The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
Agreement Signed by Rail- road Commission and Ap-
 proved by the Governor
MEANS SAVING OF
 THOUSANDS TO STATE
Roads in Public Statement Recognize Right of Commission to Establish
 Equitable Rates-Leon Me
 Cord Makes Statement

Montgomery, March 3.--tspecial) )-Eyery court contest between the state and Ala bama railroads to determine the validity of orders requiring lower freight and passenger rates has been dismissed; coll testing railroads have agreed to estab- fish for all time the 21a-cent passenger rate. and the. Louisville and Nashville The Central of Georgia. Nashville. Chat tanooga and St. Louis and Western Rail way of Alabama have been cited to ap- pear before the railroad commission May IS to show why '.an equitable and req sonable schedule of freight rates should not he adopted.
 Rate War Ended
 This ends Alabama's rate war. The agreement was signed by Charles Hen derson. Frank N. Julian and Leon Me Cord, railroad commissioners. and ap- proved by the governor of Alabama and Robert c. Brickell. attorney general this afternoon. Through it the states appeal to the United States supreme court in the statutory rates cases will be dismissed by the governor and the Louisville and Nashville, Central of Georgia. Nashville, ( Chattanooga and St. Louis and Western Railway of Alabama will not prosecute their appeals for deerees preventing the enforcement of the commissions order toc a 21a-cent passenger rate
 The agreement means the saving of thousands of dollars .shien would have bvn1l spent by the stase In fighting for the validity of the orders, but at the ,same time means that persons who hold pink and blue slips issued by the rail- roads after the state legislature had passed laws lowering passenger and freight rates will lose amounts.
 Make Public Statement
 For several days it has been known that an agreement had been signed by representatives of the railroads, but the names of the railroad commissioners were not affixed until an executive session Tuesday. After the agreement had be- come fact the railroad commission made |, public signed statement in which it de Aclared that the railroads had recognized I the right of the state railroad comn1is- ; sion to make equitable passenger and freight rates, that the rases on the 1l0 commodities made by the legislature 'is a patchwork adjustment and that the railroads have been called upon to show why general revision or the freight schedule should not be made.
 Tt means that the railroads mentioned in the citation will be required to show why an entirely new schedule of freight rates should not be adopted.' said Frank N. Julian, associate commissioner. after the agreement had been signed.
 Ends Employment of Counsel X This will end the employment of spe- Ecial counsel and the payment of big fees r to them to fight for the state, said the governor. He said work had already started on the preparation of the vol luminous record which would have been ,~ necessary had the appeal been carried to the United States supreme court.
 "I am glad the rate litigation was brought to an end during my term, said Robert c. Brickell, attorney general 'When took office it seemed that we would be compelled to carry the fight on and then place it in the hands of those who succeeded us I am truly glad that the fight has ended.,'
 'The last account Of the states spe- cial counsel came into the office today,'' said Kirkman O'Nea1, private secretary to the governor Tt was for $500. His
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