The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-22
RATE BILL MAY
PASS BOTH HOUSES
Railroads Threaten TO Enioin
Law if Passed
FINLEY SPEAKS TODAY
President of Southern Railway VIII
FINLEY SPEAKS
President of Southern Railway VIII
Appear Before the Committee on
Commerce and Common Car
rlers This Afternoon.

Montgomery January 21,-(special)-In
spite of the fact that there is opposition
to the two fare bills in the senate and
the house, it is claimed by the friends
of the measures that they will become
law, with the amendment that the rate
be 2h instead of cents. 1t is further
said that the evident determination Of
the railroads to enjoin the law, If passed,
has not had any effect in deterring the
advocates of the measure. 1t is regarded
by some that the movement on the part
OF some to make the fight for cents
is really railroad plan, as it is con-
tended that If it is contested it will be
easier to get an injunction against
cents than any amount over that sum.
Much interest is aroused by the report
that President w. W. Finley OF the
Southern railway, is to come tomorrow
to speak on the rate bills before the COM
mittee on commerce and common car
riers in the senate Tuesday afternoon.
Mr.. Finley recently printed a statement
in local papers with regard to the policy
of the Southern that has made friends
for the system and his remarks will be
received with special attention. 1t was
only a few weeks ago that the lamented
predecessor of Mr.. Finley spoke to the
people of the state here and the effects
of his address were to the advantage of
the railways of the state. 1t is also ex-
pected that President Hanson of the
Central President wickersham of the
western, and Vice President A R. Smith
- +l,o nd chtyi1l w he
on hand.
Railroads Will Fight.
The rate bills seem to have the en-
tire support of the two houses. No one
has been found to say that they will have
anything in the way of severe opposition,
the railroad men eontenting themselves
with the statement that if the rates
are placed too low for profit, they will
fight them IN the courts. However, there
is an impression that this will not be
done, even, many thinking that when the
bills are passed the railroads will ac-
cept them in good faith, and do their
best to live up to them, always with the
understanding that If they are too low
they will not accept until forced to do
so in the courts. 1t Is also thought that
in the end the amendment to the anti
PASS bill, excluding the making of ex-
change contracts between the newspapers
and the railroads, will get through,
though it will have much opposition
Favors High Schools.
Gov. b. y. Conner said this morning
that he certainly was not in favor of
giving to the common schools of the
state more than 1900 additional as an
appropriation, that being as much as he
thought the demands of the other educa-
ticnal interests would justify. That, he
also said was all that former Superin-
tendent Hill and the present superintend-
ent, II. C. Gunnels. thought would be
Eeeded at this time, and with the present
machinery about much as could be
handled to advantage
The governor Is very much interested
in the high schools and wants them
made the best that can be had He takes
it that the common schools are not neces-
sarily the country schools but the high
schools as well and he wishes the state
20 develop the high schools, so that the
country citizens will be able to give their
children the very best advantages. He
also pointed out that the university and
polytechnic institute are the schools of
the country boys and girls, as well as
the cities and the towns and in helping
them, aid is extended to that class OF
children usually had in mind when ref
erenee is made to the common schools.
The governor was engaged most of the
day in seeing delegations of citizens who
are here to ask this and that favor or to
advance one cause or another. He spent
the time busily in Birmingham over Sat
urday and Sunday. but was fresh and
ready for the big pile of work on his
desk this morning.