The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-11
A Georgia Fare.1eN.

Eequireu py the proposed improve ments.
 In the City Council, Alderman Jones' representing the Fourth Ward in the City of Montgomery insfde the Council Chamber, and representing the South and North Railroad in legal business on the outside, did not hesftate as to where his duty belonged. He took the inftia- tive and presented resolution conl- pellin~ the road to complete its con- tract and build the depot at the foot of Commerce Street.
 He fought for the reso;ution and 1t passed. The depot was built; the con. tract was fulfilled.
 But while the fight was waging, there came to Montgomery certain high officials of the road to put an end to the movement which cost them thous- ands of dollars. They called upon the senior member of his frm and told him If he could not control Jones the firm would lose the roads business That business was the largest single item in the practice of the firm.
 It was up to the young attorney to be controlled or get out. He got out rather than harm hIs senior. who would have stood by h4m and lost tho practice. He got out though he was struggling lawyer with a family of small children and the practice of the road was the largest practice of which he had ever had a part.
 He was out for two years He was out until there was a change in the management of the road. The Genera, counsel of the road at that time was Col. Russell Houston, brother of Governor George S. Houston. Russell Houston entertained the highest opin- lon Of the gifts and talents of the young lawyer and as soon as the management was changed he brought the indecsnd- ent attorney back into a regal con cop- nection with the road.
 This. is bare history of Montgomery The older lawyers know about it. The tacts are beyond dispute.
 The railroads in the SOS threatened to become an Issue in politics Cap tain Bragg, Chairman of the Commits sion, had several times taken issue with the roads on matters before the Com mission and he came to be regarded as unfriendiy to the roads. Colonsl Jones at that time was, representing Mont- gomery County in the Legislature. He still had connection with ths prao- tlee Of the Louisville ana Nashville.
 An adroit move was made to cripple Captain Bragg and the other members of the Commission. To prevent fur ther fight on the roads 1t was Droposei to leave the Railroad Commission with out salary by repeating the act which put the expense upon the railroads. With characteristic independence Col. onel Jones refused to copnCenance such proposition and fought effective ly against 1t in the House.
 Captain Bragg had opposed Cover nor O'Neal for re- -election-opposing him bitterly. Colonel Jones supported Governor O'Neai enthusiastically. 1t ernor would not send in the names of Captain Bragg and his associates. Ball and Crook, for another term. Colonel Jones opposed many of Bragg's bills onel Jones said, could not be given the commission to equalize the rates like those between, Columbus, Ga, and Opeliks and Union Springs. They touched interstate commerce. Others he thought too despotic for a free country. Nevertheless he thought Bragg the right man at the head of laws He favored a bill .electing the Railroad Commission on joint ballot of the two Houses. That would have re- elected BIagg and associates.
 These tnings were widely comment ed on in speeches and in the newspa- pers i'll ,he campaign of 1892. That was fiIte, n years ago. Men forget in
 The opposition of the railroads and many c. tne business interests of the State t. Bragg's policies at that time to bear m Colonel Jones not not to sup port the measure. He was told of the l displeasure of his railroad, He went into the House and delivered a strong argument in favor of the bill. Large ly by his Influence 1t passed the House. | although it died in the Senate. The l friction resulted in his indignant ten AttOF- | neyship to an officer of the South and North Alabama Railroad. Milton H Smith, the President of the Louisville | and Nashville, interVened. He stopped the matter where it was
 In the same period while a member | of the Legislature quadrupled the tax proposed In the revenue code which commissary ears. The south and North | Railroad at that time had a number or these commissary ears which had cars it is said the road profited to the | amount of $4O,000 a year.
 The road was a client of Colonel | Jones but that fact had no influence mined that the commissary business as 1t was conducted in those days was | an evil. and should be abolished. By | h that act one of his clients lost an an
 An employees liability bill offered by Colonel John was also before the Ju- dietary Committee and it was bitterly | Iought by the railroad interests of the State. There was tie in the com | mittee. Colonel Jones gave the cast ing vote for a favorable report. The blil was adopted by the House and
 In the City Council Colonel Jones as alderman fought to compel national He resisted settlement of the city with i these banks for loans to the city at more than legal interest. He asserted the Montgomery Gas Light Company had no right to a renewal of it's ex elusive franchise to the use the streets for supplying gas and fought to pre- vent the extension. Josiah Morris, | the famous Montgomery banker was a warm friend of Colonel Jones and also client. The Council had to de- termne whether MT. Morris who was surety on City Clerk Hughes bond | was bound only for one term as he l conceded or for the entire term Hughes l held office Colonel Jones insisted that the matter should be tested in the court Much feeling was aroused. His | independent action brought on antag- l onisms to his personal hurt.
 The list of those incidents in which