The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-29
R. M. GooDALL

| The proclamation issued to the people | of Alabama by the special committee in charge of the railroad rate fight will be printed and sent broadcast over the state. It will be sent to all of the newspapers of the state and the editors will be asked to publish it. The article, as adopted at yesterdays meeting, is as follows:
 At meeting of representatives of the business interests of Birmingham, held in the Chamber of Commerce on Friday June 2l, permanent organization was formed for the purpose of resisting in every pos sfble way the continuation of the ad- vanced passenger and freight rates on the Louisville and Nashville, Central of Geor- gia and the Western of Alabama rail- roads, which rates discriminate against the individual and community interests of Alabamians.
 Dominated by L. & N.
 "The above group of railroads, largely through the domination of the manage ment of the Louisville and Nashville, has opposed. at great expense to their stock holders and to the people of Alabama, the demand of Alabamians that they furnish within this state for $l the same amount of transportation that they are now. and have been for years, giving to their Geor- gia patrons Immediately across the Ala l bama state line.
 ''The business men of Birmingham take this method of reminding other business communities of this continuing burden upon Alabama development in the firm be- lief that every unenvironed citizen every where will join his voice to their protest and his influence and efforts to theirs in formulating and carrying out pro- gramme of active resistence. Until such time as. Alabama is accorded by these transportation lines, not technical, but equitable justice. it matters not whether 1t requires 10 months or 10 years, uncom- promising resstence should be main tained
 Tt is not our purpose at this time to enter into any argument, but to restate some facts now we'll known throughout the state.
 Alabama shippers and producers, eight years ago, asked their public carriers that they give here rates of freight and passage not higher than those furnished | by these transportation companies to the | individuals, communities and state lying | competing in a personal, community and state way with Alabamians. This request was right and based upon equity.
 Open to All
 "rhe avenues of public transportation must be open 10 every shipper and trav- eler alike, otherwise, operated by private
 Interests, they can at any moment become instruments of business menance and de- struction.
 "The fare charged for freight and travel must. for like service, be equal to all citizens, otherwise, operated by private interests, the individual or community business can be at any time taxed out of existence.
 l Any amount charged by public carrier for freight or passage. which is l in excess of a reasonable rate: or which unjustly discriminates against such freight or passenger. 10 the ex- l tent that it takes more than Is reason able. or more than is taken. under sim liar circumstances. from the competing freight or traveller, to that extent con fiscates to the use of the public car Tier the property of the citizen.
 Basis of Request &
 "It was on the basis of this principle that the original request for. a reduc- tion in freight and passenger rates was made by citizens of this state. This principle Is correct and applies continuously over the rails of a road even though such rails pass from one state to another It. Is equitably in- defensible to require ithat the passen- | ger eor forwarder of freight living on l the< west side of an imaginary line should be- charged by the same railroad | a higher amount for the carriage of | his person or his propeEty than is asked of his neighbor ands competitor one foot or one mile distant'on the east | side of this imaginary line. "The Louisville and Nashville. through its majority ownership of stock in the Nashville. Chattanogav and St Louis railroad and through /joint leases operates in Georgia thev' State road Atlanta to Chattanoga; the Geor- gia railroad, Atlanta to Augusta; the Atlanta and West Point and Western | of Alabama, Atlanta to Montgomery. | "On all of these roads lying within the state of Georgia the Louisville and Nashville has accepted. for more than | 30 years, or since the operation of it's leases rates on articles embraced in the 100 commodities the same as those l fixed by the legislature for Alabama l five years ago and which rates they have and are now refusing to accept from Alabama on two of these roads 1 the Louisville and Nashville accepts lin Georgia passenger fare at cents | per mile and on one 2A cents Der | mile, while charging Alabama passen- | gers 3 cents per mile and refusingJ to l accept the Alabama state rate oft21a cents per mile.
 Crossing State Line
 l "The Western of Alabama. in most instances using absolutely the same cars engine and train crew which per- form the service in Georgia at one rate, crosses the state line into Alabama at West Point and immediately raises the passenger rate from cents to cents per mile and the freight rates 25 per cent to 100 per cent.
 Similarly the Central of Georgia.