The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-02

In other ways. 90 exerted their infiu- ence thatthA bills were referred back to the ccmfnittees and the railways were given ! hearing.
 The resuit was that not one of the opJecticnapie bills was passed. If the same result could have been accom- plished at tho last session of the Leg islature and ali the legislation de- vised and enacted to reduce the reve- nues end to embarrass the operation of railways--the assumption by the State. in effect. of control of the rail- ways and of their revenues, with no responsibilitysfor the results-had been defeated. it would have been better for the citizens of Alabama, even though such result had followed from what you term the Nomination of the Loufs- vile and Nashville Railroad Company
 "As matter of interest, recall the fact that the active leader in promot- ing the legislation of ISS3-4 seemed to have become convinced that what he designed was undesirable; and. al- though he was later appointed to the Interstate Commerce Commission. where by his ability he wielded a potent influence. he nevertheless exer- cised his official power inteiligently and justly
 Tn 1881, the number of miles of railways in operation in Alabama was, t,eat; gross earnings, ss,ff5.sss.
 4 Tn 1906 the number of miles Of rail- way in operation in Alabama was, 5,660; gross earnings. $34.217.720. an increase during the twenty-five years of 214 per cent in mileage and 322 per cent in business done.
 s'This wss the period in which, you assert, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company exercised dominat- ing Influence In preventing Legislation adversely affecting railway interests. During this period, the Louisville and Nashville invested many millions in the construction of branch railways, to develop the mineral. sforest-product, and agricultural resources of the State; and practically all those millions were furnished by citizens of other States.
 By It's example the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company encourag- ed, if it did not induce, other corpora tions to do likewise, and also besought and encouraged the investment or capi- tai to establish and further industries and industrial activities. Had the numerous antagonistic measures intro- duced in the Legislature in 1883 been enacted and enforced down to this time, railway and industrial paralysis would have ensued, and the enormous investments in railways and in other industries would certainly not have been made.
 Bad Effect on Capital.
 "This may safely be affirmed in view of the effect which the drastic laws enacted by the present Legislature have already had upon capital. At the best of times the flow of capital to the South, and to Alabama particularly, has been woefulIy out of proportion to the vast extent of the resources to be developed and now the State, with in- vestment capital diminished so as to be almost imperceptible. confronts im- provements of great magnitude aban- doned; development arrested, ana progress stayed.
 You assert that similar legislation in other States has resulted in pros- perity, and you call attention to the fact that the freight rates fixed by statute on 110 articles are the same as have for years been in effect in the State of Georgio.
 You, as heretofore, fail to notice the fact that the rail carriers in Ala bama. in their endeavor to promote the development of mines and other indus tries, have on many articles made much lower rates than are in effect in Georgia; and, in fact, lower rates for the transportation of raw material for furnaces, rolling mills, foundries, etc, than are in effect in any other place in the world.
 At a hearing before the Alabama Railroad Commission at Montgomery on April 3. 1905, in disputing similar statement made by you as President Of the Commission, I stated emphatically that the legislation enacted in Georgia bankrupted every railroad but three in the State, and that the losses of two or the three were borne by the Louls- vile and Nashville Railroad Company. At subsequent hearings these tacts were carefully elaborated and explain ed; and yet, by iteration and reitera- tion, you still continue to spread the erroneous information that that iegis- latfon was beneficial.
 "As one experienced in the conduct of transportation, and one who has had lifelong opportunities for observing, do not hesitate to say that all sucn legislation, in whatever State 1t has been enacted has been deeply injurious to the interests of the people at large. This must necessarily be the result.
 "All attempts. effectual or ineffec- tual, to confiscate capital invested In railways or other enterprises. dis courage it's investment; and the people inevitably suffer in consequence.
 SOciaItstic Tendency.
 You do not seem to comprehend that  under your active. energetic, and effec- tive leadership, the action of the State of Alabama in fixing-by statute and by authority delegated to Commits sion--the remuneration which the car riers shall receive for services render ed. and in many ways hampering and restricting their ability to render the service required of them, is an attack upon private property. notwithstanding it fs dev0ted to public use.
 Probably no one is farther from be- ing a Socialist than you are, and yet you unwittingly give an impetus In a practical way to their theories by your successful attacks on property rights
 ''The Socialists-who, it must be con- ceded. ale people of good intentions base their doctrines upon the assump- tton, elaborated by Carl Marx. that everything is produced by labor, and that, therefore. the product should be- long to the producer--that the cotton v~od,,cad on vour plantation belongs to