The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-08
SURPRISE SPRUNG
 BY COMMISSION B. R. [. & P. Co. Must Submit
 Rate Tariffs
EAST LAKE WIS HE CAUSE
Passenger Fares on Branch Lines of the Louisville and Nashville Were Ordered to Be Made
 Three Gents.

Montgomery, November 7-(special)- The Alabama railroad commission had meeting today that is quite likely to eha up in one of the most important Tn US history. It voted to take up the general o,,estlon of rates on cotton to the mills of the state This has been one or the pet ideas of President Conner, as he has contended that the advantage given In the exemption of cotton mills has peeh offset by the rate of freight on the raw staple.
 Another matter that came as surprise was the determination to order the Bf- mingham Railway. Light and Power com pany to file copies of tariffs Of freight and passenger tariffs, as it Is shown by the charter that the company has the rights of common carriers and is hauling freight and passengers for profit Ihis oana m as A result of a motion made at the last meeting by President Conner that East Lake, on the line of the bifiiine- ham Railway, Light and Power coii- pany's lines, be made summer resort and given the rates of fares ana ao- yantages of that class Of places. lhe question then came up as to whether the line reaching there was a railroad III .ne lieht of the commission laws and Asso- ciate Commissioner Sanders LOOK u up 'o investigate He discovers that such IS the | oaea hy the power of the charter ana so it must submit tarins.
 passenger fares on branch line or the Louisville and Nashville were ordered 10 he made 8 cents. In many cases more 10 now charged.
 MT. Conner Chirpy.
 Because of the fact that the soulhpouiu Louisville and Nashville railroad tram was late today the regular monthly nett | ing of the commission postponed lIoi'i yesterday, opened up at noon. fresiueh' | Conner and Associates Tunstall ana oah- ders were all here. MT. Conner shows that he is in good trim physically in the | fact that he spoke at Russellvllle yesler- day. Sheffield last night and traveleu all | night to get here. He arrived slllllhs anu seemed in the best of humor. lie iaceu A number of leading railroad men with a baaning countenance and spared with all the act and energy Of an old tlihe oia- torical gladiator.
 During intermissions of the sessions MT. Conner came around the press oesks anu 1ollied the newspaper men apout the re | ports which he did or did not ike. lie l | his campaign and the assertion Dy one | of them that he and Cunningham had 1 hetter get LID a 'he is the best fellow society, as he and the doctor take up much time telling the people how nice the other is He takes much pride m the Iact that he is becoming veteran as caih- paigner, saying that he had reached the point where he was good stayer nlBhl or day
 Of Wide Interest.
 The commission in the determination to take up the matter of rates on cotton to Alabama mills, and the question or whether the Birmingham Railway Light anw Power company, an electrlc line hauling passengers and freight IS answer able to the commission, opens up in the one case an interesting and important rate question and In the other what may greatly enlarge the horizon of the com mission in the future The Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company has been ordered to file copies of its passenger and freight tariffs at the next iheetlhs of the commission.
 A petition for depot accommodations to the point that freight might be pro- tected from thieves and weather at Vlne- mount was allowed and the Louisville and Nashville was instructed to provide It. The town was represented by Capt. A. c. Sexton. chief clerk to the secretary I
 A petition for an agent at Beaverton on the Frisco, was denied as the com mission had no authority to order one.
 Cotton to Mills.
 Lindsey & Co.,, of Leighton, asked for A reduction of the rate on cotton from that place to the mills at Huntsville. On motion of Commissioner Sanders the ap- plication was merged into the general question of the rates on cotton to the mills of the state. and will be heard at the regular meeting of the commission next month This is likely to cause one of the liveiest contests ever held by the commission, as it is d pet question of President Comers.
 The Standard oil and Chemical company at Troy ask that the charge of 25 cents for transfer from the Central of Georgia to the Louisville and Nashville be abro- gated. The road claims that this Is the cost of the service and they cannot leave It off.
 Continued Depot Betterment.
 A petition to have better facilities at the depot at Dickerson on the Southern railway was continued until such time | as an inspection Is made of the lines.
 The Seaboard Air Line was allowed to charge cent passenger fares when pas sengers refused to buy tickets.
 The application of the Seaboard to close depot at Mercy from March 1 to Sep tember 1 each year, because business falls off, was postponed.
 The matter of a depot at Sacho. on the Southern, also went over.
 Some leveng of rates, which made some high and some low, was presented in a new tariff sheet of the Central of Geor- pia Vice President Winburn said that if