The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-08
COMER FILES DISSENTING
 REPORT WITH THE GOVERNOR

l of Mobile and the water ways of the l state are practically boycotted by the raliroads, and made the least service ' Io me people of the State In their proVince Of either carrying freight or adjusting. freight rates.
 we call your attention that the ex-
 press. telephone. telegraph, and other
 restriction by law on their charges. The above conditions are very oner- ous and hurtfui to the public kand shipping business and we think should be remedied by laws fully protecting
 all parties alike. We would there- fore suggest the following laws:
 We advise that the law empowering lne Railroad Commission to direct the
 construction of depots be so amended as also to require the railroad com panies when such depots have been
 pgilt and the Commission deem it ad- Nlsanle to have agents therein, to i direct the railroads to establish such ! agencies. f s71 l We further advise legislation fixing maxlmum freight rate not to exceed | the present Freight rate in this State ana the establishment by law of | ] Irelght rate pn all the articles of com
 mon manufacture. production, consump tion. .ana use not to exceed the present classificatfon and rate on such articles Tn the state Of Georgia--which rates shall not be increased, but may be re-
 duced by the Railroad Commission of ! selves -r = ] We advise efrective legislation en n- torciHg the prompt adjustment of against railroads and other public ser vice corporations for stock kiIled--for
 lost or damaged freight. and for dam
 dg ddges TOT the non performance of their We advise legislation requiring com mon carriers to supply shippers with
 out discrimination. with adequate fa- cilities for the prompt moving of their freight, and the imposition of such pen- I aIties on said carriers as will force
 them 10 supply such means of trans
 @portation @ and prevent discrimination. We advise Legislation guaranteeing equitable car service rules and ship | ping regulations, which shall impose
 carriers for delay in furnishing cars and delivering freight at least equal to the charges imposed on shippers for
 delay in loading or unloading cars. or Railroads and Waterways.
 | That recognizing in the port of Mo- l bile. the waterways of the State, one of the greatest assets of the State, that haps thoughtlessly throttled by the railroads. and considering the State gave the railroads not only their fran chises, but also in many instances made large donations of land. and in some instances large sums of money to aid l them in building their property, 1t | looks to Us selfish and thoughtless that l the railroads should combine to sup press and destroy the utility of these great assets of the State.
 And we suggest laws giving the
 Railroad Commission supervision of | the carrier service on the waterways and laws requiring the railroads to re- ceive from the water carrier service all freights at a prorata of the throuyh great assets of the State the advantage | the State should have from their being | there, and the adequate use for which
 the large expenditures. of the govern nent In deepening and improving the The Government has expended many | millions of dollars on these great wa terways, and we suggest that the State should see to 1t that the citizens derive the concurrent benefit designtd.
 We advise laws prohibiting the in. by railroads and other public service corporations doing business in this
 State, unless the proposed increase of
 said stock or securities be first sub
 mitted to the Railroad Commission or
 other proper authority and approved
 by said Commission or authority.
 We advise legislation requiring all railroads and public service corpora tions, before issuing stock or securi- | ties for the purpose of constructing.
 enlarglng or extending their lines or
 anro Rairoad n Commssion sns s of % thIs State or other proper authority, full state meft of the proposed construction, en- l iargement or extension, and that said railroads and corporations shall obtain J from said Commission or other proper authority. it's consent before issuing , said stock or securities.
 We advise legislation requiring com mon carriers in this State to submit their books, papers and records to the l inspection of the Railroad Commission or other proper authority and also to submit their agents to an examination 1 under oath by said Railroad Commis- purpose of determining the actual amount of capital invested in their properties in this State as well as their earnings and expense in operat- ing their lines within our borders. We further advise that the Railroad Commission of Alabama or other au- thority. charged with this investiga- tion. shall be supplied with ample
 means out of the revenues of this State l for making said inspection and exami- nation.
 We advise that whereas the express, telephone, telegraph and other public service corporations, which are at present unrestricted and uncontrolled tn their charges In the State, that the safety of the public demand that these companies, their charges and rules, should be placed under the supervision
 of the Railroad Commission, and that power should be given the said Com mission to equalize and adjust same. That in these adjustments the same general laws be enacted which are used in the regulation and adjustment of the relation of the citizens to the
 Respectfully submitted,
 B. B. Conner, President.