The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-04
RAILROAD RATES
BEING THRESHED
Mr. Conner Is Not So CON-
batiVc as Formerly
is MUCH BETTER INFORMED
Prominent Railroad Men From All
Parts of the South Are Attending
the Commissioners Ses-
sions in Montgomery.
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

Montgomery, May -(Special)-Just
80 minutes after the advertised time of 10
o. clock, the adjourned session of the Ala
bama railroad commission was called to
order today by the president, Hon b. b.
Conner of Birmingham. Besides him were
the two associates, Hon. w. c. Tunstall
of Greensboro. and Hon. w. I. Sanders
of Athens Clerk Virgil Griffin sat at
the left of the president, fianked by
large number of papers, while the stenog-
raphers and newspaper men occupied the
long end of the + shaped tables which
pointed them well out towards the door
of the hall of the house Of representa-
tives In which the sessions are held.
When the curtain. speaking figrrasi9ely
of course. was rung up there was d good
ly number of traffic men and others
gathered in the hlstor., old auditorium
ready for what promises to be one of the
most notable struggles between advo-
Gates of lower rates ON the railroads on
the one side, and the maintenance of
them by the other, President Conner is
known to make no secret of the fact that
he has given the matter of rates close
and comparative study and Is fully con-
WINGED now tina. there should be gen
eral reduction, looking to the adoption of
a standard and tariff like those now in
force in the state of Georgia.
Something of Men.
Mr.. Conner sat at the left of the three.
looking from the audience. He wore a
soft bosom shirt, fluffy tie and his vest
was open for about four buttons In the
center of the row. He sits with his hand
over the docket in stndous position.
and large link cuff buttons, made from
the teeth of ell1s, show up prominently
from his sleeves. Mr.. Sanders, who sits
next. gives by far more attention than
either of the otter two to his apparel.
He wears a collar of the high turn
down style, with stiff white shirt and
black tie, and vest buttoned up all the
way. His watch chain comes well up to
his chin and his shoes are brightly poll
fshed and his coat and trousers pressed
in the neatest way. He sits with his
face In his right hand most of the time
with the index finger slightly turned out
as If he was pointing his mind to the
points made.
Colonel Tunstall Is the best develop
He wears rather loosely fitting suit
and soft shirt with evidently little atten-
tion as to whether his tie Is straight or
not. He reminds one of the fellows who
are always ready to do a kindly deed or
help a friend or tell n good story as
the occasion might demand. He sits side
ways In his cnair, as II he did not have
room, and gives atten ION to the evi-
dence and the speeches, though there
lFUa ha otf fobt u 10
back In his eyes that is ready to jump
out at the merest suspicion Of humor. 1t
would be impossible to get three men to-
gether who any more distinctly repre-
scented different types
No Bouquets.
There were no bouquets on the desks of
any Of the attendants when the session
opened. and to be very frank. the out
look Is not very good for any large num-
Der OF verbal offerings along this line as
it progresses.
The first words said by Mr.. Conner
In calling the meeting to order were that
there must be no talking. He said he did
not hear well and those who wanted to
talk would have to get out in the lobby.
He announced that there were two or
three gentlemen present who desired to
be heard on the question of fertilizer
rates, that tariff would be taken up for
the moment. and he called s. c. Oliver.
president OF the Planters Chemical COM
pany. Of Talladega. to the stand. This
gentleman made a protest on what he
said was discrimination against ITALIA
dega, In favor of Birmingham. and went
pretty fully into the whole question so
far as his town was concerned
Loaded for "Bear."
A glance around the room Indicated
y laat t,-af had fnra 4tr,
that would very likely take up several
days. With the Southern railway party
was Special Attorney c. B. Northrup of
Washington, who at once took possession
of a whole section of desks, and spread
out before him an array of papers that
looked like general overhaullng of the
accounts of the steel corporation He had
plain papers with brass fastenlngs, nobby
looking leather bound portfolios that
seemed to have untold statistics. valuable
as they are voluminous, and ever so
many ordinary packages tied up In neat
looking ribbons. 1t Is a fact II he insists
on reading all that bunch" and can have
the time. with few words OF argument
thrown in from time to time, 1t will take
three sessions a day for long time, and
develop enough business to keep President
Conner out of bed for several nights until
after 9 o'clock. which he abhors.
cup "Snco NcSt'
Vice President j. NJ. Culp Of the South
ern. had shed his vest since the last
trip and tried to keep cool without 1t,
having seemingly hopeless task. The per-
spiration ran down his face like rain
over the caves and he had to keep busy
wfping with his kerchief. Exactly oppo-
site in temperament was quiet, easy-going
Lincoln Green. traffic manager of the
same system. who looks as II he never
got warm in his life
G.. b. Compton of the Louisville and
Nashville. was as happy as Is his want.
and looked as If he had never traffic
care In his life. He shook hands with the
members of the commission and others
before the meeting and everybody seemed
glad TO see him.
Back among his own. Charley Jackson.
general agent OF the Mobile and Ohio at
was everywhere shaking
hands. and Assistant General Freight
Agent James Menzines OF the Coast Line
seemed to be trying to live UP to the
remark made by President Conner at the
last session Of the commission that he
was "a good looking man." The kid of
(Coofft.ssed an Tsnth paoal