The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-02

nifcent still in their courage. fighting 1 the battle of life. l am proud that a grateful people have made provision f1 | the law of our State for their aid in | cases of necessity. I believe 1t to be l the duty of the State to make such ad- ditional provision as may be necessary for all cases of Confederate soldiers who may be in need.
 Doubtless it will be conceded as a general proposition. one not open to serious controversy. that railroad cor porations engaged in the business of common carriers are public corpora tions, and are bound to serve the pub lie in the transportation of freight and passengers for a fair, just and equitable compensation. It is for this very rea- son, and because of this service which they are bound to render to the public and the resultant or reciprocal benent to the people that the State confers upon them its sover- eign power to condemn the property of It's citizens against their will and without their consent. upon making just compensation. While 1t is true that under the Constitution of the United States, Congress has the sole power to regulate interstate commerce and that such regulation Is beyond the power of the State. yet the State does have the power to regulate intra-State trafffc. and to compel and require that only just. fair and equitable rates. without discrimination or rebates to favored shippers or classes, be charged | within the State. provided only that a just and fair compensation be allowed the carrier for such.service. am con- vinced that in many instances that railroad rates in Alabama are too high. and that unjust and unfair discrimina- tions have been made. It seems to me that Alabama, with her vast and rapid ly developing mineral resources. her great agricultural productivcness, her growing cities and rapidly increasing population, stands in the front rank of | the States of the South. and that under | these conditions her people are justly entitled nt the hands of the railroads | not only to fair and equitable local rates. buh to fair and equitable through rates as well. And 1t is my opinion that the railroads. which as we have seen are public corporations. owe to the people and should be required to give to the people, the lowest rates which 1t is possible to do. at the same | time earn for themselves a fair and reasonable return upon the capital in | vested. I believe that with such an | equitable basis of local rates in our State. our farmers could supply our towns and cities with many products now brought from other States. and this would he equally beneficial to all classes of our people in keeping the
 money at home that now goes to other
 States for such products. I, further
 more. believe that this regulation of railroad rates. either by the Legisla-
 ture or Railroad Commission. acting
 under authority of law. should be done
 in spirit of justice and fairness, with
 out prejudice and upon a thorough in
 vestigation and discussion of the whole
 question.
 The people desire nothing but what
 is fair and right, and if this is not
 conceded to them.|it Is the duty of the
 law making power to secure it for them
 by law: and 1t would certainly be the
 duty of the Attorney General to sus-
 tain and uphold such a law. At pres
 ent it Is made by the law the duty of
 the Attorney General (Acts of Alabama
 1908. page 104). upon the certification
 of the Railroad Commission, through its president. that a railroad has failed
 or refused to comply with an order of the Commission. to take appropriate action in the courts to enforce such or der. If I am Attorney General. shall prosecute such actions vigorously and | to the best of my ability.
 To those who know me, no pledge for the performance of duty will be needed. but to those who do not know | me. desire to say, if nominated and upon the discharge of the duties of that ofice with a full appreciation of the l obligations imposed and a keen sense l of the respon sibility assumed, and will bring to the discharge of my office l all of the ability I possess; I shall do | so honestly and faithfully seeking to I do only that which is right and which