the last legislature which be-
lieve will prevent much dissatisfaction
among shippers of this state. This bill
provides a heavy punishment for rail-
roads for failing to settle for all over
charges and other Irregularities in the
shipping of freight within thirty days
This bill was introduced by me in the
last legislature and was favorably re-
ported by the committe of commerce and
| common carriers. l urged its passage,
but it failed in the house. BY my fight
| for this bill l incurred the serious dis
pleasure of the railroads in Alabama and
anyone who knows of that fight cannot
well say that l am now the candidate of
| the railroads.
Copy of the Bill.
1.-THE bill which / shall introduce in the
next legislature and which was defeated
! follows:
! roads to Make Prompt Settlement for
Overcharges.
! Be 1t enacted by the Legislature of Ala
| bama, That In all cases where any rail-
road or other common carrier shall de-
mand and receive for goods shipped from
within or without this state to any point
| In this state, any over charge or excess
Of freight over and beyond the proper or
| contract rate of freight, and a demand
| in writing for the return or repayment of
such overcharge is made by the person
| paying the same, said railroad or COM
mon carrier shall refund said overcharge
| within thirty days $50 from said demand
| and IL said common carrier shall fail or
| refuse to settle within thity 900 days, or
| within said time to refund said over
| charge or even payment, then said rail
road or common carrier shall be liable
| to said person making the over payment
| in an amount double the amount of the
| over payment and a reasonable attor-
| ney's fee, to be recovered in any couru
! having jurisdiction of the same, and more
| than one claim for such excess may be
| Joined in the same suit.
Coner Also Confident.
| Mr.. Conner was in Birmingham also
yesterday, having returned from Green's
| boro Marion and other towns in that
| section. He says he is very much pleased
with the situation as he has found 1t
and has every reason to feel encouraged.
/ II am not a c1aimer," said Mr.. Conner
but you can say that am very muc
| pleased with the situation and | appre-
ciate very much the kind treatment l
| have received wherever I have been"
DR.. LITTLE DRAWS CROWDS.