The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-07
WOULD. TALK RATES
ALABAMA RAILROAD COMMISSION
 SUGGESTS CONFERENCE
CalIs Meeting fer Date Yet to Be Fixed of Cesnnissiens of Other States.
 Other Matters Taken Up at
 Meeting Held on Yesterday.

At meeting of the Alabama Rail- road Commission yesterday, 1t was agreed to ask members of the Com missions Of several other Southern States to join in conference to be held at . time and place to be decided upon later. looking to uniform plans in handling intra-State transportation problems. It is suggested that such a movement would result in good to the railroads as well as convenience to the State officers charged with this line of duty.
 The questions particularly mentioned include rates, derlurrsge, schedules, depots and service generalIy, all of which are often inadeduateiy handled bscause of conflicting State laws. With general idea of administration. 1t Is thought more accurate reports on in- come. cost and statistics, as whole could be secured.
 The call is addressed to the Commits sions of Mississippi, Florida, Tennes. see. Georgia, North Carolira and South Carolina. Chairman Henderson of the Alabama body says he has been as- sured of the interest of members In all these States.
 The Commission, which was in ses- sion yesterday, postponed the time for establishing reduced interchangeable passenger rates from December 10 to January 10. This order was issued November 25.. and was, among others, restrained by orders of the United States Court.
 An order was also issued prohibiting any line from discontinuing a passen- ger train without first securing con- sent of the Commission.
 The call for conference follows:
 Montgomery. Ala, Dec. 6. 1907.
 ''This Commission. in considering the probable orders which 1t may wish to make regarding reports from the diner- ent railways on intra-State business the requirements for making changes In their established rates. schedules. depots or other service, the matter of demurrage, and all other matters per- taining to their service in the State has concluded that 1t would be bene- ficial to the general service in this Southeastern territory If the Commis- sions of different States interested. through a conference could arrive at uniform requirements respecting these matters.
 "The fact that the Commissions of the different States do and may each for it's own State. make requirements of the railways differing from the re- quirements of adjoining States neces- sarily causes confusion and renders the railways less able to perform sat- isfactory service In all the States than tn ey would be able to perform were the requirements of each State largely the same as the requirements of ad- joining States.
 "In the making of reports to the dif- ferent State Commissions and furnish Ing information to them where these reports vary for each State, it Is - : essary for the railways to keep their accounts in such form as will enable them to meet the requirements of each Commission. Where these require mefits vary largely, 1t Is almost i'm : possible for the railways except at tremendous expenses, and labor to fur rnish the information in satisfactory form.
 are sure the experience of other Com missions proves that information re- garding the amount of movement, the revenue and cost of intra-State busif ness more fully lnan that filed in the mast. be furnished The forms used by the Interstate Commerce Commits sion, applying, as they do to the whole business of the railroad lines. do not give the State detailed information necessary that the Commissions may properly determine questions of intra- State business brought before them.
 'gro the extent that the requirements of the various State Commissions in- crease the cost of furnishing informa- tion and carrying on the business of different railways. to that extent is their ability to reduce rates decreased: to the extent that the Commission un- necessarily require the attention of the executive and operating deparmepts of the railways to that extent Is the rail- roads ability to furnish good service ta their uatronS diminished.
 "In view of these facts. this Commis- sion suggests % the State Commissions in the Southeastern territory, embrac- ing Mississippi. Alabama, Florida. Tennessee, Georgia. North and South Carolina. that it would be beneficial to the railways and to the citizens of this section if uniform information could be had on these matters by the