The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-22
If the Railroads Are Not Obsv- ing the New Rate Law on
 October 1
S SAYS STATES DEMANDS
 ARE VERY REASONABLE
Reiterates In Public Statement That It Is Constitutional Duty to En- force the Laws of the
 State.

Montgomery, August 21.-(Speciala-In statement given to the public this aft ernoon, Governor B. B. Conner announc,l that If the railroads of the state are not obeying the laws of the state by October J. as is the case with several lines, he Will call an extra session of the leg islature to enact such laws as are neces- sary to give the state power to enforce It's statutes. He recites that the demands of the state are very moderate and reas- enable, that several lines have seen them to be so, and there is no reason to stand out against them longer. He thinks they can be tested in the courts and given every show as to legality.
 He winds up his statement with the re- iteration that he must enforce the law, that 1t is his constitutional duty to do SC, and says: "If the statutes upon the sub ject of freight and passenger charges on interstate or domestic business are not being observed by October l, by all tho railroads and if it shall appear that under existing laws the state in it's just effort to regulate rates is thwarted by any superior power. I will, at that time, call the legislature in extra session to deal with the whole subject, and for the pur- pose of passing such laws as may secure the full regulation by the state of its public service corporations"
 Governors Statement. The full statement of the governor fol- lows:
 am highly gratifed at the very con servative decision of Hon. Alexander Hamilton, first vice president and gen. eral counsel of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad, to accept for his company the legalzed passenger rate of 2la cents and the commodity rate on 110 articles, plac- ing both in operation the 1st of October, 1907, and giving them fair trial peni- ing the final decl lsion of the litigation as well avoiding all friction with the state I think tlpat his conduct and that of Hon. E. l.. Russell of the Southern and its allied llrles, and of Hon. F. K Campbell and General Counsel Parker of the Frisco system, Eugene Steiner and Leigh Watts of the Seaboard and Bir- mingham and Atlanta roads, should be commended to those of our public service corporations that have not yet seen proper to recognize the state laws upon the subjects mentioned.
 The demands of the state are extremely moderate. It asks for a passenger rate of 21a cents, and for a rate on 110 com modities named oni each railroad in the state to be the same as the railroads class and charge for the same articles In Georgla, leaving ntouched thousands of articles not named, and on which Ala bama pays a m uch higher rate than Georgia.
 passes have been forbidden as we'll as contributions by railroads to campaign funds and we thiink the savings from these items will more than replace the difference In passenger rates.
 The claim by the; railroads that the pas senger and no article commodity rates will confscate ard destroy their prop ertv. seems as ial-founded now as the same claim was more than twenty-five years ago. when Campbell Wallace, then president of the Georgia railroad commits sion reduced rates In that state over their protest.
 Comments a Test.
 I commend to the Alabama railroads that they give the new rates a test-the tast that Justice Brewer, now of the Irnited States suprefpe court then a fed eraI circuit judge ordered in Iowa years ago under the same conditions and over the same protests.
 Tho conrse of Alabama toward it's pub lie service corportons mas been extreme ly liberal They adnlit the laws here have been the fairest in the Union, and 1t now looks ungracors TOT any railroad to eoht the neonle hy iniunctiye proc ess in inc conservatIye and reasonable efforts made to secure a moderate rate reduction. It is well kbown that freight charges governing the cost or transpor tat ton vitally affect every product anGI interest and the industrial developme snt of the state It is therefore just and essential that they should De reasonably regulated by law. The people pay in the way of taxes four and one <-half mill lion dollars a year and sur round this taxation with every limi"it on of care and law. The railroads | Ivy upon Ala bama about thirty-fve million dollars per year. and the hrst ttempt at regu- lation of rates by law Is ought to be pre- vented by injunctions some Of the roads seemingly perssting in ta refusal to put into force the new rates after numerous i'm oortant lines of railr' pad have agreed to do so.
 wish to say, howevei., that have not vet lost hope that tho se public service corporations that have not yet fallen in line with the purpose 'to try the reduced rates and have assum ed the attitude of opposition to state Harmony and state regulation, will yet re consider and con- sent to give the new laws a fair trial. I shall use every effor t to persuade and induce them to init 1gate the friction which is being enge indered in the state by the cooperation which Is in their power to give.
 His Duty U nder Oath.
 It is perhaps needle iss to say that un- der section 12o of the constitution of Ala bama, to which ] am bound by my oath of office, and which declares that the governor shall take ca re that the laws shall tc faithfully exec uted." l shall en- deayor at all times to the utmost of my