The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-16

carriers nor freight rate makers.
l recommend the enactment of laws
requiring that all railroads operated in
this state shall give said port and
waterways the recognition their i'm
portance deserves and that they may
be made basing points for fixing rates
into and through the state; and that
you authorize the railroad commission
to incur any needed expense to carry out
this requirement, and that you enact all
necessary legislation in this particular.
Watered Stock.
Railroads and other public service cor
porations have at their volition increased
or watered capital stock and securities
without regard to the true value of their
| properties. Under the law they claim
| the right to assess the people taxes to
cover interests on securities whether
stocks or bonds. The state owes it to its
citizens to intervene protection against
| these speeous securities Therefore, |
suggest a law that in the reorganization
of any road or public service corpor-
alton. in the building or erecting OF
any new road or public service corpor-
alton, that the amount of securities that
may be issued against its properties
must be submitted to a commission with
the proper authority to cause survey
of the property properties, with rel
erenee to the proposed valuations and
that such valuation be limited to the
result of that survey or report and no
securities shall be issued against those
properties without the authorization oil
that commission.
| recommend laws prohibiting the
increase of capital stock or securities
by railroads and other public service
corporations doing business in the
state, unless the proposed increase OF
said stock or securities be first sub
mitted to the railroad commission OF the
state. or other proper authority, and APP
proved by said commission or said au-
thority.
One Freight Tariff.
The practice in this state for one rail-
road company, owning two or more lines
within the state, to use freight tariffs
as if an of these lines were individual
or separate roads, is very much to the
, disadvantage and cost of the shippers. |
therefore suggest that any railroad which
owns and operates any other railroad
| in the state, shall be required to have
one general freight tariff, and the cost
and charge of the freight shall be based
| on a mileage as one continuous line and
not as the sum of two locals.
And l further suggest a statue requir-
| ing that where one railroad owns the
majority of the stock of any other in
| the state. the business of the two shall
| be conducted, so far as freight tariffs
| are concerned, as one railroad.
Car Service and Demurrage.
The car service and demurrage rules es-
| tablished by the railroads, imposing
| charge against the shipper or consignee
| for the detention of cars, or delay in
| taking the freight from the depots, are
| correct in the principle that no one has a
| right to use or retain the property of an
other without paying for same. But these
rules are entirely one-sided, they are
made by the railroads themselves. They
| impose charges and penalties upon the
| shipper alone, and when on account of
| their own negligence and delays the ship
per suffers like loss for their failure to de-
| liver or move his goods promptly or with
| in reasonable time, there is no corre-
spending charge to reimburse him. This
is manifestly unjust, and I recommend
| laws that car service and demurrage
| rules be enforced by the railroad commits
sion, treating both parties alike in the
matter of forfeitures or pay for unreal
sonable detention and unreasonable SER
vice.
| Rebates.
! I recommend laws prohibiting the CIV
| ing of rebates by common carriers in
this state and prohibiting the acceptance
of same by shippers.
| Determinations.
] l recommend a law preventing discrim-
1 ination in the price of freight to the ship
pers of the state, establishing that any
shipper of carload lots shall have the
same rate as any other shipper of car
load lots-the same rule of equity TO APP
ply to any shipper in less than carload
! lots and prevent discrimination of every
| kind or character by any public service
| corporation. 1t is not to the interest of
our state that there should be discrimin-
alton against any industry, any BUSH
ness or any man.
| ] recommend the enactment of laws re-
quiring common carriers to supply ship
pers without discrimination with adequate
! facilities for the prompt moving of their
| freight and the imposition of such PEN
alties on said carriers as will force them
| to supply such means of transportation
and prevent discrimination.
inspection of Books.
| I recommend the enactment of laws re-
quiring common carriers in this state to-
! submit their books, papers and records
| to the inspection of the railroad commits
| sion or other proper authority, and also
| 10 submit their agents to an examna-
| ton under oath by said railroad commits
| SON. or other proper authority, for the
purpose of determining the actual amount
| Of capital invested in their properties in
| this state well as their earnings and
| expenses in operating their lines within
| our borders. | further recommend that
| the railroad commission of Alabama, or
other authority, charged with this inves-
| tigation shall be supplied with ample
means out of the revenues of this state
| for making such inspection and examina-
| ton.
Claims.
| The method of the payment of claims
for lost or damaged freight and stock
| killed by the roads, and for loss for the
| ron performance of their duties and con-
| tracts, is very irregular. While some of
| these claims are settled promptly the
| settlement of very great many are de-
| layed for months even years, and many
| of them lost entirely. The carriers them
selves recognizing the importance of the
| prompt settlement of such claims when
| due them, enforce the rule that they
will deliver no more freight until their
| claims are settled. In other words, estab-
fishing law unto themselves and with
| out cost to them of a suit. | recommend
a statute requiring the prompt adjusting
of these claims, and when correct, the
| ,,rarnnt ma Vmpnt of Them. and some met h.