Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1906-07-05
Railroad Bill Passed al Last by Congress.

Washington, d. c., July 2nd.-At last the
railroad rate bill has been passed by Congress
and signed by the president. Congress spent
year and half on this legislation and then let it
20 through with some crude regulations.
The two main points at which the leg1sla-
ton was originally aimed were rebates and
high rates. 1t was always argued by men that
there was plenty of law to punish rebating, If
it was only enforced. The recent convictions
of railway men and shippers out west and the
sentences imposed, tend to sustain this claim,
as the recent cases were prosecuted under the
old law.
AS for high rates and determinations, the
courts will still have to decide, when the ship
pers and roads cannot agree. That is the only
thing in the whole measure that the roads asked
for the right to appeal to the courts. Some
Congressman did not want to allow them that
right but majority thought it was only fair.
Next to the court review, the pass amend
ment worried Congress more than anything else.
Under the new law, railroads may give inter-
state passes to their employees and families Of
fcers, agents, attorneys, surgeons, charity case,
care takers of live stock poultry and fruit, min
listers and few other classes. Congress shut
out the newspaper men on interstate passes.
Congress has nothing TO do with what passes
road gives in Alabama, Georgia or any other
state so long as the pass does not call for trans
portation across a state line Apparently, one
railroad cannot give an exchange interstate pass
to an employc of another road, not even the pres
ident of the Louisville & Nashville can give
pass after this year to the president OF the
Southern Ry. There are great many solicit
irg agents in the South for roads in the north
and west. AS these men cannot get passes at
ter next January, it is likely that good many OF
them will lose their jobs.
It is a question whethera railway president
can give an interstate pass to his own wife al
though he can give them to the wives and other
members of the families of his employees The
families of directors certainly will be excluded
under the new law although the families OF the
track hands, or other workmen may get them
"Tbs discrimination was what Senator
Baily Of Texas, called cheap demagogy."
Editor Mercer was unexpectedly called from
the city Tuesday evening by a telegram an
nouncing the serious illness of relative IN
another part of the state, hence the attenuated
appearance of this page of today's paper.
Harvey Jordan announces the formation OF
5000, 600 company to utilize cotton stalks IN
making paper and alcohol. A factory IS to De
erected within few months to demonstrate the
practicability Of the scheme.
n ~
The Redemption of Destitute Childhood"
little volumn written Rev. ]. r. Gum OF the
Georgia Industrial Home is worth its weight IN
gold. Rev. Gum says that he has decided TO
sell his address for the benefit of the Home IN
stead of giving them away. We will give our
friends an opportunity to help SOW seed by
buying these books and distributing them.
The entire proceeds will go into the Home treas
urv. The prices will be, single copies 1sc, two