The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-23
FINLEY Y
ELK
Southern RaiIWi
Addresses Col
DISASTROUS POSSIBILITIES
He Says Outlook Is Not Bright for
Success as Reserves Are Cut
Down-Favors Waterway
Improvements.

Montgomery, January 2.-(Special)-ln
an address before the senate committee
on commerce and common carriers this
afternoon. President Finley of the South
ern railway warned the law makers of
the disastrous possibilities of a policy that
would result in decreased earnings for
the railroads. He said that the outlook 10
not at all bright for success If the rev.
enue is cut down at the same time that
everything else is coming at greater cost.
The committee had invited number
of railroad men to present their side of
the case at the same time that hearings
were given to representatives of the ship
ping interests. Among those present We're
Mr. Finley. President Hanson and Vice
President Lawton Of the Central: j. S.
3. Thompson of the Southern. President
c A. Wickersham of the Western, Gen
eral Manager Taylor of the Mobile and
Ohio
Mr. Taylor was the first speaker, telling
os the struggles of the Mobile and Ohio
and stating that at no time in it's his
tory made enough to pay expenses. Mr..
Finley followed. lie said he was endeav-
oring to follow out the policy of his la
mented predecessor, Mr. Spencer, in lib
eral attention to the south. lie, a AIssis-
sppl man, knew the south and went
through troublous times with 1t. lie want
ed To ask of the people that cooperation
necessary to make the operation of the
road the highest interest to all. But"
said Mr.. Finley, 'f we keep up the de-
Velopment of the south we must keep up
the revenge. In Alabama the road has
never its fun proportion of interest let
alone making dividends, interstate being
far less productive than through business.
Any attempt to further reduce income
would be contiscatory"
Finley Is Surprised.
Mr. Finley was surprised at an attempt
to reduce passenger fare with so small
a population Alabama, thirty-hve to
the square mile, as compared to 200 in
states like Pennsylvania.
lie also called attention TO the large
tonnage IN the Industrial districts whero
low rates were made to meet demands of
traffic, and in answer to a question SAID
Alabama rates We're less per ton mile
than Georgia The speaker said he was
for doing everything possible for the
port OF Mobile; also that he would be
glad to see the Warrior river and all
other waterways opened and being usei.
Every one of them would in the end hep
the railroads, he thought Mr.. Finley
said that old as he was in the business
ne could not take "A rate sheet and un-
derstand all the rates and he was sur
prised that so often members of the leg
islature could. He hoped the members
would not act without full investigation
of the question, and In his opinion It
would take several months hard work
to learn enough to act intelligenty on
the question of rates
Mr.. Hanson went into "a thorough dis
cussion of the finances of the system, and
said IT would be impossible to exist with
any less than present earnings. He was
prepared to show the truth of all his
assertions.
Points Out Excesses.
Mr.. Nesbitt and Mr. White argued the
excessiveness OF the rates In the state,
/ complaining that other states get very
much better schedules and that Alabama
loses largely n result, they spoke in
line with the fight made for some years
by Governor Conner for lower haulage
charges.
Mr.. Thomas speech attracted special
attention. He argued that the south did
not need low rates 50 much as more
facilities to handle the traffic There is
not so much necessity for cheap haulage
as there Is for quick haulage and the
problem Of getting It's products to mar
ket is the greatest one Of the south. He
urged the people to help the railroads TO
equip themselves to move the business.