The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-05

the railroad business and the move-
 ment of trains by telegraph, 1t pre-
 sents a spacious aspect. That the Governor shall appoint the board of three members, that they shall not be
 connected at the time of their ap-
 pointment with any railroad. shall have had ten years experience as tel
 egraph operators. etc, offers fair exterior. But theory Is one thing.
 practice another. The negro found that out when the present State Con- s-.tution tracked the amendments to the Constitution or the United States and the registrars of the various coun- ties showed that Alabama would con- tinue, henceforth and forever, to be ruled by the white paople. This was where practice departed from theory for righteousness sake. It can be made to part company In the accom- plishment of sinister designs and com pass.the destruction of noble ends. No matter how honest and conscientious the Governor may be in appointing such board. the act gives to the
 board arbitrary and despotic power. They are vested with eensorial au-
 tnority to pass upon, or to pretend, but
 not pass upon, the technical skill and
 the moral qualifications of applicants
 for license. This gives arbitrary and
 despotic power, and should not be
 lodged In any body of men anywhere
 unless 1t be for the preservation of
 the State, or O. the race.
 Railroads are managed by capable
 men; and the basic charge against
 them has been that they have used
 their properties for their own enrich
 ment. Whether this charge has. or
 has not. any foundation in fact, it
 must be admitted that they are as
 much interested as the public in the
 safe movement of their trains. Nor
 can it be gainsaid that they are the best judges of the qualifications of the persons with whom they intrust their
 property. A wreck is a disaster dreaded as much by the railroad and its employees as by the public. The company, in such a calamity, loses physical property of thousands and thousands of dollars of value and must pay for damages caused to passengers, freight and to employees. All call on consequences. it should not be divest- ed of. or regulated" in, It's discretion l in whom 1t shall, and whom it shall not, employ in directing the move ments by wire of it's trains. If such a | bill is passed. it should contain a pro- shall obtain a license from the Board | of Examiners and be thereby endorsed | as competent in ability. competency | and character, shall thereby be con- sidered as endorsed by the State and | represented by the State as possess | ing the qualities and qualifications the 1 bill authorizes the Board to pass up- on and determine, and that the rail- road company thereafter employing | him shall not be liable in damages for | anything he may do in the service of the company within the scope of what the Board Is authorized to pass upon | in judging of his qualifications.
 It is best to let railroad company remain free to employ whom 1t de- sires to employ to direct the move ment of its trains; and for inattention or neglect of duty in such person, fix the responsibility where 1t rightfully belongs. When State ownership of railroads becomes a feature of an Alabama Democratic platform, the | time will have arrived-and not un- til then-for the State to interfere 1 with the internal active management of the physical movement of trains