The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-12
RIcHARDs>N UPH0t',IS JONES Cong ,illanDe the s .deral Courts. JURISDICTION Predicts Settlement in United
 States Supreme Court. Says Railroads Have Spent Much Nfon- ey in Alabama and Believes
 They shouId Derive
 Fafr Profit.
JURISDICTION

Huntsville, Sept. 11.--(Special.)-- Representative William Richardson, in q speech at the opening of County Court in Moulton, defends the action of the Federal Court in assuming juris- diction of the railroad rate cases and deprecates the tendency among certain people to cast reflections on the Federal Courts.
 Judge Richardson says he cannot be- lieve that anyone can seriously en- certain the idea thata Judge David D. Shelby. of the Court of Appeals. Judge Toulmin or Judge Thomas c. Jones would usurp and defy the sacred rights of the State. The people should under stand. he said. that the exercises of the lawful Jurisdiction of the Federal Court is no menace to or impairment of the rights of a State.
 Continuing, he said:
 T shall not enter into . discussion of the details that brought about the apprehension that there might be some clash between the Federal Court pre- sided over by Judge Jones and state officials on account of restraining order issued by Judge Jones suspending cer- tain acts of the State Legislature in the matter of reducing the passenger and commodity charges of railroads in Alabama. The matter presents it. self to me in this attitude.
 'sThe railroads have spent money in our State in building their roadbeds. station houses and other betterments. The only possible way to pay them back fair profit upon what they have spent is by charges for the transpor- tation of freight and passengers. State and, Federal statutes require these charges to be reasonable. It is a vital question with the carrier that the rate fixed should not be so low as to pre- vent the company from realizing this profit. because that would lead to bank ruptcy. No one can certainly deny that Federal Court has jurisdiction of such a question. If the rate is so reduced as to prevent a fair profit on capital invested, then that would res suit in conflacating the roads property without any hearing, trial or inyestiga- ton.
 NO good eitizan in Alabama desires Co do such "a thing as. that. The r&it' road thought that rate was too low, ap' piled to Jndge Jones and he issued or ders, took Jurisdiction and declared the acts of the Alabama Legislature un- constitutional and suspended them Nc State court of Alabama as I under stand, has yet assumed Jurisdiction by issuing any process or proceedings. The Federal Court under the order of Judge Jones LOOK JuTlSulCItoH OA suO- feet matter which its Jurisdiction was undisputed. As 1t occurs to me. the orderly procedure of courts and the respect dua of such vital importance to society that even if Judge Jones should be mistaken in his judgment of the validity of the law of Alabama, yet no other court, State of otherwise, could interfere with his orders while the investigation was pending.
 do not believe that the Governor of Alabama desires to see any friction in our State between the State and Federal courts, nor do I believe there will be any. Not an employe of rail- road will be indicted or arrested in violation of Judge Joness restraining order. At least hope not. The mat ter will go on quietly up to the Su- preme Court of the United States like many other cases heretofore from Ala bama have gone. It will be decided by the highest court in the world-men who know what the law is and will ad- minister 1t. I see no occasion at all for bad blood or unkind expressions, It is a simple question of the jurisdic- tion of a court. Our people will never willingly and knowingly be placed fin an attitude of hostility to the courts. If we lose faith and respect for our courts, then indeed we have broken the strongest link in the chain of the protection of our rights of person and property"