The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-13
l SI ADMINISTRATION
 BILL PADSES THE HOUSE
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 ton is the legislative Bible. We do not know whether or not the laws are con- fiscatory; neither does the governor, ' said MT. Thomas. sBefore we had done more than adjourn the governor told us we were wrong and gave the Southern railway another and higher rate. If we were wrong then we are wrong now"
 Finally, on the suggestion of Senator Jones, the bill went over till tomorrow, as many of the senators were not posted
 Senator Lusk then called for one of the group bills fixing rates to be charged and eliminating commodity classifica- ton.
 Mir Thomas said they had been fixed al the last session. "lf the others were wrong how do we know that these are right?' said MT. Thomas.
 While the discussion was on the senate adjourned.
 Thomas Still Speaking.
 At the opening of the afternoon ses- sion of the senate MT. Thomas accused MT Overton of haylng supported bills to deprive the railroads of the rights to go into the courts. The effect of the bills will be this, no matter what is said. They will make it possible for millions of suits.
 "rhe only purpose of this session is to deprive the railroads of the right to go into the courts in a way that the states attorneys have agreed Is orderly" said MT. Thomas.
 MT. Thomas said that Senators voted at the last session for bills that they knew little of then and hardly more yet He did vote for them without knowing whether or not they were right He ex- pected senators to vote on the bills now pending without knowing they are just.
 Having referred to the classification
  tention of Mir. Thomas was called to cer- tain statements of Railroad Commissioner Nesbitt. These were to the effect that the classification resulted from a show ing made by the Alabama Great South ern that the earnings would not justify higher place.
 Mr. Thomas said the governor had no right to bind the legislature as was in- tended in the agreement with the South ern railway. Also that the governor was oversteppng his rights in attempt ing to bind the judiciary. as Is the case in the agreement referred to.
 Several senators inter- tied MT. Thom- as and there were many almost unpleas- ant passages.
 Mr. Thomas said the governor had no right to compromise the suit against the Southern by which it lost its li- cense to do business If that law was valid the governor exceeded his au- thority, as he did in the case of the recent agreement.
 Mir Overton said he did not intend to discuss the bills, but was drawn into 1t by Mr. Thomas. All knew, he said why the special session was called, because of the refusal of the Louisville and Nashville to obey the laws. He believed the laws should be obeyed. If the railroads had gone to the state courts the controversy would have been over long ago. He believed the cor porations should be forced to obey the laws the same as any other citizens
 "I am here to hold up the hands of the governor in his efforts to make laws for regulation of the railroads" said MT. Overton. ''The senate, to my mind would stultify itself if it does not take this kind of a course"
 MT Reid said he just had to talk He might as well unburden himself now as later.
 With reference to Judge Thomas G. Jones, MT. Reid. among other things, said: "Is he standing now for state rights, as he did in the time of the war? He seems determined to fight out the cases now before him, no mat ter what damage 1t does to the state and people. After this MT. Reid went into a general criticism of the railroads and the holding up of the state laws by the federal court. He