The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-11
11In CA.l ron AN Exrl.A srssIon.

1IIn GAL ron AN EXTRA srssron.
 The Governor has carried out his threat. He has called an extra scs- sion of thx Legislature.
 Fcw men who knew his narrowness and bitterness towards the railroads have doubted that he would undertake to punisb the roads for appealing to the courts but. neverthsiess, there are surprises in the call. His apparent pur- pose to rescind the railroad lesislation of the two previous sessions. iegisIation amounting to an entirely new code for the roads, was hardly suspected. How ever. he is so determined that the way to accomplish this shall be left open to the Legislature that after specifying amendments and the repeal of all the important railroad acts. he makes sec- tion eighteen of the call gate opener to altogether new railroad iegislation.
 It is hard to understapd why the leg islation, which be declared to be so perfect and sfrective in the Winter. should be so weak and faulty in the Fa,i It is hafd to sndsrsfand why the bills. which. when they came from the Governors hands. were aS infaiii- ble as any papal bull ever issued. should be so inadequate after few months time. The railroad code. when t was borne through the Legislature, was as sacred as the Ark of the Gov enant. and woe to any man who sought to lay profane hands upon it.
 Now the Governor admits its worth lessnsss and is goin- to knock 1t to pieces end build smother. It is possible that on railroad matters the Governor Is not absolutely infaliible?
 The Summer session was devoted largely to repeating and amending acts adopted at the Winter session. The ex- tra session, as is shown by the call. will be given over to amending and repeating acts adopted by the two previous sessions
 The Governor and his supporters have tried to evade the blame that will inevitably come from the call of the extra session. but it is responsi- bility that they cannot evade. The Governors original threat declared that he would call the extra session, if three of the Alabania railroads did not ae- cept the rates established by his Leg islature. That the roads in question are acting within their legal rights no reasonable man doubts. Judge after judge of Alabama circuits has charged grand juries that the laws were sus- pended. under the granting of the in- functions, and that they had mo right to bring in indictments for aliegeI violations of the suspended laws. The Alabama judges are quite as patriotic and quite as jealous of the States honor as the Governor. although they do not make so much fuss about it.
 The call indicates that there are other reasons which moved the Gov ernor than the appeal of these rail- roads to the courts. It Is indicated that proved to be faulty. And yet the Gov ernor sets himself up as well night infallible in Judgment.
 It is easy 10 see that the Legislature will be in session month or more. There are those who do not believe that the Legislature can accomplish the tasks set for 1t before Christmas. The Legislature has already cost more than any other in the history of Ala bama. The first two sessions, as shown by the report of the Auditor, cost $1o2.16s.s1 It is probable that the extra session. so long is its pro- gram. will cost half as much. Then, to enforce his railroad Legislation, which the Governor new professes to repndi- ate. he secured an appropriation of t50o00 for attorneys fees. And the tax collector is making his rounds.
 The Governor determined to punish. He threatened punishment. He will infict punishment, if 1t is within his power.
 And those who prayed for peace were given a laugh. He promised to lift the burdens of the people. He has fail- ed and acknowledges his failure He has increased their burdens, and will add still more to the expense of gov ernment.
 The people will learn, slowly, may be. but surely, that Governor Co., mer is governed more by temper and impulse than by hard horse sense and judgment.