The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-08
|T0 STAY TO FINISH
RATLR0AD ENGINEERS COME T(
 FIGHT SUNDAY BILL.
Delegation of MobiIians Appears Before Senate Committee In Opposition to
 Neenure--Sood Ronds Ad- . vocates Encouraged.


 Representatives of Frascati Division No. 6s7, Brotherhood of Locomotive En- gineers, who propose to stay on the ground until the Sunday freight bill is disposed of one way or another, ap- peared before the open session of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Common Carriers last evening to ar- gue against the proposed stopping of all freight trains on the first day of the week.
 This division of the brotherhood of engineers extends from Mobile on the South to Middleton, Tenn, on the North along the Mobile, JacKson and Kansas City lines, and to Meridian. Miss, on the West. In this territory the pay roll of the railroad employees who would be affected bs the passage of the measure, amounts to $s1 1000 per month, and the engineer are insIstent that practically si2.ooo per month ought not to be legislated from their
 Chief John Crabtree and A. G. Smith. First Assistant Engineer of the Divis- ion. are now in Montgomery. They were sent here by their comrades to work against the passagJ of the proposed law, and to remain until decision is reached.
 Resolutions adopted by the division. t0C Senate where the Sunday bill Is pend- ing, protesting against the proposed law, and setting forth in detail their opposition. were presented to the com mitee at it's meeting.
 A number of prominent business men of Mobilf were present, having come from the Gulf City to protest against the Sunday bill. President LeBaron Lyons, of the Mobile Chamber of Com merce, headed the delegation, and made strong talk agalnst the proposed enactment J. D. Waterman. Presi- dent of the Maritime Exchange re- ferred specially to the damge that would be done to the cotton trade speaking as a practical business man extensively engaged Tn exporting the staple product
 Charles Brown. a prominent grain exporter. argued agaInst the bill, as did John Craft. business man. MT, White, as a representative of. the IJnf- ted Fruit Company, with reference to the effect of such Legislation upon the fruit traffic, and J. D. McKeon told how l. would paraiyze the lumber trade. Other speakers from the Gulf City, all of whoin were strongly op- posed to the bill. were Godfrey Mertz. engaged in the wholesale produce busi. ness. H. H. Wefel, Jr.. and Major 10 M. Robinson.
 At the sane meeting. a hearing was granted to the representatives of the Alabama Good Roads Association, who were present by invitation to present Lheir views on the subject of needed legislation for the roads of the State J. Asa Rountree of Birmingham. act ed as Chairman of the meeting for the visitors and introduced the various speakers.
 John Craft of Mobile was the first speaker. He is Vice. President of the Association, and told of the organiza- ton of the Association, and the cordial reception 1t has met in all portions of the State. w. E. Skeggs of Decatur and W. c. Dinwiddic of Bay Minette. members of the Executive Committee, were the next speakers in behalf of the good roads bill. President Roun- tree closed the presentation of the subject.
 At the close of the discussion, in which a lively interest was taken by the members of the Committee, the visiting delegation was assured the matter would be taken up after the recess If the Legislature. and pushed with vigor. It was felt to be useless to attempt to accomplish anything be- fore recess.
 Senator overton, Chairman of, the Committee. who introduced the bill of tho Association, assured the delega- ton hc expected. after recess, to press the fight.
 The measure championed by the Committee, provides for the appoint ment by the Governor of State High way Commission of three members. who are to serve without pay. The onIy' paid official provided for is the engineer. It Is proposed to appTopri- ate the funds derived from the State convict labor for use upon the roads, to he apportioned by the Commission