The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-03

A fact that the active leader in promoting the Legislation of 1SS3-4 seemed to have Income convinced that what he designed was undesirable; and, although he was later appointed to the interstate com meree commission, where by hls ability he yielded potent influence, he nsverthe- less exercised his official power intelli- gently and justly.
 Business of Railroads. In 1SSl the number of miles Of rall- ways in operation in Alabama was loo4; gross earnings, $S,115,455. Tn 1906 the number of miles of railway in oneradon in Alabama was 566O; gross earnings $34217,79O. an increase dur1s the 25 years of 214 per cent in mileage and % Ter cent in business done. .grhis was the period in which, you as sert ths Louisville and Nashville Ran- road company exercised a dominant in nuence in preventing legislation adversely affecting railway interests. During this period the Louisville and Nashville in | vested many millions in the construction of branch railways, to develop the min eral forest product and agricultural re- | 'sources of the state; and practically all r those millions were furnished by citizens 1 of other states. .Bv it's example the Louisville and Nashville Railroad company encouraged 1 if it did not induce, other corporations | 10 do likewise and also besought and en- l couraged the investment of capital 10 es- | tablish and further industries and indus | trial activities Had the numerous an- 1 taponistic measures introduced in the leg | islatnre in 1883 been enacted and enforced | down to this time, railway and indus | trial naralysis would have ensued, and the enormous investments in railways and l in other industries would certainly not have been made.
 This may safely be affirmed in view of inc effect which the drastic laws enacted by the present legislature have already | had upon capital At the best of times 1 the flow of capital to the south, and to | Alabama particularly has been woetuily out of proportion to the vast extent of the 1 resources to be developed; and now the state with investment capital diminished so as to be almost imperceptible, con fronts improvements of great magnitude abandoned development arrested and pro- gress stayed.
 Freight Rates Fixed. "You assert that similar legislation In other states has resulted in prosperity; and you call attention to the fact that the freight rates fixed by statute on 1lO articles are the same as have for years been in effect in the state of Georgia. "You, as heretofore, fail to notice the fact that the rail carriers in Alabama, in their endeaVor to promote the develop ment of mines and other industries, nave on many articles made much lower rates than are in effect in Georgia; and, Tn fact lower rates for the transportation of raw material for furnaces, rolling mills, foundres. etc., than are in effect in any other place in the world At hearing before the Alabama rail Noad commission at Montgomery on April 1905, In disputing a similar statement by you as president of the commis-
 stated emphatically that the legis
 acted in Georgia bankrupted
 Nad but three in the state, and
 os of two of the, three were
 Louisville and Nashville
 r. At subsequent hear
 carefully elaborated
 t, by iteration and
 ntinue to spread
 that that legis
 conduct oi
 had life 10 not
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 'rhere are . that 10 acres .a. man who owns | acre farm has |Uel. l thousand acres Vt acres for 2500 fam | the President of t. 1 it is necessary for .. | thing to reduce swt | Tt is true that tn | tune before 1t Is swc clearly defined. but who may be taught | man that owns and cult | 5000 acres, owns cotton real estate, etc., has more his fortune may be swolel l M. II. SMITH PAYS PENALTY 1a
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