The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-07
SAYS ROADS
 DEFY THE LAW Commissioner Nesbitt Makes Statement. NEW OFFICIAL IS SORRY Had Hoped Carriers of Alabama
 Would Cooperate. Gives Notice that Acts win Be HigidIy Enforced. and Adds a Thought
 On Express Company
NEW OFFICIAL IS SORRY

w B. Nesbitt, Associate Railroad Com missioner, has given out statement in which he says he Is sorry to note that the railways in Alabama have. in the past few weeks. raised the rates upon a number of articles of daily shipment within the State.
 Tt is my understanding" he states, 'sthat this is in direct violation of the recent acts of the Legislature, and seems to show on the part of the rail- ways spirit of defiance, which at this time Is unfortunate"
 He says the commission will not toll crate any violation of the law. If the violations have actually occurred.
 Statement By Nesbitt.
 The interview given out in full is as follows:
 q am sorry to note that the railways in Alabama have. in the past few weeks, raised the rates upon number of articles of daily shipment within the State. It is my understanding that this is in direct violation of the recent acts of the Legislature, and seems to show on the part of the railways spirit Of defiance, which at this time Is unfor- tunate.
 T wish to ask that the shippers, the rates on whose shipments have been changed in the recent past, advise me at once of such changes in order that, dl the EdfAiCNN+ pOHSiDAG AffVfhEANf tANy may be investigated, and, if such changes have been made fin violation of the letter and spirit of the present laws, immediate steps may be taken to have the matter rrghted
 q had hoped that the railroads in the State would see fit to cooperate with the State officers. charged with the enforcement of it's laws, in an earn est effort to give an intelligent. fair a 4 fsSHsa ri taf trtal tfa hn ranff&Ta40anfG of these new laws I am sure that they would find in the present Rail- road Commission a desire to cooperate with them In avery way possible, with in the limits of the law. to make the business of the railways satisfactory to themselves and their patrons and to the upbuflding of the State
 T am very sure however. if the facts referred to indicate the spirit in which our rai4xqads are to act, that they will find the forces of the state. as direct ed through it's officers firmly continu- stoutiy and energeticaliy aiingned to compel obedience. propose to take up this question at the next meeting of the commission. which will be next week. and to undertake such steps as will at once test the strength of our laws. If they are inadequate, we wish to know it at once; If they are adequate the railroads must respect them,
 T trust that this very frank state- ment of our views of the conditions will result in our railroad friends look ing carefully into the new laws before taking such action as noted above and that they will join the commission in an honest effort to apply practically and equitably, these requirements with out recourse to legal fight between the state and the railroads, which oth- CT action on the part of the railroads will insure.
 Express Rates, Too.
 '@The commission will take up at the next meeting the question of express rates and conditions in the state. An investigations which I made during last fall and summer indicated that the local express rates in Alabama were very much higher than those obtaining in our sister state of Georgia, the av- craze being something like forty per cent. A small package under five pounds can be shipped by express any where within the state of Georgia Tor twenty-five cents, and the schedules on fruits, vegetables, eggs and other things produced In large quantities in the state and needing quick transporta- tion service are very much lower than our rates.
 Our fruit and trucking industry needs help along these lines, that Ala bana raised produce may reach nome markets promptly and at reasonable rates to the benefit of the producer and the consumer in such points as Birmingham, where we are now limit ed almost entirely for our supply to points outside of Alabama. With an increase of trucking in this district which is sure to come when advan- tages of home market are offered the comfort will be largely increased and the cost of living much decreased in our large centers like Birmingham"