The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-19
TWO ROADS ACCEPT TERMS Seaboard and A, & B. .. Allied Lines Come In.
  THEY SIGN THE AGREEMENT No Change to Be Made in Pending
 Legislation. Tee Railress conmis.io., which Ap- prevea Asreeme.t, wni rrobeb- asay Change. CIassiacatioa for the surre.sered Roads.
 
THEY SIGN THE AGREEMENT

Following the example set by the Southern Railway and it's allied lines, the Seaboard Air Line and the Atlanta and Birmingham Air Line yesterday agreed to accept the same terms as those held out to the Southern. The agreement was signed yesterday after- noon by Governor Conner on behalf of the Statc after a consultation with tn members of the Railroad Commits sion, and vice.Rresident L. Sevier. of the Eeaboard.
 Mir. Sevier appeared at the Capitol yesterday afternoon by appointment, although no previous news of his com ing nor of the prospective agreement had been allowed to leak to the pub- lie. That the terms of the agreement had been settled in advance is evi- had been prepared in advance of the arrival of Mir. Sevier.
 A short conference was held In the Governors private office between the Chief Executive and the representative !. of tha railroad, immediately upon his arrival. The Governor took the posi- tion that under the laws which are about to be passed by the Legislature. the consent of the Railroad Commfs- sion would be necessary before an ef- fevtive agreement could be made.
 A telephone consultation was held after which the agreement was signed
 The first news of the agreement be ing reached was contained in the an nouncement by the Governor. He said that the Seaboard Air Line and the Atlanta and Birmingham Air Line hat agreed to withdraw the suits now pending in the Federal Court, by whicf the reasonabl9ness of the rates enacted by the regular session of the Nlegisla. ture are questioned, and to put into eff feet, on January 1, 1908, the two and three-fourth cent passenger rate ana the He commodity freight rate hsll
 In consideration of these reduced rates, it is understood the Seaboard ana It's allied line are to be freed from any further molestation by the state of. ffcials, being accorded the same privi leges contained in the agreement mad by the Southern.
 It is understood that the new classi, fication bills, which are being passed as administration measures, provide for all such emergencies as this. Int Governor. in fact, when asked if any amendments to laws or pending billI would be necessary in view of the ac tion of the Seaboard and the Atlants and Birmingham, said no such amend ments would be required.
 The classification bills contain a gen eral provision, to which little impor tance has previously been attached permitting the railroad commission t, change classiflcations. of any road ol roads. N
 This will permit the railroad comnis sion, which yesterday gave its assen to the compromise, to change tn, classification. and thus the rates per, mitted to be charged by the two roads, almost at will, within the some what wide limitations of the measures in question:
 The Governor was very visibly pleased at the action of the Seaboart and it's allied line in deciding to com, into agreement with the State on thi rate question.