The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-26
NESB|TT REPLIES
TO BOWIE CLAIMS
ON ALABAMA RATES
SAYS All Alabama Has Ever
Asked Is To Be Put On
Georgia Basis
MAINTAINS BOWIE rs
MISTAKEN PREMISES
Thinks l.. & N. Action In Practically
Sepink For Favorable Verdi Dur
ing Taking of Testimony
Was Unusual

w. D. Nesbitt, associate railroad COM
missioner of Alabama, Returned from
MONTGOMERY last night and discussed the
recent statement of S. ]. Bowie, special
counsel for the Louisville and Nashville
railroad in the pending rate litigation.
Mr.. Nesbitt maintains that all Alabama
has ever asked for is the Georgia rate
He said:
IT am glad Mr.. Bowie as attorney of
the Louisville and Nashville railroad has
recognized the necessity of making an
explanation to the patrons Of the road
and the citizens of Alabama of his at
tempt this month before the federal court
to secure an injunction against the con-
tinuance of the present rate of freight
and passenger charges of that road.
1T was certainly unusual in the midst
of the taking of testimony and after the
railroad had presented its witnesses and
before the state had an opportunity to
introduce any testimony, to go before the
court and practically ask for a verdict
against the defendant who had been
given no opportunity to offer any defense.
That looks like a modified form of lynch
law. doesn't it?
Ground Worked over.
Il do not care to go into any discus
sion of the claims made in Mr.. Bowie's
letter. That ground was all worked over
dncluding the claim that Alabama rates
were no highesr than those of Georgia)
while Mr.. Bowie was still in Congress
from the Seventh district, and before he
80 1f 7 ,,ttcx nd n h
Vile Possibly his absence ut that time
is the reason for his warming over the
scraps now.
1T is true that rates charged by the
Louisville and Nashville within Alabama
are higher than the rates charged In
Georgia on the lines owned, leased and
operated by the Louisville and Nashville.
Say to Mr.. Bowie and the Louisville
and Nashville railroad that there can be
If the Louisville and Nashville will agree
to put in effect here the rates charged
on their controlled lines in Georgia.
I'VE will make no objection to raising
all those many rates he refers to as
being lower in Alabama than in Geor-
gia, and in addition will assume the bur-
den of showing to any arbitrator selected
that the transportation conditions of the
Louisville and Nashville and South and
North in Alabama are fully equal to-,
If not more favorable than, the condi-
tons under which the Louisville and
Nashville operates In Georgia.
Since all we have ever asked for hers
were rates on a parity with the rates
granted to Georgia patrons, it appears
from Mr.. Powies statement that all this
five years of discussion has been caused
by the Louisville and Nashviles not I'M
derstanding that all we wanted was Geor-
gia rates.
Should Dismiss Cases
Now that we finally understand each
other he should move to dismiss the cases
in the federal court and join us in get
ting the Georgia bnsis Of rates to work
ing in Alabama as soon as possible, and
thus stop the heavy losses he claims his
roads are suffering on account of our
lower rates.
LAS to his figures and conclusions I
haven't the time to go into them or you
the patience to listen. His reasoning
is all right. but his premises are all
wrong.
You can prove anything you wish IL
you first get premise to suit your con-
clusion.
IF the life of a hen is 10 years and
hen will lay two eggs every day during
her life. and il you sell these eggs at 5
cents apiece. and If 1t costs $40 year
to keep hen. 1t is true beyond question
that man who goes into business with
1000 hens will at the end Of 10 years have
no hens but $685. 900 cash.
ut is equally true that If you receive
8 cents mile for hauling passenger 2
cents a mile for hauling ton of freight,
and If it costs cents a mile to haul
a passenger and If 1t costs cents a
mile to haul a ton of freight, and II you
haul passengers and freight. 10000, 900 pas.
senger and ton miles. you will lose 500, 900.
But"