The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-21
RAILROAD RATES
 MAY BE CHANGED Governor Smith Will Confer With Governor Glenn  CHRISTMAS FOR CONNECTS Many In Prison Are Writing Governor Smith for Pardons or Communication
 of sentence-Detectives
 After Safe Robbers.
CHRISTMAS FOR CONNECTS

Atlanta, December O.-(special9- Neither the governor nor any of the members of the railroad commission would today discuss the press an nouncement of the agreement reached between Governor Glenn of North Caro- lima and certain railroads of that state, looking to a settlement of the passen- ger rate dispute.
 That Georgia will take up the oues- tion along similar lines there appears to be no question, though in just what shape it will be presented, has not yet been determined. When in Washington recently, it Is said Governor Smith inti- mated to friends there that he would be willing to consider the question of com promise along certain lines.
 There will be no necessity in Georgia as was the case in North Carolina, how ever, for legislative ratification of any agreement which might be reached. The railroad commission here stands in the place of the legislature and has ample power to make or to modify any orders it may see fit involving rates, the only limitation being that such rates must be reasonable and just.
 The state treasurer and state school commissioner today sent out checks az gregating $231, 469 to the public schools of the various counties of the state. Each of the school teachers ought to have his or her money by the early part of next week. The s100,0 900 sent out early in the present week, went to the city schools and the district sys- tenn in various parts of the state. This makes total of s3S1,O paid out to the public schools this week.
 Checks were received today from sev- eral of the larger corporations of the state for their 1907 taxes, and the total made considerable addition to the fund in the state treasury.
 Southern Railway 92696.69; Atlanta and West Point s1s,06O; Georgia Railway and Electric company, s4O,000; Atlanta Term inal company. s5oOo; Louisville and Nash vile, s11,763; Georgia Southern and Flori- da, s22,726.
 Bibb county sent in tax collections to- day aggregating $14.OOO.
 Georgia conyicts have an idea that they are entitled to some consideration at Christmas time, hense Governor Smiths mail is filled with letters from all of the convict camps of the state asking for pardon or communication of sentence. Christmas has always been looked upon as the pardoning season, and the practice of granting pardons in certain classes of cases on this occasion, is prevalent in many states.
 Convicts in Georgia however, do not seem to realize that such has not been the case in this state. The procedure is such that it is practically out of the question for the governor to grant such pardons. Each case must go before the ba rrfg upon whose recommendations the gover- nor subsequently, acts. The reasons given as to why pardons should be granted are generally vague and indefinite, but the letters are often pathetic in the ex- treme.
 The detectives who are working on the | recent safe craclings in small towns near Atlanta are convinced that, if caught, the | parties who blew open the postoffce safe | at Newman are members of the same gang | to which J. P. Baker and George Barton, suspected of having blown open safes at Hapeville and Sharon, are alleged to be- | long. They are working on a clew which l leads them in this direction. When Bar ton and Baker were arrested in Augusta and brought to Atlanta, Baker claimed to be a Southern railway conductor. Sev- eral conductors who have talked to him state that his statement is evidently un- true.
 Capt w. I. D. WllSOll, cOInIlldHulllS tHe Governors Horse Guard, was presented by his command with a. handsome saber at dinner given last night at the Piedmont hotel. Captain Wilson was taken com pletely by surprise as he had not antci- pated any such action. The presentation was made by Lieut. Sam Slicer. Mai J. s. Dozier, the cavalry squadron com mander, who was at the dinner, was pre- sented with a mammoth pie in memory of an incident of the sixties.
 The funeral of Maj. Manly B. Curry, | paymaster of the department of the gulf, U. s. A., who was killed in an automobile | accident night before last will take place | tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at the | First Baptist church, and the services will | be conducted by the Rev. w. w. Lan- | drum. The officers of the department will | take part, and several of them will ac- | company the remains to Washington, | leaving at noon tomorrow following the |