The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-07
COMMISSIONERS ID
 HOLD CONFERENCE Will Discuss Phases of State
 Railroad Regulation THE HENRY B. GRAY CASE Attorney Asks That Supreme Court Grant a New Hearing In Custer
 Suit Recently Decided In
 Favor of Road.


 time to be agreed upon for the purpose of going into matters of interest to all. Among the things to be discussed will be rates, demurrage and the build- ing of depots, along with scores of other details. The commission also issued an order to prevent any railroad from discontinuing a passenger train without permission of the commission.
 Because of the absence of the at torneys the argument in the case of the Postal Telegraph company against | the Birmingham Terminal company was | postponed.
 l The question of under -chargeable | passenger rates was continued to Jan uary 10.
 l The order in the call for general commission and regulating passenger trains is given below:
 Montgomery, Ala, December 6, 1907.
 This commission, in considering the probable orders which it may wish to make regarding reports from the differ ent railways on intrastate business 1 the requirements for making changes In their established rates, schedules depots or other service, the matter of demurrage, and all other matters per- l taining to their service in the state has concluded that it would be ben efcial to the general service in this southeastern territory if the commits sions of different states interested through a conference, coul darrive at uniform requirements respecting these matters.
 | The fact that the commissions of the different states do and may each for it's own state, make requirements of the railways differing from the require ments of adjoining states necessarily causes confusion and renders the rail- ways less able to perform satisfactory service in all the states than they would be able to perform were the re- quirements of each state largely the same as the requirements of adjoining states.
 In the making of reports to the diff ferent state commissions and furnish ing information to them where these reports vary for each state, it is nec- essary for the railways to keep tn cir
 
 i them to meet the requirements of each commission. Where these requirements vary largely it Is almost impossible for the railways except at tremendous eX penses and labor to furnish the infor- nation in satisfactory form.
 It is absolutely necessary, as we are | sure the experience of other commissions proves, that information regarding the amount of movement the revenue and cost of intrastate business more fully than that filed in the past, be furnished. The forms used by the interstate com merce commission, applying as they did to the whole business of the railroad lines, do not give the state detailed infor nation necessary that the commissions may properly determine questions of in- tra-state business brought before them. TO the extent that the requirements of the various state commissions increase the cost of furnishing information and carrying on the business of different rail- ways, to that extent is their ability to re- duce rates decreased; to the extent that the commission unnecessarily require the attention of the executive and operating departments of the railways, to that ex- tent IS the railroads ability to furnish ] good service to their patrons diminished. | In view of these facts. this commission suggests to the state commissions in the southeastern territory. embracing Mis- sissppi, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, North and South Carolina. that it would be beneficial to the railways and to the citizens of this section If uniform | information could be had on these mat ters by the commissions of these states and to that end we bring this matter to l your attention and suggest a conference between representatives of the commits sions and would be pleased if you would promptly give us your suggestions. { This matter was considered and acted 1 upon at a full meeting of the commission ! at Montgomery, Ala, on this date, De- 1 cember 6. 1907.
 Henry Gray Case.
 The attorneys for Henry B. Gray of Birmingham. in his fight against the Louisville and Nashville railroad, have | asked that the supreme court grant a new hearing In the custer case recently decided in favor of the road While the matter is being discussed the certificate from the lower court has been recalled. In this case the lower court, on appli- cation of Mir. Gray. a minority stock holder of the South and North held that the Louisville and Nashville had not properly acquired control of the other l line. hence a judgment of custer was is- sued, the effect of which would have been to deprive the major corporation of the control of the minor
 Lieutenant Governor Henry B. Gray will be here tomorrow to sign the sen ate journal Clerk Brown of the house may have to meet Speaker Carmichael in Tuscumba for that duty on the part of the house journal. J. D. Cook of Luverne and J. J. Tur- rentine of Athens have been appointed tax commissioners
 The questions for the January eXami- nations for teachers are being sent out by Secretary II. J. Willingham of the board of examiners. They will be held the first Monday. Tuesday and Wednes- day in that month.
 Centennial Committee. A meeting of the centennial commit tee of Alabama Methodism has been called for Monday night in Montgomery, at which time the movement for a gen eral observance of the tooth anniversary of the organization of the church in the state will be launched. It is expected that plans will be made to make the ob- servation general. The committee is com- posed of Revs. J. NJ. Dannelly. E. l.. Crawford. Frank Seay, c. H. Motley and Judge William II. Thomas. Js A. Wikin- son and Dr. Thomas M. Owen. Dr. Owen being the chairman.
 Southern Railway will sell