The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-10


 take into consideration the physical value of the property. the origtlai cost of reproduction, and all elements of value that will render the valuauoE made fair and just.
 We favor such legislation as will prohibit the railroads from engaging business which brings them into com petition with their shippers also legis- lation which will assure such reduction in transportation rates as conditions will permit. care being taken to avoid reductions that would compel reduc- tion of wages prevent adequate ser vice, do injustice to legitimate in Vestments.
 We heartily approve the laws pro- hibiting the pass and the rebate and We favor any further necessary legis- lation to restrain. control and preveNt such abuses.
 We favor such legislation as will in- crease the power of the interstate com merce commission, giving to 1t the in- itiative with reference to rates an1 transportation charges, put into effec. by the railroad companies, and per hitting the interstate commerce com mission, on it's own initiative, to de- clare rate illegal, and as being more than should be charged for such ser vice. That the present law relating thereto Is inadequate, by reason of the fact that the interstate commerce com mission is without power to fix or in vestigate d rate until complaint has been made to it by the shipper.
 We further declare that all agree ments of traffic or other associations of railway agents affecting interstate rates, service or classification shall be unlawful, unless filed with aul approVe1 by the interstate commerce commission
 We favor the enactment of law giving to the interstate commerce com mission the power to inspect proposed railway tariff rates and schedules be- fore they shall take effect and if they be found to be unreasonable, to initiate an adjustment thereof.
 Labor and Injunctions.
 The courts of justice are the bull wark of our liberties, and we yield to none in our purpose to maintain their dignity. Our party has given to the bench a long line of distinguished judges who have added to the respect and confidence in which this $,part- ment must be jealously maintained. We resent the attempt of the republican party to raise false issues respecting the judiciary. It is an unjust rehectiou upon a great body of our citizens to assume that they lack respect for the courts
 It is the function of the courts 70 interpret the laws which the people create, and if the laws appear to work economic, social or political injustice it is our duty to change them. The only basis upon which the iftegrity of our courts can stand is that of un- swerving justice and protection of life, personal liberty, and property If judicial processes may be abused, We should guard them against abuse.
 Experience has proven the necessity of modified tion of the present law re- lating to injunctions, and we reiterate the pledge of our national platforms of 1S96 and 1904 in favor of the measure which passed the United States Senate in 1898, but which a republican Con- gress has ever since refused to enact, relating to contempts in federal courts, and providing for trial by jury in cases of indirect contempt
 Questions of judicial practice have arisen especially in connection with in dustrial disputes.
 7 We deem that the parties to all judi cial proceedings should be treated with rigid impartiality. and that njunctions should not be issued in any case in which injunctions would not issue if no industrial dispute were involved.
 The expanding organization of in dustry makes it essential that there should be no abridgement of the right of wage-earners and producers to or ganze for the protection of wages, and the improvement of labor conditions to the end that such labor organizations and their members should not be re- garded as Illegal combinations in re- straint of trade.
 We favor the eight hourday on all government work.
 We pledge the democratic party to the enactment of a law by Congress as far as the federal jurisdiction extends for a general employers liability act covering injury to body or loss of life of employees.
 We pledge the democratic party co the enactment of law creating a de- partment of labor, represented separ- ately in the Presidents cabinet which department shall include the subject of mines and mining
 Tariff.
 We welcome the belated promise of tariff reform now offered by the republican party in tardy recognition of the right cousness of the democratic position on this question: but the people cannot safely entrust the execution of this inn portant work to a party which is so deep y obligated to the highly protected inter- ests as is the republican party We call attention to the significant fact that the promised relief was postponed until after the coming eection-an election to sue ceed in which the republicans must have that same support from the benefciaries of the high protective tariff as 1t has al- ways heretofore received from them, and