The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-26
Tranlnell, Stokes. R. R,
Commissioners and Gov.
All Fired at L. & N.
ACCORDING TO BURR THE CON-
PANY WOULD NEVER HAVE
GIVEN A LOWER RATE BUT FOR
THE coMMIssIoN-TRAMMELL
SAYS STOKES DREW BILL IN
HIS OFFICE, AND STOKES SAYS
he DREW THE BILL.
BY. II. Reese.


Tallahassee, April 25.-The some
what ancient question as to who kill
ed Cock Robin is again to be settled
In the case of the three-eent rate set
tIement between the state and the
Louisville & Nashville railroad.
The raiIorad commission takes the
credit, which is also claimed by At
torney General Park Trammen and
also by Senator John P. Stokes, who
introduced the three-cent rate bill
which is now pending. and which 1t is
claimed FASTENED the railroad to make
the concession upon the withdrawal
of proceedings that had been institut-,
ed several years ago by the railroad
commission to enforce the order No.
IA issued May |, 1903, for a three cent
rate
Chairman r. Hudson Durr, of the
commission, gave out a statement last
night in which he reviewed the case.
and said that the commission had not
been able to bring the railroad to
terms sooner because of the lack of
money with which to proceed, and that
the collection Of evidence to disprove
the railroads contention that the
three-cent rate was confscatory had
cost thirteen thousand dollars through
special audit, and the railroad would
probably have never agreed to the rate
unless this evidence had been produc-
ed in court
Attorney General Park Trammell
said today when asked for a statement
that he thought the railroad COM
pany was undoubtedly brought to the
conclusion to settle the rate matter
with the state because of the introduc-
ton of the three-cent rate. bill by.
Senator Stokes. The Stokes BILL said
the attorney general. was in line with
s recon aendation made in his report
to the legislature. The reasons for this
conclusion are that the Alabama, law
for 2 IL cent rate had been adjudi-
Gated in the federal courts, and the
higher court held that the rate was
prfma facie fair and should be tried
before IT could be held to be conisca-
tory. With this decision against it in
Alabama the Louisville & Nashville
railroad, says the attorney general
knew that the passage of the Stokes
bill would mean the very early re-
qufrement that the thres- cent rate
would have to be put in.effect and that
there would be no virtue in appeal. 1t
was but little more than a week after
the rate bill had been introduced that
w. A. Blount, recent candidate for
United States senator and attorney
for the Louisville & Nashville railroad.
came to Tallahassee to confer with
the attorney general. the governor and
the railroad commission with a view
to making settlement. The agree
ment reached was told in the dis
patches from Tallahassee last night
Mr.. TEammell says the bill was drawn
in his ONCE with Senator Stokes at the
typewriter with the Alabama statute
Tor q guide. Il don't care to claim any
undue credit" said Mr.. NTrammell, but
I am simply stating the facts as they
sre."'ss-s
aANo SAW HIM DIE"
Senator Stokes said that his bill un-
questionably FASTENED the railroad
company to terms. MY bill was drawn
upon the recommendation of the at
torney general" said Mr.. Stokes. 'I
drew the bill In view of the decision
in the Alabama case the railroad COM
pany just simply couldn't get around
It; there's no doubt about it. The
railroad commission has been working
on the case for eight years and never
did anything with it, and the company
would have STAYED of a decision for
two or three years longer; the case
had never even been heard In circuit
court and there was the opportunity
for appeal which would have delayed
matters indefinitely
AND THE GOVERNOR, TOO.
1t Is also said that the governor feels
that he had somethins to do with
bringing about the agreement, having
had some correspondence with the au-
thorities Of the road some time ago
urging a settlement.
TO ABOLISH SPECIAL COUNSEL.
Speaker T. Albert Jennings having