The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-09
EIGHT BILLS IN THE
 SAME GENERAL SCHEME
Southern, Which Surrendered, Put
 in the Third Class.
New Measures by which the Governor Expects to Tame the Common Car riers are Introduced simul- taneously in Both House
 and Senate.

Governor Conner yesterday through the Legislature. fired his is-inch gun at the Louisville and Nashville Rail- road The Governors proposition to compel the recafcitrant railroads to surrender was so big that it was di- vided up into eight different bills, each with the same title and each comple- rnenting the others
 The Governors idea is new classi ncation. on the basis of the "110 com modities bil1." new maxfmunf rat IS nxed and new classification Is or dered.
 The Southern. which surrendered. is dropped from the first classification under the old bill to the third, which IS considered surprising in view of the importance of that roads property and business in Alabama.
 The Louisville and Nashville. of course. heads the first class even as it did under the original bill. Then the class is filled with the roads with which the Louisville and Nashville is allied. These are the Western of Ala Frisco
 The administration has been firing small shot at the roads since the ses- sion began. but the series of eight hills embodying one general proposition. Is the big gun. On It's passage the rail. roads are expected to run up the white flag of distress
 The series was introduced in the sans ate by Senator Reynolds. It was pro- posed in the House by Representative Maner. In the Senate the bills went to the Judiciary Committee, of which Senator Lusk is chairman. The other railroad measures have been referred to the Committee on Coma,efce and Common CarrieFs
 [ kf te Axaasi-.s.~....x ua.......s. lfss x Senator Spra kffs prnpoGed yesksrsAy that on account of the condition of financial panic in the United States, in- cluding Alabama, that the .9enate ad- journ until the third Tuesday in Feb- ruary. The resolution declared that the Legislature was not responsible for any part of the trouble. but 10 im- prove conditions it would suspend un- til normal quiet and prosperity had been restored.
 Mir. Spragins's resolution was as fol- lows:
 Whereas, A condition of unrest and uneasiness exists in the United Stated bordering on panic; and
 Whereas, This condition Is sym pathatically reflected to less degree in England. and to a less extent in Germany; and, le'Whereas, In times of financial pan ics. incidents of even light character acting upon the welfare and apprehen- sion of the people. often produce dis astrous consequences without regard to cause and effect; and,
 Whereas. This Legislature is con- vened in special session for the pur- pose, namely. of amending the railroad legislation of the regular session, pro- vidlng for lower freight and passen- ger rates. removal of causes from State and Federal courts, and matters of like nature: and. .ss
 whereas. The railroads, or some of them, claim that these reductions will prevent them from earning reasonable interest on the capital invested and have already injuriously affected their business and the value of their hold inGs. and that this legislation, with similar legislation in other States, Is responsible in part to tho panicky con- dition now prevalent; therefore be 1t
 rResolved. by the Senate, the House concurring, that 1t is the sense of the Legislature that the claim of the rail- roads, relative to the effect of this Legislation upon general business con ditions is without foundation and just cause; be 1t further
 Resolved. however, that inasmuch as capital is proverbially timid and the business of the country already vastly disturbed and great loss already suf- fered, by all classes, especially the cot ton growers of the State. that for pru- dental reasons when we adjourn this day, we stand adjourned until the third Tuesday in February, 1908.
 The true intent and purpose of the resolution is that, while we deny the effect upon general conditions as base Iess SO and utterly so. In normal times. that present conditions are abnormal and dangerous and that for the assur- ances and safety of the frightened bus mess interests of the State. We defer further controversy on this subject, until the country has had an oppor- tunity to recover its wonted tone and normal quiet and prosperity
 Opportunity for OEntOry.
 As soonp as the resolution was read 1t was seen that it had no earthly chance of passing. But 1t had the pos abilities of a neat oratoricsl fight in 1t and the opportunity was not lost The first of the warm railroad speeches were Ioosened and the trend of the debate in the extra session was indicated.
 Only MT. spragins spoke in support of his resolution. He enlarged the idea carried in the resolution, that while the Legislature was in no part responsible for the panic and the finap- cial stress, 1t would certainly assist in restoring quiet in Alabama for the Legislature to adjourn until normal conditions had been restored. It was no use disgusting the fact that the as- sembling of the Legislature had in- creased the business alarm in Alabama
 Senator Hammer was surprised that any such resolution should have been proposed. He declared that the Sen ate had been reassembled that its members might carry out the pledges that had been made In the campaign. He took the view that the Senators should complete their task now through patriotism, If not on any oth | CT account, in view of the shape the 1 Issue had assumed. |
 Senator Lusk opposed the raAnIution-