The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-09
How New Classification Bills Work. PROVISIONS OF THE
 NEW RAILROAD CODE nsurgent Roads Forced to Collect Smaller Amounts :. Louisville and Nashville and Allied Lines Permitted .to Charge Only 10 Per Cent Above Maximum,
 While Southern May Go
 25 Per Cent.

With the introduction of his classln- cation and commodity bills, 1t Is be- lieved that Governor Conner has all of his anti-railroad legislation before the House and Senate. The bills have been introduced simultaneously in both houses to increase their chances for a rapid passage.
 The new commodity and classifica- tion bills are based in a measure upon the old act, but the classification is changed. The Southern and its allied roads draw fine places in the classifi- l cation. To the Louisville. and Nash vile and its allied lines, lemons are handed They are all put in the hrH class and the rate charging powerEs IS closely restricted.
 The Alabama Great Southern. a big division of the Southern, at one time occupied place by the Louisville ana Nash vile in the first-class, they being considered on a par. But the Soutliern signed an agreement with the Gov ernor. AStraightway 1t is dropped 10 the third-cIa and allowed to charge class rates which will be higher Jhan those allowed to the Louisville and Nashville.
 The new bills are eight in number, each bill containing a classification or grouping of commodities, and each naming the roads for each group or rates.
 In the first group or class, the roads named are the Louisville and Nashvisle, the Atlantic Coast Line, the western of Alabama and the Frisco.
 The second group or class consists of the Central of Georgia, the Seaooard Air Line, the Nashville, Chattanooga and st. Louis and the Atlanta and BIT mingham Air Line.
 The third group is composed of the al lines. including the Alabama Great Southern, and the { Illinois Central. The fourth group IS made up of the short lines of the state.
 Low Raten on L.. and N.
 The bills name a maximum rate ana define how much each road may pe authorized to charge over the maxi mum. Tn group 5, for instance tne first class roads can cna.se oniy o4as per cent above the maximum rates ,nder any circumstances, but the roaos in the second class may charge 2O per cent above the maximum under certain conditions, The third class roaus, ot which the Southern is the principal may charge 25 per cent above the max imum, while the fourth class roads are authorized to charge 5O per cent apoVe tie maximum. .,
 This series of bills will be the mosi ,nportant matter considefed 7 at the 4oint meeting to be held today at lt o'clock in the Supreme Court room. m the Senate some of the railroad Dills went to the Committee on Commerce and Common Carriers and some went = the7 Judiciary Commfttes. fu tife House the bills went. to the Committee on Commerce and Common Carriers.
 The three committees will hold ioint session this morning at which the hills will be considered and at which arguments will be heard. It was moi known last night who would make the arguments for the railroads.
 There are about twenty of the rail- road bills, which 1t is proposed to weld into a new railroad code. The impress sion is prevalent at the Capitol that the more important bills will be fav- orably reported to the Senate at its next session, Monday morning.
 A committee hearing was set for yes terday morning at which the railroad bills we're to have been considered. but the bills were still in the hands, of the printer and the representatives of the railroads asked that they be given time to learn what was in the bills, as they contained entirely new matter and they had had no opportunity of examining them.
 Decide for Hearing.
 Senator Lusk ventured the opinion that the committee was under no obli- gation to hear from the Louisville and Nashville because it was still fighting the laws previously passed and criti- cizing the call for the extra session.
 But the committee decided for hear ing today. Former Congressman Sid ney J. Bowie was present and it was understood that he would offer an ar- Eument on the bills in behalf of the railroads.
 In addition to the more important classification bills there are two other