The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-30
Biggest Decrease Is Shown By The Roads
Which Surrendered.


the regular issuancs Of the reports Of
the Commission during Mr.. Corners
.ncumbency as President of the COM
mission. but the loss OF the published
reports OF 1906 and 1905 has been felt
In view Of the fact that in the past
four years the railroad issue has been
so prominently In the minds Of the
peopls Of the State.
Reports Missing.
Under Section VIII OF the Act to
Create q Railroad Commission. define
it's duties and powers. and provide for
its mode Of procedure. ana prescribe
orders. the Commissions is rsquir-
ed through Its President TO make 20
the Governor an annual report OF It's
acts and doinEs. setting forth such
facts as win disclose the actual work.
ings of the transportation systems OF
the State. In its report for 1907, the
Commission state that II has omitted
the mass Of statistics filed with the
Commission as such statistics would
make the report too cumbersome, and
In It's report for the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1908. II says that 1t has omit
ed the mass OF statistics aied with
the Commission by the railroads. but
that 1t appends condensed extracts OF
some OF the important Textures Of
1907 az well as 1908 for easy COM
parison.
Right here. the railroad men de-
clare that they are again placed at
q disadvantage, as the statistics sent
to the Governor and published by the
State are not such as accurately re-
present the results Of the operation OF
the roads. but are such as make q
favorable showing, so far as they can,
4nx "A fas - "A State AL
ministration. II all statistics were
published In full as they are sent In
and under the same headings. the
railroad men say that there would
be no cause for complaint.
Although tho Commission has. under
the plea that such statistics would rem
der the report too cumbersome, omit
ted the statistics fied by the rail-
roads, and presumably required OF
such railroads for the purpose OF dis
closing the actual workings OF the
transportation system" of the State, II
has included a large mass OF matter
In the way Of compilation OF laws ere
ating the Commission and governing
transportation companies. rules OF prac.
tice OF the Commission, statements OF
formal and informal complaints. gem
erai orders. tariffs aaa SO on, wnicn
do not disclose the actual workings
of the transportation system" OF the
state and which serve small purpose
in connection with the report except
to increase it's volume.
In the report made for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1908. the Commission
says Of the freight and passenger
rates.
'Tn one way we are in position to
make a fair comparison and that is be-
tween such railroads equally AZ import
ant, in trafic. which have enjoined the
laws and continued to operate under
the old rates"
In view Of the paramount import
ance which the railroad question has
assumed in the past four years, II
seems that IL the comparison
can be made, the people OF
the state are entitled to the publica.
tion OF such statistics as will enable
them to determine for themselves Just
what basis there IL for the seneralitiei
OF that particular statement, and whe.
Their or not the Commission IL justiet
| ii its conclusions that the stimulates
erect OF the lower tariff has brought
about the earnings Of larger returns
than would have been earned undeI
the pre- existing system. There Is nc
mystical intricacy involved in the de.
Termination Of this fact.
The questions which arise are:
Have reductions In passenger rates