The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-22
Agreement Is Reached With
 the Southern Railway
ALL LITIGATION IS DROPPED
Georgia Rates Are Put in on Southern Road-Nothne Has Been Done By Louisville and Nashville Off,
 cias Toward Settlement.
BY HENRY w. LAIRD.

 Montgomery, october 21.-(Special.)- By agreement reached at a late hour tonight all litigation of the Southern | railway and allied lines against the state in resistance to the new freight and passenger rates will be withdrawn ] at once, a passenger rate of sg4 ednts .g mile will be put iny ,pnd the Georgia intrastate rate be allowed on the mile- age basis in Alabama.
 It is a victory for Governor Conner who has fought for the Georgia rates for many years. When seen tonight the governor expressed the greatest pleasure at the outcome, expressing belief that it will mean much to the business interests of the state The agreement was entered into by the gov ernor, representing the state; President Finley for the Southern and the Ala bama Great Southern, and Vice Presi- dent D. l.. Russell for the Mobile and Ohio. The time is December l. when the agreement is to be taken on. The governor and the railroad commission is to have charge of readiustment of the rates and are to see that everything
 
 lines making the agreement
 Term of Agreement.
 The agreement provides for the fol- lowing straight local intrastate passen- ger rates of 2$i cents mile, with one and two thousand mile books at 21s cents. and families to have books of five hundred miles at 2lk cents. Fare t..fA q ,t,,..
 ger rate shall be voluntarily, or after litigation put in in any south ern state by any of the lines mentioned at il lower rate than is given in Alabama the Alabama rates shall be reduced to that figure down to 21A cents. After December l roads in agreement have right to charge the same intrastate rates as Georgia on commodities mem tioned in the no commodity bill save that the fertilizer rate now on the Mo bile and Ohio shall prevail.
 Six months is to he considered long enough for a trial of the rates. If after that time it is shown that any of the rates are inadequate for sufficient revenue they will be raised by the con- mission or if any too high will nc lowered. In putting in the rates the roads are not to lose any legal rights they may have in litigation that they may desire to enter into and have d right to enter into if the commission fails to raise any rate that seems un- reasonable.
 Litigation Dismissed.
 No liability on bonds made by the roads in the litigation shall be in- cured by the agreement, nor any lia- bility for damages. It is also agreed that no right or interest of any of the roads shall be affected by any legisla- tion adopted at any extra session of the legislature. prior to the next regu- lar session in all matters covered by the agreement Litigation in the feder- al courts is to be dismissed. Attorney General Garber and Vice President Rus sell will look after this at once.
 There is nothing tonight to indicate that the Louisville and Nashville wiu make any compromise. President smith did not see the governor today
 Smith Was Watched.
 Ever since the compromise with some of the roads, effort has been made to get President M. H. smith of the Louisville and Nashville to agree to the rates. the belief being well established that If that line would come in all the others would. But MT. Smith has not only refused to do his, out has written several letters in sfss he made rather caustic remarks
 VI governor and the policy he has
 Smith came here Sunday
 ',yestion Of President Fin
 it is said. in line with
 le eTsatending parties
 e-Monday in
 'sNile Mr.
 with