The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-08
DECLINES TO REDUCE
 RATES ON COTTON TO MILLS

of the station had been recently secured | and thoroughly cleaned. Tn case the | Commission considered ordering the building of new depot, he showed that on March 1S 1904, 1t was ordered by | the Commission that d union passenger depot be built at Mobile to be occu- pied by the Southern, the Mobile and Ohio the Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City and the Louisville and Nashville. The Southern is now constructing a handsome union passenger station and this will be completed during the com ing fall Until the Louisville and Nashville ascertains under what terms and conditions it will be allowed to occupy the new depot, he could not say positively whether it would enter it. The Louisville and Nashville has never denied that the accommodations at Mobile arc inadequate but he asked that the Commission refrain from act ing until it was definitely decided how much it would cost the Louisville and Nashville to enter the Southern's new station.
 | Here Mir, Conner interrupted. l Conner Asks for Fairness. "The conditions down there now are | out of the question. They ought to pc | improved right now. The Louisville and Nashville can know right now whether or not it is going into the new depot Let the Commission know whether or not. you are. Be fair with us and we will be far with you Mir Conner introduced Superintendent Charles Marshall. of the Mobile and i New Orleans Division or the Louisville and Nashville
 MT. Marshall recited a history of the depot trouble in the Gulf City. He | said that it was originally agreed that the Mobile and Ohio would build the 1 union depot at Mobile. The responsi- bility was somehow shifted on the shoulders of tho Louisville and Nash vile. The Louisville and Nashville wanted two tracks in the proposed de- pot and the Mobile and Ohio would not agree to these conditions. After wards the Southern arranged to build d union station. The Louisville and Nashville is ready to go into that sta tion but the Superintendent declared, will not be satisfied with side tracks and an obscure corner in the depot At present things are up in the air he said. and not until the depot is completed can it be definitely deter mined whether the road will patronize the southern's Depot.
 why can't you known asked MT Conner. Aren't the plans drawn. Can't you tell just as much about your loca- tion now as you can next December? Don't play for time. The finishing of the depot has nothing to do with the affair.""
 He then made an attack on the sani- tary condition of the present depot He said he had personally investigated the matter and the station was dis graceful.
 aDlsgracefuI'' Accommodations.
 MT. Marshall replied that new clos cts and sanitation connections had re- gently been put in.
 "When?" asked Mir. Conner.
 'In December replied MT. Marshall.
 oII md you ought to take them out and begin over again. It's disgraceful." declared the President
 Mir. Conner declared that the closets were used indiscriminately by the races. He said he had his information from the agent as well as from his personal observation.
 well. the negroes arc trespassers them said MT. MarchalI with some heat "and it's the fault or the police- men"
 ''PoIicemen, nothing" snapped back Mir. Conner. Its the worst l ever saw
 MT. Marshall said that he didn't claim that the Mobile station was g proper place, but he said that he could 5member when Mobile was proud of that station.
 In reply to a question from MT. Co., mer, he said that the present proposi- tfon to the Louisville and Nashville from the Southern Railway as to depot facilities was unsatisfactory.
 In reply to d question from MT. Smith, he said that Mobile has sanitary in- spectors and the depot is constantly under surveillance and the railroad authorities have never been called to account for its condition. The agent, who informed MT. Conner as to the mix gra aF ha to fellow who was looking for sympa- thy and ran across the wrong person, he said.
 Mobile and Montgomery.
 Mir. Conner then tried to show that Mobile is larger city than Montgom- cry and should have better facilities.
 Ten railroads pass through Mont gomery." said MT. Marshall "and only two pass through Mobile
 MT. Marshall said that he wished to call the attention of Mir Conner to the fact that if the Louisville and Nashville does not move into the Union Station, the present depot will not have to ac- commodate but half of the patronage it now accommodates and will be per fectly adequate.
 MT Conner pooh -poohed this idea.
 Its not big enough for one road" he said. You've got no separate rooms for men and women. You've got no smoking room. All your room prac- tically is taken up with fruit stands and news counters"
 Mir Sanders said that he agreed with MT. Conner that the Louisville and Nashville is not excusable for provid- ing proper facilities. but under the law, the commission cannot compel the rail- road to occupy part of the new union depot He was in favor however, if the Louisville and Nashville did not go into the new depot, of making the company extensively improve the pres ent station. He then moved that the Louisville and Nashville be directed to provide q sufficient number of toilets, and that they always be kept in a clean and sanitary condition with due regard for racial and sexual distinction. His motion was adopted.
 Birmingham Street Railway.
 The Commission then took up the question under investigation as to whether the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power Company Is doing the business of a railroad and is amen able to the laws governing railroad corporations, or is simply doing the business of a street railway
 John F. Tillman of Birmingham ap- peared for the respondent. He review ed the entire history of the street rail- way systems of Birmingham. taking up each company which was organized and finally merged into the present system. He admitted at the outset that several of the companies which are now component parts of the respondent were given authority in their charters to do the business of a railroad. He declared, however, that nothing but q simple street railway system has ever been operated. The company does a