The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-09
HON. JAMES CROOK
Tells What Has Been Accomplished D,
 the Railroad Commission.

Tells What Has Been Accomplished by the Railroad Commission. Anniston Star.
 Captain James Crook. who presided at the meeting of the Calhoun county organization of the Southern Cotton Growers Association, was seen by q Star reporter yesterday. and gave out the following interview:
 Captain, you have doubtless seen
 that The Evening Star has endorsed you as the most available and best qualified man in Alabama for the con- tingent position of president of the State railroad commission
 Yes, and am not insensible to the honor conveyed by your complimentary reference to me In this connection, for I know the services have conscien- tiously rendered the State as for mer railroad commissioner, and can gratefully appreciate recognition and indorsement of the same" T believe. Captain, you were one of the three commissioners selected by the governor and senate to inaugurate the experiment of controlling public utili-
 ties under an advisory law, or law
 making your board one of arbitration,
 with quasi-judicial functions?" Yes. Captain Bragg, Colonel Bell | and myself were the first railroad com-
 missioners of Alabama and allow me to say that during our administration we reduced freight rates from twenty per cent to thirty-five per cent; pas senger rate from five to three cents per mile; built, or procured the build ing of, at a reasonable estimate, de- pots to the value of S100,000; establish ed several agencies where none ex- isted; ordered and enforced a division Of passenger accommodations between
 white and colored passengers. bywhicn
 the two races in travelling by rail were
 knnf ma
 the repayment of overcharges on
 freight passing over several roads by
 the delivering road, and did many oth-
 CT things too numerous to mention
 coming within our Jurisdiction and the
 requirements of official duty. Very
 unjust discrimin9tion and extortion
 and few against rebates all of which
 we promptly corrected.
 Did the railroad companies obey
 your orders or acquiesce in your de- cisions?'
 T think invariably, at least I never
 heard anything to the contrary In the little friction between one or two rail- roads and the commission, but the rail- roads ultimately yielded.
 Are you opposed to having your name used in connection with filling possible vacancy in the office, con- lluBehL on the election or Colonel Com CT to the office of governor"
 T am. As you are aware I am the acting president of the Southern Cot ton Growers Association for Calhoun county. an organization which wisely excludes politics, and promptly deposes any official who aspires to political preferment I most cordially indorse thls feature of the organization for Into all other associations or orders looking to the prosperity of agricuI- ture and the independence of the far. mer, politics has brought discord. dis sension and disintegration. I believe the hope of the South is dependent up- on the success of the Southern Cotton GroWers' Association. and the success or the association contingent upon the exclusion of politics and politicians from Its councils. I would not support any man for office who had nothing else to commend him to my favor but his membership in the Southern Cotton Growers Association. If at any time l give my consent to political office, I shall resign the presidency 0of the coun- ty association of Southern Cotton Growers, take my chances with the boys and ask preferment on merit You are authorized to say that I am noL. and will not be, a candidate for pres ident of the Alabama railroad comnnis- sion to fill the unexpired term of Colonel Conner if he be elected govern. or