The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-09
Compromise is Effected With State. AGREEMENT ON FREIGHT
 AND PASSENGER RATES Two Laws Are to Go Into Imme-
 diate Effect. settlement of Controversy is Binding on Southern and it's Allied Lines,
 But Not on Other
 Systems of the

 Beginning September 1, 1907. the Southern Railway and 1t allied lines will put into effect the two and half cent passenger fare bill, and the meas ure reducing the freight rates on 110 , commodities commonly shipped in Ala bama.
 That in breif is the effect of the agreement reached yesterday after noon, after the entire day had been g spent in conference. by Governor Braxton Bragg Conner, representing the State, and Colonel E. L. Russell. vice-president of the Mobile and Ohio. J. S. B. Thompson. assistant to Presi- dent Finley Judge Alex Pl Humphrey, of Louisville, and James Weatherly of Birmingham, attorneys representing the Southern.
 This agreement was not reached without concessions being made from the demands made by both sides. but in the main it is victory for the State in it's controversy with the railroads. The two laws in question will not he put into effect permanently. The agreement specifically declares that their operation beginning September 1st is only subject to the final de- termination as to their constitutionali- ty and thei reasonahleness, when 8 decision on these questions is. finally rendered by the court of last resort
 Meanwhile, the other laws enacted by the Legislature at it's winter ses- sion affecting the railroads of the State will remain void and imperative by virtue of the injunction grant ed by Judge Thomas c. Jones Of the Federal Court. The railroad represen' tatives agreed, in making the agree ment referred to, that they would ap- pear before Judge Jones and ask him for an order modifying the restrain ing order issued by the United States court some two months ago. to permit of the immediate operation, subject to the final decision If the courts. of the two acts in question
 In consideration of the agreement of the railroad representatives to per mt of the immediate operation of these eve laws, the one affecting the passen- ger traffic. and the other the freight. 1t was agreed by Governor Conner that the revocation of the license of the Southern in Alabama should be cancel led, and the company again be permit
 
 hindrance on the part of the State.
 Affects only the Southern.
 The compromise affects only the one railroad system. the Southern. The other railroads of the State. such as the Louisville and Nashville. the Frisco. etc. were not parties to the conference. and it was specifically stated by a representative of one of those roads that the agreement was not binding in any sense upon them
 The situation with these other roads seems to be that at the present time, they have no controversy pending with the State or It's officials. They went into the Federal Court, several months ago. and after some delay secured an order from Judge Jones restraining the operation of about half a dozen of the more drastic of the anti-railroad laws enacted by the Legislature
 Since then there have been no de- velopments. so far as these other roads are concerned. and their cases are still pending in the Federal Court. Their licenses have not been revoked, and there Is. at the present time at least. absolutely no question raised as to their authority to do business in Ala bama.
 The conferences between the Govern or and the railroad men continued practically throughout the day. And it was not until late in the afternoon that an agreement was reached. In- deed, through the earlier portion of the day while no one connected with either side to the controversy would talk, the outlook for an amlcable settlement of the difficulty grew dinner and dim mer.
 At one time the atmosphere around the Exchange Hotel was decidedly gloomy, and the opinion was expressed by those close to the men on t.. in- side that no agreement would be reached-that it was case of fight il out. with decided prospects for a real clash between the State and the Fed eraI authorities.
 It is said that work was even started upon an application to the Federal Court for a blanket injunction. to re. strain the State and any and all of its officials and representatives from in any manner interfering with the man agement and control of the railroads pending a final decision of the courts on the cases pending in the Federal Court.
 Darkest Before the Dawn.
 But the darkest hour is just befo ore dawn, and within an hour of the time when the situation seemed the most gloomy, and there were or seemed tC be the least prospects of an agree ment, announcement was made that g