The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-03
DENIES ASSERTIONS OF
 THE THREE GOVERNORS

Affirmation, pure and simple. How can it ..b known that the allegations made by the railways are contrary to the facts until the facts have been pre- scented and, after due consideration, de- cision reached by the courts? If the honorable gentlemen feel assured that the allegations in the bills filed by the railway companies are contrary to the facts, why do they so strenuously and recklessly oppose trial of the causes In the courts?
 Inyective and siisfnformatfoH.
 When the railroad companies cease their false cry of confiscation and submit to the duly constituted author tties. upon which alone rests the right to deter questions of public policy, the railread companies may expect a rapid return of public confidence and . restoration of normal credits
 'The inference to be drawn from the foregoing is that the Governors are in their own opinion. the constituted authorities, upon which alone rests the right to determine questions of public policy and although they have, by vi- tuperation and inyective, industriously disseminated transformation by which they have gained political preferment and are thus necessarily precluded from judicially determining the rights and wrongs of the question at issue they are still demanding that with them alone rests the question of deciding what remuneration the railroads shall receive. and upon what conditions they shall be managed; and in addition they have the assurance to deny an appeal to the courts.
 They are at all times ready to hear from tho railroad companies fully and to accord to them treatment not only just but liberal,' and this after having for years devoted themselves to de- nouncing railway corporations. Their attempt to place the responsibility for resentatives of the railway companfes Is pitiful, and the error of the state ment is apparent.
 Again:
 "'We regard the complete recogni. tion of the right of the State to reg. ulate the intra-state business of trans. portation companies as absolutely nee. essary'
 Those who are familiar with tho conditions in Alabama and Georgia wifi readily read into the foregoing the demand of the right to destroy, under the guise of regulation.
 This and other assertions contained in the signed statement. taken in con. nection with the laws enacted by tht last Legislature. (which, as Is well known. were prepared by skillful at. torneys under the direction of the Gov. ernor, and which. if enforced, woule render operation of railroads in Ala. bama improbable so far as 1t can bs done by the regulation of intra-statt trafflc) makes clear the animus. and demonstrates the insincerity of the al. legations.
 VIII They Tnvests
 Tt is known that some of the stat utes enacted were so onerous and un- reasonable that the patrons of railroad companies are refusing or refrainins from requiring their enforcement.
 "The insincerity may be tested by every one in answering the following query, which describes, the real ques' ton at issue:
 "Will the citizens of Georgia, ol other States or other countries. invest their savings. on which they may de- sire to receive a satisfactory return, tt create railroads in a State or countr1 where the remuneration received fol the transportation of persons ant property is fixed by the agents of thu State, without the State assuming an! responsibility for the result, and, il addition to fixing the rates and exact ing onerous taxes, enacts laws regulat 'rrr the conduct of business and the re lations between the carrier and its pat rons in a manner that if enforced. VII greatly embarrass, and probably finan cially embarrass. the carrier?
 "Iet each one answer.
 Milton H. Smith"