The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-11
FIRST DIVISION CASES ARE
CALLED IN SUPREME COURT

JPREME COURT
, erlck ]. Romberg and r. P. Roach of
Mobile Mr.. Romberg is interested in
several Mobile cases and will be here
several days. He is one of the most
distinguished lawyers in the state hav-
Ing been a member of the state bar as
sociation since 1877. He served one
term as president of the association.
In addition to Mr.. Romberg and Mr..
Roach. several other we'll known law
yers from south Alabama are in Mont
gomery to appear before the supreme
court
The first division Includes the coun-
ties of Mobile, Baldwin, Clarke, Monroe
and Washington.
All OF the roads observed the rates for
thfee years, and for these three years
the patrons-that is, passenger and freight
were saved $6.3O0000.
Nine Millions Saved in All
More than half the roads have had the
rates in for six years-saving to the peo-
pie an additional 100000. or approxi-
mately $9,000,0OO In all.
From this record of saving to the ship
pers of the state, and which saving the
Georgia farmer has had for 30 years, the
people will understand why this railroad
system seeks through every debauchment
OF government to obtain control. They
throw every enyironing influence around
our politicians, whether bank president
or the citizen, whose vote and Influence
$ for hire for the purpose of obtaining
control. They plead that if they are not
allowed to make their own charges
against the people of the sta to they will
not continue development, a Develop
ment which every understanding man
knows is made by super taxing the peo-
pie Of the state to build property with
the money OF the state, not for the peo-
pie of the state, but for the owners of
the railroad, and in the end this secures
to them an additional tax on the people.
Every influence In Alabama which could
be approached has been approached and
we have many instances of press and in
dividual essaying to be leaders, both in
state and national democracy. and yet
who are in every act the agents of this
company and their allies to do that against
the people of Alabama which every at
titude of good government demands
should not be done.
True Statesmanship
TO justly equallze tax assessments and
wisely distribute the moneys of the state
constitutes craftsmanship.
The 100000 invested in attorneys fees
and court costs in the railroad litigation
has already saved the shippers of the
state-in passenger and freight charges
&c., O00.
Compare for Yourself
Let any shipper compare his freight re-
ceipts under the rates on the 11O commodi-
ties of common consumption, production
and use-called the Conner rates-for the
three years in which they We're enforced
on the Nashville, Chattanooga and ST.
Louis, Louisville and Nashville, Western
and Central, with the charges today on
the same commodities as made by the
same railroads. Also let any shipper on
the seven other railroads, including the
Alabama Great Southern, which have been
observing the statute rates on the 110
commodities for six years, compare their
rates, with the rates which were paid
before the law went Into effect You will
then fully understand the difference to
the Alabama shpper-and, remember al
ways, that the farmer pays the freight
has been paving, and is on some of the
roads now paying, more than the Geor-
gia farmer had paid for 80 years. Re-
member, again, that the seven roads have
had the rates in effect for six years and
the other systems had the rates in for
three years and there was no confsca-
tion or destruction.
Total Railroad Levies on the People
The total railroad charges against the
shippers of the state for the -four years
| of 1907-10 were $132, ,294, IN. 42. The state
| taxes foa the same years We're S1S,712 745
| The railroad taxes against the people OF
the state were $113,577, ,972 more than the
state taxed it's people for their own use
and benefit. The state taxes have exact
constitutional limitation of 61s mills and
the law limits the assessment to 60 per
cent of value, and this Is right, because
the people should be protected even
against their own assessor, and against
excessive taxes for their own use.
The state has a railroad commission
law, drawn by Mr.. Selheimer, and passed
in 1907-10. made from the laws of the
most progressive states for the protec-
ton of the shippers; and to more fully
protect the people, the commission was
made elective.
This is the only protection, outside of
the Legislature, that the people have
against this immense sum taxed for
freight and passenger carriage. Is the
commission discharging it's duty? The
freight charges against the state last year
were $99900,000, practically half as much
as the value of Alabama's cotton crop,
and more than double the state taxes for
| four years.
Is the Commission Held Captive?
The only defense that Alabama can pos
slbly have against these charges is the
execution of the law in the establish
rent of reasonable freight and passen-
ger rates. Is the commission doing it?
Have the railroad captured the commits
sion If the commission will not act, II
Governor O'Neal will not act, then the
only relief is new administration and
a new legislature which will act.
Our Tariff Victory
The national democratic party, after a
! 70 years struggle, have just accomplished
4 tariff victory, that is, reduced the tariff
tax on all ordinary articles of common
| consumption, production and use. those
things which save most to the common
people
They reduced the tariff cents per
pound on sugar, Notwithstanding the peo-
ole of Louisiana claimed that it would
destroy a great property interest en-
gagged in producing sugar.
They reduced the tariff cents per pound
on wool, Notwithstanding the sheep grow
ers protest that it would ruin the indus
! try.
| They largely decreased the tariff on all