The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-31
MAXIMUM RATE BILL IS
PASSED BY THE SENATE
CONTINUED rRoM PAGE -


died last night and her remains were in
TERED at Cedar Hin this afternoon. A
creature of this body, may undo the work
of the body. l do not believe that that
would be lawful and it seems to me that
this is an unusual power to be granted 10
subordinate organizations"
Mr. Blackmon was willing to support
the measure giving the railroads the
full power to make rates, and he would
vote for the adoption of the Texas rate.
which is regarded as the most stringent
of any in existence
HAS not the gentleman changed his
mind within the past two years with re-
gard to the legislature making rates or
having the power to make rates?' asked
Mr.. Lusk
"I have always had too much sense to
believe that Legislature could make
railroad rates." retorted Mr.. Blackmon.
overton's Speech.
However, tine gentleman from Calhoun
county withdrew his objection, and Mr..
Overton was allowed to take up the dis
cussion for the bill.
Mr.. Overton declared that the bill had
been prepared In line with the wishes of
the head Of the administration, and In re-
Spouse to the demands Of the people over
whelmingly expressed at the ballot box.
Even the gentleman from Calhoun, ac-
cordlng to Mr.. Overton, was elected on
a platform of rate regulations. and he
would have difficulty in explaining his
position to the people Of the state. Mr..
Overton regarded this as the greatest
measure that had yet come before the
legislature and that 1t was only right
and proper that the gentlemen should
give their full support to It, inasmuch as
1t had been carefully searched for IT.
regularity. and was in fact a copy of
rCta 10 ftrltf IN
10 work we'll, and so far as he was in
formed had never bankrupted any rail-
roads in that state. incidentally he had
been sold that Milton II. Smith. pres
ident of the Louisville and Nashville,
had said that the bill would only reduce
the rates in Alabama about 10 cents
Mr.. Moody Opposes.
The address of Mr.. Moody Of Tusca-
loosa. in opposition TO the measure, is
perhaps one of the best that has been
delivered in either house, so far this ses-
sion. He had no criticism or hard feel
Ing for any man who supported the meas
ure, but in n clam, dlspassionate way
argued the unreasonableness of those as
saultIng one of the great Institutional in
terests OF the state. He asked why 1t
was that there had been such n change
I'm sentiment. Not so many years ago
the people were endorsing the railroads
In every way possible toward the Develop
ment and advancement of the country.
Now it had become in some way a dis
grace to be on the side of the railroads.
This was condition that he was unable
to understand.
Taking up the question IN critical way
Mr. Moody was at a loss to know why 1t
was that the people were willing for cot
ton mills to earn eight or more per cent,
cotton oil mills to make large dividends.
and every other class of Industry to Sc
cure adequate and even generous returns
on investments made in the state, and
yet had their knives out for the railroads,
which have never been able to make more
than a very much smaller per cent than
any OF these enterprises He regretted
very much that this kind of feeling
had become dominant In the country. and
he did not hesitate to say that in such
discrimination there was great danger in
doing permanent injury to the most inn
portant enterprise in the development OF
the state and It's resources.
Bills Presented.
Mr.. Hammer of Etowah presented his
bill for tax of Il of cent gallon on
Illuminating oils, the proceeds to go to
the common schools of the state. Mr..
Reed had bill providing for domestlca-
ton of all corporations
An important measure was that pre-