The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-30
PRESIDENTS MUST
 BE APPEALED ID Stop Over Privilege for Bir-
 mingham Doubtful LETTER IS RECEIVED Southeastern Passenger Association
LETTER IS RECEIVED
Southeastern Passenger Association Says It Has No Authority to Take Action on the Chamber of
 Commerce Petition

Unless the Chamber of Commerce ap- peals to the presidents of the railroads entering Birmingham for stop over priv ileges, it is considered very probable that that cooperation will never be afforded
 this city. 1 The chamber yesterday received q let
 ter from the Southeastern Passenger as
 sociation to the effect that the body ap-
 pealed by tho local officials did not have any authority to take up the matter. The letter was referred to the passenger traf- | fic officials of the lines.
 1 The members of the railroad and trans | portati committee of the Chamber of Commerce will redouble their efforts to get in touch with those in authority who will be appealed to.
 It is said to be probable that the follow ing officers may be invited here to dis cuss the matter and that some definite conclusion may be reached.
 Charles Markham, president of the illinois Central railroad and the Central of Georgia; w. L. Mapother, vice presi- dent of tho Louisville and Nashville vail road; Ha-y M. Atkinson, president of the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic rail road: E. II. Coapman, vice president and gel eral manager of the Southern railway; r. c. Powell, vice president Of the Queen and Crescent Route; c. II. Ilix, vice pres ident and general manager of the Sea beard Air Line. W. C. Nixon, vice presi- dent of the Frisco lines.
 It is unders tood that the passenger 1 traffic officials are somewhat timid about 1 taking up stop over matters with their
 executives. However, if the executives
 were brought to Birmingham for a dis oussion il is believed some impression could be made upon them.
 Reply to Association The reply to the Southeastern Passenger association letter by the Chamber of Commerce follows:
 MT. Joseph Richardson, Southeastern Passenger Association, Atlanta, Ga: "Dear Sir: Referring To your File 36j7 desire to thank you for the information contaoined in your letter and in the letter of the traffic officials addressed to the Chamber Of Commerce of Atlanta.
 "So far as danger of scalping in Bir- mingham is concerned, we will undertake to see that proper ordinance is drawn lD prevent II, IT any SHoulu oNc"i' No will make it so hot for the scalpers that none of them will do business.
 "In the communication of the traffic officials to the Chamber of Commerce 1t is asserted that the practice of granting one way stopover privileges is vicious and should be curtailed It seems to us that If it is a vicious practice, that it is just as vicious in the case of Vicks- burg, Chattanooga and New Orleans as tt ha in bp of RiFmin Da Nashville, Atlanta and Memphis. 1t must be as vicious in the case of Toledo, Wheel ing Washington, Cincinnati, Detroit, Los Angeles, Portland, seattle and any other cities now enjoying the privilege. It seems to us, however, that If this practice is vicious that the railroads that are, fav- bring these cities would put an end to it.
 "The policy of the western roads in their 1beraity toward the cities on their
 lines in the way of stopover privileges has unauestionably contributed considerably to their growth and prosperity.