The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-14
ID INVESTIGATE
 SPURIOUS BILLS Chamber Takes No Action on
 Stephens Bill SEWERS STATEMENT Says That Shippers of Alabama Should Have No Fear to Bona Eide
 Bills Issued By the
 Railroads
SEWERS

The board Of directors Of the Cham Der of Commerce yesterday afternoon re fused to take any action on the Ste phens bill regulating bills of lading whica vas referred to it for action by the meet. 1 ing of the chamber last Friday. but l adopted strenuous resolutions calling on the proper authorities to investigate the charges of spurious bills of lading, anl prosecute the guilty If the circumstances | warrant.
 | The Stephens bill, drawn by the Amer can Bankers association, is planned t, prevent recurrence of fraud by forging bills of lading on cotton, and to pre- vent and difficulty in handling the cotton crop this fall.
 It was defended by W. P. G. Harding, president of the First National bank, who urged the importance of action by l Congress before the cotton crop begins to move, but upon 1t being opposed by L. Sevier, on the ground that some sec- tions place hardships on the railroads, Mr. Harding himself moved that the direc. tors adjourn without taking any &C., | tion.
 He stated that he did not want to be | put in the attitude of prosecuting the railroads, and if there was any feeling in the matter he preferred that it be dropped. He stated that the action ot the chamber would have little effect, and he felt sure that the bill, having already passed the House, would go through the Senate.
 However. the following resolution wa. | draUp and sced upa him
 Whereas. Charges have appeared il the press of the north and east reflect ing upon the south's commercial integ rity because perpetrators of business frauds are not properly punished, and
 "Whereas, It is rumored that In fail ures in Alabama involving large sumt of money frauds of the grossest character have been perpetrated; therefore, be 1t
 Resolved. by the board of directors o the Chamber of Commerce of Brming- ham, Ala. That due respect for the honoi and welfare of the state demands au immediate investigation by the prope. authorities to ascertain if the laws havt been violated, and if so, the prompt pros ecution of the guilty.
 | TT H. MOTION, "G. B. MCCORMACK,
 ROBERT JEMISON,
 "A. H. FORD,
 'Committee." Sevier Issues Statement
 That shippers in the state of Alabama should have no fear of bills of lading issued by railroads in this state, and that the shippers have no lack of conh- dence in common carriers was the state | sevier, general agent of the Southern railway executive department
 The statement of Mir. Sevier was n- fuenced by the discussion of the merits of the Stephens bill recently passed by the House of Representatives, which Is now pending in the Senate. Mir. Sevier says the Alabama laws adequately protect shippers on bills of lading for interstate or intrastate move ments.
 He adds that no lack of confidence has caused the agitation, but simply someone issuing fake bills, over which no com mon carrier could exercise control.
 The statement as issued by MT. Sevier follows:
 Ut is not a lack of confidence on the part of shippers in the bona fide bills of lading issued by railroads: all shippers have every confidence in such bills of lading. Spurious bills of lading issued on the part of someone have caused lheavy losses to bankers ana buyers of cotton. How can the Stephens bill stop the issuance of spurious bills of lading on the part of those not connected with railroad companies?
 'So far as Alabama is concerned, sec ton 6136 of the code of 1907 gives all pro- lection to shippers of interstate or intra- state traffic that may originate in the state of Alabama that the Stephens bill would; therefore, there should be no fear on the part of shippers as to bona flde bills of lading issued by the railroads in the state of Alabama"