The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-09
COMER'S PLANS TOBE
PART OF MESSAGE
Railroads Should Ask PERMITS
sion to Issue Stock
TALKS ON CAR SHORTAGE
Chairman of Commission Also Notes
That There Is Complaint About
Car Service Rues-The
Report In Full.
TALKS ON CAR SHORTAGE

Montgomery, November S.-(Special) y
The report of President b. b. Conner,
president of the state railroad commits
sion, and the governor elect of the state,
is important in that the recommendations
which he makes will probably be part
of the message which he will send TO me
Legislature next January. Among the
most radical changes he advises is a plan
by which the railroads will be stopped
from issuing new stock ON Alabama prop
critics without the consent of the conf
mission or some body authorized to cen
troll such matters, and the provision that
when any line is to issue new stock FOR
improvements that a detailed description
of the proposed improvements be flied
with the commission or such other body
as many have authority, and permission
be received
Mr.. Conner relates that he was in favor
of revising the rates on cotton to Ala
bama mills for the reason that they are
not such as to give the state factories
the same hauling advantages enjoyed By
some of those outside the state. where
cotton is shipped from the local station
to the mills it Is at full local rates,
says Mr. Conner, (which in instances, are
from an elBntn 10 ii quarter VI SSAS
higher per pound than the comparative
through rates on cotton shipped to mills
outside the state. And where it has TO
be shipped over two different roads the
combination of local rates is practically
prohbitye" He further believes thd.
this is doing away with the advantages
Alabama should rightly derive from the
franchises given to both these corpora
tions."
Notes Car Scarcity.
The Southern railway is criticised for
not keeping certain branch lines in good
shape as it should, but the Louisville
and Nashville and the Alabama Great
Couthern complimented. Attention Is
called to 'irregularity and procrastination
by the railroads in the settlement OF
claims for stock killed, goods damaged or
lost" and to the fact that there is a
great scarcity of cars to handle the busi-
ness of the roads of the state He also
noes that there is complaint about the
| car rules and that the commission has
no way to employ legal talent when IN
| vestigating the rates of the roads Also
that the rates in Georgia for the same
| service are very much lower than III
Alabama and that the port of Mobile Is
greatly injured by the alleged failure of
| the rail lines to work in unison with It.
| To meet the conditions which Mr. Co
mer thinks bad he makes the following
recommendations, quoted in full:
Laws Suggested.
| We advise that the law empowering the
| railroad commission to direct the con-
| struction Of depots be so amended as also
! to require the railroad companies when
| such depots have been built, and the COM
| mission deem it advisable to have agents
| therein to direct the railroads to estab-
| lish such agencies.
| We further advise legislation fixing
| ma ximum freight rate, not to exceed the
| present freight rate, in this state, ana the
| establishment by law of a freight rate on
| all the articles OF common manufacture,
! production, consumption and use, not TO
| exceed the present classification and rate
| on such articles in the state of Georgia
| which rates shall not be increased but
| may be reduced by the railroad commits
| sion of this state or by the carriers
| themselves.
| We advise effective legislation enforce
| ing the prompt adjustment of claims or
| the people of the state against the rail-
| roads and other public service corpora
| lions for stock killed-for lost or dam
| aged freight and for damages for the
| nom performance of their duties and con-
| tracts.
| we advise legislation requiring common
| carriers to supply shippers without dis
| elimination. with adequate facilities Tor
| the prompt moving of their freight and
| the imposition of such penalties on said
| carriers as will force them to supply such
! means of transportation and prevent dis
| elimination, delay and loss to the ship
| pers
| equitable car service rules and shipping
| regulations, which shall impose charges
| and penalties against common carriers
| for delay in furnishing cars and deliV-
| erng freight at least equal to the charges
| imposed on shippers for delay in load
| ing and unloading cars, or receiving
| freight.
States Waterways.
That recognizing in the port of Mobile,
| the waterways Of the state, one or the
| greatest assets of the state, that these
| assets are now sehshly and, perhaps,
| thoughtlessly, throttled by the railroads,
| and considering the state gave the rail-
| roads not only their franchise, but also
| in many instances made large donations
| of land and in some instances large
s,,p,s of money to aid them in building
! their property it looks to us selfish and
| thouehtless that the railroads should COM
| bine To suppress and destroy the utility
| of these great assets of the state
| And we suggest laws giving the rail-
road commission supervision oil the car
rier service on the waterways anu Jaw
reouirinc The railroads to receive from the
water carrier service all freights at
| nro rata of the through rate or at such
| rate as will give these great assets OF
| tho state the advantage the state shouid
have from their being there ana the
| ADEQUATE use for which the large expendi-
trres of the government in deepening and
| narrowing the channels designed
rho government has expended many
| millions of dollars on these great water
| ,vavs and we suggest that the state
| should see to it that the citizens should
| derive the concurrent benefit designated
We advise laws prohibiting the increase
| Of capital stock or securities by rallroaus
and other public service corporations 40
ing business in this state, unless the pro-
posed increase of said stock OF SECURITIES
he FIRST submitted to the railroad commits
sion or other proper authority and APP
nro,,od nv said commission or authority.
Issuance of Stock.
We advise legislation requiring all rail-
roads and nublic service corporations, be-
fore issuing stock or securities for the
nurnose of constructing, enlarging or ex-
| tending their lines or plants In this state,
| IN submit to the railroad commission or
| this state or other proper authority,
| full statement of the proposed constitute
,ton enlargement or extension, and that
| said railroads and corporations siiali Cd
| tain from said commission or other proper
authority, Its consent before ISSUING said
stock or securities.
we advise legislation requiring common
CARRIERS in this state to submit their
hooks. papers and records to the inspec-
| tion of the railroad commission or other
nroper authority. and also to submit their
| agents to an examination under oath, by
| said railroad commission or other proper