The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-21
CORRIDOR TALK OF
 THE ALABAMA CAPITOL
BY HERvEY W. LAIRD.

as well. and with his ideas of honesty it was impossible for him to run for or flee on a silver platform and remain III the employ of a corporation that believed only in the gold idea. Consequently he resigned his place as physician to enter the political arena though that resigna- tion has never to this day been accepted. Service of a public nature has never falleu to be at the sacrifice of private interests. He was called from an expensive post graduate medical course in Europe to take up the work of Governor Jelks before ne finished what he had laid out to ac- complish, and is serving the state today for much less money than his medical practice and infirmary bring nim at home Under his instruction the state has col lected sG00O due from one careless county officer, Is after almost as much from others. and has undertaken the collec- tion of $115500 from outside corporations which are trying to evade the tax laws along with what promsies wholly sue cessful effort to float a prontaple re- funding bond issue.
 There Is no use in attempting to get around the fact that the state rallroa" commission is occupying the center or tile stage in the general goss'o or the capitai at this time. B. B. Conner, the newly elected president. will take charge on March l. There will be no other changes: Commissioners Sanders anu Iunstali holding over until 1907. A local newspaper man undertook to secure fror1 MT Conner an expression concerning his policy in administering the duties of the commits sion. but was told that nothing would be given out until the day of his intro duction into office. He was elected to re- duce the freight rates and to eliminate if possible rules and regulations of trans portation companies annoying ana eN- pensive to shippers So far as anybody can see he will be able to accomplish nothing not possible with the present commission, there being two of the old regime of the total of three members These see no relief if rolief is needed, under prsent laws, and will quite likely oppose any movement out of line with recent past policies Then, whatE VIII MT Conner content himself to walt TOT election day and the practical certainty that two others of his way or thinking will be elected by the people. and then inaugurate his ideas of rate and transpor- tation reform? Or will he go out after the governorship or some other more ex- alted position. There is a man in Mont gomery who has heard MT. Conner say that his ambition is to work out his ideas of rate reform on the railroad commission, and that he would be very foolish to enter a contest for any other office until he had with commission in accord with him. given the matter complete trial in this capacity. In the opinion of the writer this will be MT. Comer's course, and l shall be very much surprised if he stands for governor or any other office before he eXhausts ev- cry effort to accomplish his wishes with the commission machinery now or here after available.
 The position of leading public men in Alabama on this question of freight rate control and revision is being sought as- siduously at this time. An incumbent of one of the state offices, who will be in the next race for associate railroad commissioner, though he will not pub liely avow his candidacy now, said re- cently:. "I am for the enforcement of the law, beyond that I would not go. and no man has any right to venture"
 The opinion of the acting governor has of his candidacy for the gubernatorial nomination, and every other man likely 10 run for state office is being sized up with rate legislation measurements. It will be in the race for auditor, and for lieutenant governor and every place to be sought at the capitol. No man may fatter himself that he is going to stay in the woods and win. He who runs must be located on the question or the chances are he will not be able to read any sort of title to the office he feels needs his services.