The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-24
Former Counsel for State In Rate Cases Discusses the
 Commissions Action
COMMENT IS MADE
 BY OTHER CITIZENS
Weakley Says Coal Operators Are Pleased and at Same Time Rail- roads Are Not Dissatisfied
 With Coal Rates

Birmingham came out well in the rail- road commission decision"
 T think on the coal rate decisions the railroads will be very much dissatisfied D
 Viewed broadly, the industrial com panies won"
 The above quotations are from Judge Samuel D. Weakley, counsel for the Coal Operators association here, who appeared for the operators in the rate cases de- cided Monday by the state railroad com mission. He said yesterday that only in the Anniston group decision did the railroads secure very substantial vic- tory. and of course that decision was not of supreme importance to this district.
 Will Not Hurt Birmingham
 ''The decision viewed broadly will not hurt Birmingham" said Judge Weakley. ''The two most important propositions were the advances to Decatur and Hunts- vile, which were denied by the commits sion. The next was a request to increase coke rates to Ironaton and Alabama City, which affected the industrial companies to the extent of $22,500 per year. This was denied, and saves those two companies that sum of money. The third denial was in the interest of the companies on the Empire branch of the Frisco of cents per ton. That denial was extremely im- portant to the companies in that section. The commission also denied the request of the Louisville and Nashville to increase the rate into Birmingham of 10 cents per ton on coal. So it would appear that we came out well industrially in the decision. I am informed that the coal operators here and furnace companies are not at all displeased with the decision. although of course I do not know about that.
 ''The only thing we lost was in the de- cision by the committee to permit the Annston group cities to pay 50 cents on coal as against 70 cents for the general public. The commission allowed the in dUstrial companies to withdraw that rate. The commission in that decision I do not think materially hurt this district.
 ''The general outcome of the flght was very gratifying to me of counsel for the operators, and in the outcome I see no cause for complaint of dissatisfac- tion. 1 am not familiar with the classi- ficntion changes made as I did not enter that case. I cannot, therefore, give an opinion as to the effects of that. The commission did one other thing and that was denied some requests for decrease of rates. I only mention this in passing as I was not in that case
 Judge Weakley was optimistic over the result, and his views were coincided with by several citizens yesterday, who were asked for an opinion by Age-Herald rep- resentatives.
 Some expressions follow:
 Expressions By Other Citizens
 J. w. Mcqueen of the Soss company: '1 prefer not to make any statement just now. l have not received the official data. I may make a statement later on if it is desired.''
 William M. Walker: q think the com mission acted wisely in granting the out good case evidently, and I think the action commendable. It was strik- ingy similar to the interstate commerce commission decision"
 hODerI JemlSOn, Jr.. AL tHlS time l think it wise to help out the carriers and the industrial companies. I am of the opinion that the railroad commissioners would not have acted unwisely at this time. The decision is not the one pro- hibiting this district entrance to ports and was not the one resisted by the coal operators. It affects the Louisville and Nashville only and I think it very good"
 Walter Moore: "The rates we were so interested in as coal operators were won by our side. The decision granting the commodity increase was more or less local to the Louisville and Nashville. The in- creases do not affect iron companies or coal companies in those places they now reach, and do not affect the larger con cerns whatever The Louisville and Nash vile, it is held; made out very good case"
 Former Gov. B. B. Conner: q do not care to comment on that decision now. However, I may make statement later