The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-02
Governor comer'. Letter.

Mobile Register.
 Governor comer's letter to members of the Legislature is written in a style that is commendable. The railroad sit- uation, as the Governor understands 1t, is set forth dispassionatsly. and the reasons for obtaining further legisla- ton are briefly but adequately stated.
 This is as far as we can go in praise. The Governor is wholly wrong in say Ing that the railroads he mentions pis are a party to rate making and In the establishment of the rules govern ing the relations between the people and the railroads. They know t. well enough; but they say that an the so fssss fhsis I1sst ass msas ssnase srs aa they the courts to protect them against what they believe is an unwarrantsd exercise of the power or the peopie There is no indication that the rail roads are Ignorant of or deny the peo- ple's rate-making power. They ao' however contest the use that the poo pie are trying to make of that power.
 See the distinction between the Way the Governor puts H. ana the co1reo'
 it is now universally recognized" says the Governor, That the protection of the people and the protection 1S oi .IS be established by law reguiaung freight charges and rules. governing The relations between the shipping Tn terests and the public service corpo- dangerous. and feel it my duty to call upon you for effective remedial
 Against what. may be asked; for the 1,., principle he lays down IS unayessahs ,aa ths Governor names do not think of ques. ffoning it. They know that the state can and does regulate the rates. and fix the rules governing punlio, ,a service .s 2 needed to make. them recognize that T Everybody alike shall obey the law says the Governor. The rule works further than this. Everypody a.ine as, So says our constitution, which the Governor has taken his oath to opey If an outside person. .. E. Geof sian. were to come. saying that the ststs h,s b1siness, s % he would have the right to the protection of the court until it is ascertained whether his statement IS true or not. Will the Governor oehy 1t? The fact that the pialnIin an, cbanes IF z titled to the laws pfbtection.
 The Governor argues that these same railroads have conceded in Georgia ens iower rates) than they refuse to ac- knowledge as just in Alabama; tnere- fore. they should be made to aoknowa, ,,,sI snc edge the Alabama rates as just anu ofev them. We say, yes. by all means, if the logic holds. and that Is the very thing the court Is asked to deciae: Governor Conner is certainly not tne man 10 decide 1t The railroads deny the logic. and say that the @ conditions ns of operation in Georgia diner rom do those in Alabama. Is 1t true? We 20 not know. Let the court decide It. That is what the court is for.
 According to the Governor, tne iaws pasned by the Alabama Legislature are conservative; and like laws are in force elsewhere. with benencent results. nnrno. rations ef,ioyfng the protection of our laws be called adefiers of the law" ana treated as such. because they are ncs T,o treat them so, for merely question: ing the conservatism of these laws ana and asking a legal decision to Wnicn tney are entitled, looks much ike persccu" tIon for opinton's sake.