The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-17
Will Put Low Rates in Operation. THREE FRAGMENTS TO
 BE MADE EFFECTIVE Passenger Rate, no Commodities and January Ist Maximum
 Rate Acts. South and North Joins with Louisville and Nashville in Enlarsing Inc junction, Leaving But Three Lines which Have Not
 Yet Acted.

The seaboard Air Line and Atlantic and Birmingham Railways yesterday, following the course of the Southern and allied lines. agreed to put into irn- mediate effect, pending the result of the litigation, the two and half cent passenger fare bill. and the act fixing the maximum rates on 11o commod- ities. The notification to the Governor of. this decision on the part of the Sea- board and the Atlantic and Birming- ham came in a telegram from L. R. Watts, general counsel for the two roads.
 The action of the Seaboard and Att Iantic and Birmingham is indeed more far-reaching in one respect than was the action of the Southern itself. Not only are these two laws to be made effective, as soon as a modification of the restraining order can be secured from Judge Jones. but the provisions of Senate bill No. Is. the act making the rates in effect January 1, 1907, the maximum rates on freight shipments, are also to be accepted by the two roads.
 The telegram from Judge Watts marks the surrender to the State of six of the railroads which filed the orig inaI complaints in the Federal Court. These are the Southern, the Alabama Great Southern, the Mobile and Ohio, the Frisco, the seaboard Air Line. and the Atlantic and Birmingham.
 There are left but five roads which have not agreed to put the essential enactments of the Legislature Into iEn- naediate efneet, pending q final decision by the courts upon the questions in- volved.
 And of these. two have signihed, by their course in applying for enlarged injunctions against the solicitors and sheriffs of the various counties through which they run, to prevent indictments or arrests in interference with their operation of their railroad systems. that they intend to fight the State in the courts,
 These two roads are the Louisville and Nashville. which secured it's en- larged injunction Wednesday. and the South and North Alabama, which se- cured a similar modification in its in function from Judge Jones yesterday. It was expected. as a matter of course. that the South and North would follow The same course as the Louisville and Nashville, and the filing of its spplt- cation was regarded as in the nature Of a formality.
 The other roads, which have as yet taken no action that would indicate their course Tn the present phase Of the controversy, are the Western of Ala bana, Central of Georgia and the AL lantic Coast Line.
 While nothing can be stated as to the course these roads will adopt, 1t seems entirely probable at 'his time, according to those who have followed the course of the controversy, that the Western of Alabama and the Atlantic Coast Line will follow the course taken by the Louisville and Nashville, and be found among the lines that are opposing the demands of the State off, ficiaIs. The probable course of the Central of Georgia is more in doubt.
 Telegram from ScIb0oEd.
 The formal notice that he @eaboard and the Atlantic and Birmingham had surrendered came in telegram to Gov ernor Conner, which that official Ie- ceiyed yesterday morning. It is in full as follows:
 ''Portsmouth. Va. Aug. 15, 1907 'TIis Excellency, Braxton Bragg Conner,
 Governor of Alabama, Montgomery,
 Alabama:
 'The Seaboard Air Line Railway and the Atlantic and Birmingham Railway, although believing that the act approv- cd February IA, 1907, does not apply to either of said roads. will ask for a modification of the restraining order
 Vnd efseet the reduced passenger rates and also meet the requirement of the act. approved March 2. (the 110 commodities act). and the act approved February g. (making the rates in effect January l. 1907. the maximum rates).
 This action to be without prejudice to the right of both the Seaboar- Air line Railway and the Atlantic and Birmingham Air Line Railway to con- test the validity of each of said acts in the litigation now pending. and to prosecute the same If necessary to con- clusion. 1t being understood that the reduced rates are to continue in enect until final decision by the courts or some satisfactory adjustment Is reach cd.
 'Legn R. Watts,
 general Counsel Seaboard Air Line Railway and Atlantic and Birmin gham Air Line Railway"
 In reply to this telegram Governor Conner wired Mir. Watts as follows:
 T congratulate you and your road in the highest terms. The administra- lion earnestly wishes the sincerest am jtv and good feeling between all public service corporations and the people, and will do everything to promote this end We simply insis. that they ob- serve the laws just as any other prop erty or citizen"
 Governor Remains Firm.
 The situation remained yesterday without other important development Governor Conner. when seen at the Cap ital declined to give out any state ment.
 Solicitor Dent would Aot commit him aelf as to the course that he might pur- aue, in the matter of observing. or re-