The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-30
Antf-Raiiroad Legislation.

40tdsuItS lHtTOuuCGu m IHel s<AtdDdfda Legislature and considered by. commit tees have become known as 'anti-rail- road legislation" and are so referred to by newspapers. The term is ,descrip- tive of the sentiment impelling such Legislation and as long as this senti- ment exists the wisdom of it's results must be questioned Legislation that carries the prefix anti is on it's face one'sided and opposed to the principle of government of all, for ell. It Is unfortunate that the present-ad- ministration of Alabama has published itself as anti-railroad and that all leg islation Is dominated by a legislative majority intensely hostile to railroad in terests. Where the minds of the law makers are made up in advance to force certain changes, without consideration of the effect of the changes, except insofar as the interests of the law ment are concerned, there Is a possi- bility of disaster in the general result that should not be overlooked
 The term anti being foreign to the lature should make an effort to do away with it by adopting. an absolutely measures affecting railroads
 |, By this is not meant the repression of honest opinion in debate. but ex- pression which will show that the raii- road side of the case is receiving as much attention as the opposing iegis- lators have evidently given to the anti railroad side.
 Governor Conner appears to be play. ing the role to the Alabama Legislature that President Roosevelt attempted to play to the national government We I read that Governor Conner does not mittee; that his measures will be or are being favorably reported; that corn- rnittee reports are changed when Gov- ernor Conner does not agree with their hn Rnnn 10 x.fY4 tu th1a 4t, executive and legislative functions of government are entirely separated; and in complying the two, Governor Conner may strike the same snag of lesisia- line between Mir. Roosevelt and the United States Senate when the railroad measure was before that body.
 s The hand of Governor Conner and his immediate advisers is shown in every measure for the regulation of railroads that has apneared before the State Legislature, and it is respectfully sub- nitted to thoughtful readers that Gov ernor Corners domination of railroad Legislation Is not for the good of the whole State.
 The extreme to which the anti.rail- road party will go is evident in the Introduction of a bill making unlawful the operation of freight trains on Sun day. This proposed law will show the rank and file of the Alabama electorate, who gave the present State administra- ton It's power, how easy 1t is to over aimed at a common object.
 The stopping of freight trains on Sunday would upset the operation of railroads, and this fact is plain. but a fact. that other Legislation would upset the financing of railroads. The visible fach brings home to the people of the State the inconvenience and loss to them which must result from any interruption of the freight traffic; the fact that will become more apparent as times goes on. deals with economic conditions governing not alone the con duct Of railroads, but of every business in the State.
 Putting aside consideration of what the railroads have done for the devel- opment of Alabama, what they might have done and failed to do. what they gard for the interests of the public, their position in this States as com pared with Georgia and other States, and looking squarely at the possible plated by the State administration, we are forced to ask ourselves, will the general result be worth any gain that the new laws will give to individuals? number. should be the keynote of all legislation and we cannot shut out the railroads the biggest taxpayers in the State, from inclusion in the greatest
 
 there.
 The matter of freight and passenger rates waA gone over very fully before the Senate committee in Mont gomery and high officials of the railroads in Alabama made statements of the ex- pense of operating. the roads and the returns or want of returns on the in- vestments. which had little or no effect on the committee. disposed in advance to recommend the bill under consider ation, with the approval of the ad- ministration." Before reporting their bill however. the committee should consider fully what it will mean to the railroads; how far their credit will be affected and what will be the re- suit in this State of limiting or de- stroying the credit that now enables the railroads to improve their proper ties and add to their equipment. The details of this phase are numerous, but they all return to the principle under lying the business of every merchant and manufacturer, largo or small, in the State Reduce their revenue and their credit Is impaired-make the re- duction such that they only clear ex penses and their credit is destroyed
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