The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-02
President Henderson So
 Declares, COMMISSION TO INSIST
 ON ADEQUATE SERVICE Notice Served on Representatives
 of Roads Present. Presiding Omcer Exhibits Some Rancor 8 ,n Address at opeAing of Meeting of Railroad Conmissioners.
 With Apparent Reference
 to Recent Litigation.

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 The statements b3 President Charles Henderson of the Alabama Railroad Commission, that for months It nad been impossible fot shippers to have their trafic moved with satisfaction' that the railroad cdnpanies seemed 10 have discriminatef against smaller places in favor of larger ones, and to have adopted meastras intended to sub vert the effect f recent legislation merely in a spirit of retaliation. and that the Commission would demand an adequate service by the common car riers. made notable the session of the Commission yesteyday.
 The speech of President Henderson was made as preliminary to the transaction of the business of the Com mission. Representatives of several railroad compSnies wore present and the Presidents remarks were addressed to them, as we'll as to the members of the Commission. He said. first, that the State would demand an adequate service. During the busy season" the railroads had not moved the traffic given them and they apparently had no other excuse than that afforded by a lack of rolling stock. He referred with strong emphasis to alleged iirreg- uIarities in the shipment of cotton which, according to resolutions which had been adopted by manufacturers Of txx ha fxa nd which ha read. was brought to the mills with more expense and delay from Southern fields than from Egypt.
 The railway corporations. Mir. Hen derson continued, should have notinca- tion from the Commission that & repe- tition of the evil will not be toler- ated.
 Tt seems" said President Tender son, that one corporation doing busi- ness in Alabama undertakes to dom mate all others in their service" and he followed the statement with a re- view of recent litigation.
 Must Schedule Delayed Trains.
 Besides President Henderson. the associate commissioners, Hon. W. D. NesL.tt of Birmingham, and Hon. John G. Harris of Montgomery, and the sec- retary of the Commission, S. P. Ken. nedy. were present.
 Two general orders were adopted and will be promulgated. The one requires that the railroad companies in the State shall authorize and com. pei their conductors on freight trains to issue receipts for freights received at flag stations. Some of the com panies had already adopted the regula. tion.
 The second general order Is to re- duire the companies. through their agents, to post conspicuously the schedules of the arrivals and depar- lures of trains. and to make early and frequent notification. on schedule boards. of delays in the arrival or de. parture of any train.
 Several cases of routine character were disposed of
 When President Henderson had called the Commission to order at noon yesterday he made his somewhat sensational statements. He said:
 Before We proceed to the regular routine of work, I would like to make a few suggestions to the commission bearing on their work at the present time and looking to the work of the next session.
 see the representatives of some of the roads with us and would like for them to know that we are looking In to these matters that are at issue and wish to say that the State will at least, demand of them adequate ser vice.
 Smaller Stations Uncared for.
 We have passed through a busy sea- son, when for months 1t was almost impossible to move the traffic that was furnished not only at the central points but at the smaller stations and to a certain extent 1t seems the smaller stations were discriminated against in favor of competitive points with> no reasons being furnished for not nov Ing the traffic except lack of rolling stock.
 My attention was' directed this morning to resolutions bearing on this question from the manufacturers of the Carolina districts recently met at Charlotte and adopted by them:
 Whereas, grave irregula-itie ex- ist in the shipment of cotton, entail ing heavy financial loss and inconve- nience to spinners, bills of lading be- ing drawn emitting all car numbers and initials, rendering them useless for tracing or locating lost or strayer shipments. cotton actually remaining at initial place of movement two or three months before being finally loaded. getting water soaked before being compressed and otherwise care lessly and negligently handled.
 
 drawn on these incomplete bills of lading presented for payment to said spinners. who are thus placed at great expense and loss in having to settle same two or three months be- fore receipt of cotton: said evils have become so great that cotton can be ordered from Egypt and received quicker and with no annoyance. Therefore, be 1t
 Resolved. That the said evils ex- isting be respectfully called to the attention, ard the earnest co-opera- ton askea of the American Cotton Manufacturers Association, National Association of Cotton Manufacturers, Cotton Manufacturers Association of South Carolina, Cotton Manufacturers Association of North Carolina, Georgia Cotton Manufacturers Association. and Cotton Manufacturers Associa- ton of Alabama, to the end that the said evils be remedied as set forth herein, and be 1t further
 Resolved, That with the opening of the cotton season of 1S07-0s said apinners decline to honor drafts un-