The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-02
More Signed Statements

"Gadsden, Ala. May 1, 1914 "A. M. Garber, Birmingham, Ala.
 Answering your inquiry. 50-cent rate from Birmingham district to Ala bama City was put in effect April, 1905.
 "C. s. WILKINSON, Agent"
 "Talladega, Ala, April 30, 1914. Donald Conner, Avondafe, Birmingham,
 We, the manufacturers of Talladega, Ala, certify B. B. Conner had nothing to do With our obtaining a rate of 50 cents per ton on coal and that such rate has been in effect since 1905.
 Highland City Mills.
 "Chinnabee Cotton Mills.
 Hicks Hosiery Mills.
 "Munford Cotton Mills.
 "Talladega Fertilizer and Manufac- turing company.
 Planters Chemical and Oil company.
 "Talladega Cotton Factory.
 MT. Selheimer Explains
 T have read the reply of MT. Henderson to the request of Governor Conner that he correct the false charge issued from the Henderson headquarters that Gov ernor Conner procured by legislative en- actment, a special coal rate to his Syla- cauga mills.
 All the differences to be drawn from said reply are, to my knowledge, incor- rect and misleading. I prepared all the |. bills passed by the Conner legislature re- ll:irg to railroads and rates. No act was passed by that legislature fixing any rate on coal to Sylacauga or any other point. No bill was prepared by MT. Hen dersUn and passed by that legislature which would have made it impossible for the railroads legally to nave made such a rate. The provision of the law which had that effect, which prohibited dis crimination, is contained in the act to regulate railroads, etc In the beginning of the regular session of the Conner legis- lat,ire, a bill was introduced for this pur- pose in the preparation of which, | am informed, Mir. Henderson had something to do, but it was so inadequate and un- suitable that, at Governor Corners in stance, l prepared a new bill which was substituted for the original bill as shown on pages FIG to 727 of the printed senate journal of 1907.
 There has been no law since August, 1907, prohibiting the railroad commission from increasing any rates. An act was passed, approved August g, 1907, giving the railroad commission full power to increase or reduce any rate, whether such rate was cue specifically prescribed by statute, or one which the railroads had establish ed, and which had been made the maxi mum rate Ey statute or one which the commission had fixed So the railroa d
 
 been president thereof for over seven years, have had the power since August. 1907, to increase any rate on coal or any other commodity to Sylacauga or any other point.
 The Conner Legislature
 "No act was passed by the Conner leg islaturc which legalized any special rate on coal or any other commodity to Syla- cauga or any other point.
 If any one Is responsible for the main- tenance of these rates on coal to cotton mills and other industries. it is MT. Hen derson and the railroad commission The act of November 23 1901, referred to by MT Henderson, did not legalixe these or any other rates. On the contrary, it left the question of keeping these rates in force entirely to the railroad commission. It gave to the commission the power to authorize a special rate to any industry, provided all persons engaged in the same industry, within the same zone, should be entitled to the same rate, and provided also that the rate should first be filed with and approved by the railroad com mission.
 'This bill was prepared by me after the subject thereof had been thorouRhly discussed and approved by members of the commission. Governor Conner never saw the bill until after it had been passed anu prousht to nm to pc signed. IT, therefore. there is a special rate on coal to any industry at any point, 1t is in force because 1t has received <the ap- proval of MT. Henderson and the railroad commission, and not because 1t was ap- proved by Governor Conner. I'll. C. SELHEIMER.
 There is no question but that Mir. Hendehson. in his false statements. has been caught coming out of the commits sary with ham on his back 'B. B. COMER. !"