The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-16

count of inadeauate facilities ant
 snould Insure to the people justice
 speedy as well as sure We should dis
 par the technicalities of the law. in
 sonar as proper execution of justice
 prompt and compiete administrators oi
 the law and justice that even those
 who suffer from the most heinous of
 lenses nas VIII be willing to trust to I this i.
 and eliminate a disposition to again
 violate the law by taking the execution
 or the law into their own hands.
 Corporation Service Is Crude.
 The transportation charges and meth
 ods of our railroads river. express. tel
 egraph. telephone and other public ser
 vice corporations are crude in the ex-
 treme. We fully recognize that the
 railroads and other public service cor
 porations are entitled to just returns on their investment in this State, pro- yided exorbitant charges are not ex- acted. In all their legitimate interests
 such corporations are entitled to pro
 lection by law. We recognize the form to the laws to do business in our State. their rights and privileges being protected in the same measure as the rights and privileges of any other cit- izen or strictly private corporation, and I pledge the faith of this administra- tion to the full protection of our cor pSrati9ns tSe; i the pr0per sTersise TSs m time we recognize the rights and priv ileges of the citizen. whether he be a manufacturer. producer. laborer or a consumer All political economy teaches that the best interests of the State are protected when the rights and interests of these classes are fully SafeRuarded by the law. In the last analysis, where the interests of the corporation and the masses clash and are at hazard. If one or the other must take the risk of injury or loss, statecraft, with un- erring judgment decrees that 1t is less interests of the people. Just as the bottom rail of a good fence should be pickad manufacturer. constituting the bottom rail of our States economics. should have our first attention, careful and protective. for the protection of the people may by some interested interests be called drastic and destructive. they are no innovations on the customs of s sover usIo the enforcement of the law as prevails ing in Texas for many years, and in Iowa and Illinois for many years; and gia for the conclusiveness of what otherwise might be called an experi. ment: l cite to you the relations be- the public service corporations, In con trast with the same conditions in Ala bama. All of these States have clearly defined law made freight rates. AIa- ia
 
 bama has, according to the recent his tory of the State. the protection of the conscience" of the carriers and by their own admission. limited to what the tariffs will stand"
 Says State Is Third.
 Albama has been kind ands Rener- ous to the railroads and public ser vice corporations, The State has given much money and lar~e areas of land and valuable franchises. and accord r. a%r fncin nf the "fairest laws and the most un-- restricted conduct in the management of their affairs, perhaps, of any State conditions co and "fairest laws" the rail roads and public service corporations have taxed our people with the highest freight, rates and charges. the lowest tax valuation, in many instances the poorest car service. and the most arbf- .rary and one-sided rules and regula- ions. that prevail in any of the States They have maintained at our Capitol ! paid lobby for the purpose of influ- sncing and dominating our laws: their agents have even occupied our Capitol without any aparent recognition or the evil of it; they have used graft and money on our electorate for the purpose # controlling our elections: they have their stocks and securities proper foundation. and claim he right within our law to tax the people a sufficient sum to pay interest thereon. All history shows that cor )orate greed. unrestricted. sooner or proper subjects for their taxation. 'poliation and plundering. The situa- ion is most dangerous to the proper development of our State and the prop .r security of our citizens.
 In conformity with the demands of he people and the platform of the Dem ,cratic party, and for the purpose of securing the people against these recommend a railroad commission law. giving the railroad commission ade- luate power and means to make inves- -igations concerning the rules of rail- 'oads. their charges and their meth ,ds of doing business. and to put re- striction on their charges and to estab- ish between these corporations and the people such rules and regulations for business and service as will be fair and just to both parties alike
 Railroad Law Is Compromise.
 The present railroad commission law was a compromise measure and of doubtful validity. and should be sup planted by another giving said rail- road commission plenary power and adequate means to carry out these, the lust demands of the people. It Is my that the platform carried the voice of the people, and It is your highest duty and mine to comply with It's demands and enact and enforce laws m conformity herewith.
 The State of Georgia through it's com mission more than twenty-five years lgo. established the price of freight on all the articles of common manufacture production, consumption and use. and these rates have constantly been main tained since. and the evidence from Georgia is that all the railroads there have prospered. These rates are much lower by comparison than the same roads charge the freight payers of Ala bama. The tonnage of Alabam has that of Georgia and other neighboring States by far. and there Is no reason why the price of freight on any road in Alabama should be higher than in Georgia or any other neighhor- ing State. I recommend the enactment of laws fixing a maximum freight rate not to exceed the present freight rate in this State. In order to give to the freight payers of Alabama the quickest relief and the surest relief. l recom- mend that you enact a statute naming the classification and rates of freight on all the articles of common manufac- ture, production. consumption and use not to exceed the present classfiCa tion and rate on such articles in the State of Georgia. which rates shall not be in creased except hY statute. but nav be reduced by the railroad commission of the State or hy the carriers themselves.
 Recommends Maximum Rate.
 l recommend the enactment of a law, fixing a maximum passenger rate of two and half cents per mile on all railroads In Alabama