The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-26
a PROPHECY.

In view of the recent decision Of
the Supreme Court OF the United
States on the rate question and de-
veiopments in railroad matters gen.
orally. the utterances by the Railroad
Commission OF Alabama in It's report
for 1904, are interesting at this time.
and in striking contrast with the ut
terances from that body since domin-
ated BY comerism. The expression con-
tanned in the last paragraph Of this
report seems almost prophetic. With
trains discontinued, thousands OF en-
ployes discharged railroad develop
ment stopped. business depressed. and
the powers Of the courts OF the United
States OF last resort. being constantly
invoked to save the railroads from
insolvency growing out of recently
enacted drastic laws. the wisdom Of
the course pursued by the old Commits
sion SCENE to be thoroughly vindicated.
1t is also notable fact that nearly
every advantage as to interstate rates,
which Alabama distributing centers
enjoyed under the old regime. have been
lost as the result of this agitation, and
the war on railroads. The report re-
ferred to is in part as follows:
During the past two years earnest
demands have been made upon the
Commission for reductions In the local
freight rates in Alabama. The Com
mission has been In thorough accord
and sympathy with this desire and has
used all the means and authority vest
ed In II within the bounds of the
law, to bring about the result We
have, however, been mindful of the fact
that we are quasi judicial officers, and
are operating under law, and are bound
under oath to respect the statute Gre
ating the Commission. and the decis-
ions OF the highest court in the land !.
The rule fixed by the statute of Ala
bama under which the Commission OPP
crates, and from which II derives all
its powers. provided that in revising
and fixing rates, provisions must be
made SO as to allow fair and just
return on the values Of the railroad,
its appurtenances, and Its equipments,
well established guarantee of the Fed
eral Constitution. This rule has been
adhered to by the Commission In the
determination of all matters submitted
10 Ii. Material reductions have been
made by the Commission in the rates
upon the necessities of life, and favor
able rates have been made looking to
the establishment and encouragement
of new industries.
It is error to assume when 'consid-
ering the rates which apply in Ala
bama, that they are only the local
rates between points within the State
On every article and commodity Of COM
merce. not actually grown or manu-
featured in this state, the actual rate
with which the shipper, consignee. OF
consumer. is concerned. is the sum OF
the local and interstate rates. 1t Is
we'll established that State Railway
Commissioners have no jurisdiction over
interstate rates, nor can they control
or affect them. We found TO our great
satisfaction that the distributing cen
tiers in Alabma have for many years
enjoyed a superior advantage as to In
terstate rates, aud that under the inf1u-
ence of these favorable interstate rates
many manufacturing enterprises have
located in Alabama. and that our State
a. a whole, has grown and prospercd Il
an unusual and remarkable degree, un'
precedented in its history. We, alsC
| found that the sum Of the local added
to the interstate rate from Ohio River
and Western points, gave the small
|
| average rate equal to that of our sis
ter states, while the advantage to on
distributing centers in adjoining State
was great.
| 1t Is a fact which may be known t.
1 all who care to inform themselves. tina
| our distributing centers in Alabama
| enjoy an interstate rate from Ohio Riv
| er points from twenty to twenty-fv'
| per cent lower than our sister State o
| Georgia enjoys. That this advantage
1 could not be compensated for by an
| reduction OF domestic rates which thi
| Commission couldt at this time make
| cannot be gainsaid.
We again express the hope that tn
| continued prosperity Of the country AM
| the increase of business may make !
| practicable at no distant date. to max
| further reduction in freight rates in
i spirit OF fairness both to the people AM
4 the railroads, having always In view
| the solid, substantial, and conservative
| interests of both the people and III
| roads To do so earlier and in a differ
| emit manner and spirit would be suici
| dial both to the business interest Of tn
| people and the State and the railroad
| companies. and would result in stop
| ping the wheels OF progress that ar
| gradually and safely forging Alabami
| to the front ranks of all the States
| in the development On our mineral. ag-
| ricultural and industrial resources.