The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
Sees Cause for Anxiety in The
CeaSecSS Warcfae Being
Made on Railroads
ROOSEVELT'S ACTION NO
LESS THAN DASTAROlY
Harahan Also Speaks In New Orleans
and Speech Is Full of Optimism
for the South's Indus
trial Future.

New Orleans, December 15. (Speeial)-
Milton II. Smith. president of the Louis
Vile and Nashville made striking
speech here tonight in which he severely
criticized certain political leaders who he
claimed were debauehng the people for
selfish reasons by vociferously denoune-
ing railway corporations. charging them
with running the country.
Mr.. Smith also characterized President
Roosevelts criticisms of judgments rem
dered by the judiciary, which We're not in
accord with his own views, as no less
than dastardly. He alluded to the recent
political campaign IL Alabama, saying
that a governor would be inaugurated
within few days and legislature COLI
vened "pled=~d increase the burdens of
;ae railways by largely increasing taxa
tion and to reduce revenues by reducing
rates"
President Smiths speech was delivered
a banquet given by the New Orleans
Progressive union to J. 7. Harahan. tba
new president of the Illinois Central, at
which a number of prominent railway
men Of the south We're present. Mr.. Hara-
hams speech was optimistle and in It he
ontllned the Illinois Hcei4trats policy IN
furthering the souths commercial deVel-
opment.
Anxiety for the Future.
President Smith, speaking on The
part;
In view of the existing prosperous con-
ditons, pessimstic note will | fear
sound discordant. and yet to those whose
duties and responsibilities cause them TO
look ahead, and especially those who have
struggled through the panies and depres-
sIons of the past-who, perhaps have lived
100 long--the future, especially for rail-
way transportation interests is not free
from anxiety The cost of operating and
maintaining railways has been increasing
with leaps and bounds. Already many
corporations, while their receipts from
traffic are largely Increasing, net receipts
are not, and in some cases are decreas-
ing.
Situation in Alabama.
"To add to the anxiety the owners Of
railway properties are threatened with
loss. possible conhscation by the people,
not that the people as a whole are an
tagonistic to vested or property rights,
but are to an extent debauched by tho
leaders who for selfish reasons vocifer-
ously denounce corporations especially
railway corporations, falsely charging
them with running the country. To par
ticularze somewhat, in the neighobrng
state of Alabama governor will within
a few days be inaugurated. and legisla-
ture convened pledged to increase the
burdens of the railways by largely in
creased taxation. and to reduce revenues
by reducing rates 1t is alleged that in
some instances the current rates for
transporting property are greater than
the rates for similar service in the state
of Georgia. In the last named state the
conditions are somewhat similar A gov
ernor is to be inaugurated and a legis-
lature convened, pledged to enact and
enforce extreme anti-railway corporation
laws.
THE attitude of the government through
It's administrators Is distinctly antago-
nlstic TO railway interests. II must be
conceded that the railways do bear their
portion of the burdens of the government.
Millions of dollars derived from direct.
or indirect taxation. are expended an
nually TO improve and maintain improve
ments of waterways with the fallacious
Of int
petition with the railway lines. Govern
ment reports show, at least In one In
stance, where after having expended sew
era1 millions of dollars to improve a
waterway the cost of supervising and
maintaining such Improvement per an
mum exceeded the value of all the prop
erty transported via such improved wa-
terway.
Roosevelt's Conduct Dastardy.
president Roosevelt has in two annual
messages TO Congress sharply criticised
two Of the federal judges. "A coordinate
department of government, because they
have in the performance of their duties.
rendered decisions not satisfactory to
him He and the department of justice.
have in effect pursued a course of intimi-
dation not heretofore attempted. When
il is considered the President appoints
the Judges which includes their promo
tion. it is not too much to characterize
his conduct as dastardly. His plant s
that the government has not the right Of
appeal and that the decisions which he
deuounces were final Are the judges at
fault because the laws of the land do
not provide for an appeal In criminal
cases? AS am advised since the creation
of the government the law has been that
a man accused OF crime and acquitted.
cannot again be tried for the same Of
fense-his life and liberty may not again