The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-04
creased from ss,ooo mile to .s.5oo a

creased from s2,ooo a mile to s2.5oo a mile.
 The Carrollton Short Line and the Eastern of Alabama were permitted to return their assessments of last year.
 The Birmingham and Atlantic and the Louisville, Chattanooga and St. Louis had the decision of their taxes held up until some future date.
 Among the prominent attorneys and railroad men attending the meeting of the Board were George W. Jones and John V. Smith of Montgomery, Manly Foster of Tuscaloosa. Cecil Browne of Taliadega, R. V. Taylor and J. c. Rich of Mobile. Hunter Mcdonald of Nash vile, R. E. Steiner, A. II. Arlington and Ray Rushton of Montgomery S. A Duncan of Atlanta for the Postal, c. A Fonville of Montgomery for the Western Union, H. W. Miller and A. M. TunstaAl of the Southern, John T. Cochran of Tuscaloosa. Judge Jones of Montgomery, Rely Dixon of Talla- dega and E. T. Wise of Sumter Coun. ty.
 When the large crowd of railroad men had been assembled in the pri- vate office of Auditor Brandon, Gov ernor Conner read the new law on the assessment of railroad property. The paragraph which authorizes the Board to take into consideration the capital stock and bonds of a railroad accord ing to their market value was the principal feature of the new assess ment law. It provides that the amount of bonds and of capital stock per mile on each railroad, as quoted in the market should be considered while the Board was determining the amount of taxes the road should pay.
 Declares Law Indefinite.
 Major R. E. Steiner declared the act indefinite.
 We do not know what information you will require of us under the act" said Major Steiner. The act is so indefinite that the nature of the in- formation you will require depends up- on the Boards construction of 1t. We have brought to you what we thought was necessary. If you want further information. we will have. to ask . postponement and request you to have the Secretary of the Board write us wha. you want.
 The gentlemen who represent the roads here are no doubt like myself not informed as to what the Board really desires None of us present can tell s.u the value of our stocks and bonds and under Senate Bill 8, you are entitled to that infoi matIon. But .Ae act also says that we shall .ave a reasonable time for the production of this information"
 lHow long would you require, Ma jor?" asked Governor Conner.
 Major Steiner suggested that at least two weeks should be given and perhaps the Board would be willing to allow railroads until May 1. for the collection of the required infor- nation.
 Speaking for the telegraph compa- nies, S. A. Duncan said that he did not understand how the new act affected the taxes of those companies this year. They were required under the old law to file their assessments before February 1. This had been done
 After those assessments had heen filed. the new law wasspassed to re- quire them to send in a list of stock and bonds outstanding on me prop erty of the company. The company had fully complied with the law as 1t existed and he submitted that 1t was impossible for the company to tell what was in the mind of tho Legisla- lure. The company could not possibly divine the intentions of the Legisla- ture and do it's bidding before the law had been passed.
 The scope of the Boards inquiry continuing a matter of uncertainty, Attorney General Garber read the act in question, which authorized the Board to adjourn from time to time in order to get the full information. The act furthermore authorized the Hoard to summon as witnesses officers of tue railroad companies.
 People, Not Legislature Discussed.
 Governor Conner explained that the Board particularly desired to get exact information, as to the amount of securi- ties outstanding against each mile of railroad in the State. The Board
 woulj make up an exact list of the information wanted and the Secretary would send 1t to the proper agent Of each railroad.
 "Colonel Tunstall. it's one of the laws you helped make"' said Governor Conner to Representative A. NJ Tuns- tall.
 q understand that. Governor. but you recall that got no chance to study 1t or to learn what was in it. although I may have voted for it.. said Mir. Tunstall
 Governor Conner declared that the laws on the railroad question passed by the Legislature had been more thoroughly discussed than any laws passed by an Alabama Legislature ID recent years. They had been voted on by the people before they had been voted on by the Legislature.
 And I'll say to you. gentlemen continued the Governor. that l will