The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-05
B. B. COMER BEFORE R. R. COMMISSION Protests Against Rate In- creases Asked by
 Carriers

Montgomery May 4-(Special EFor the first time in several years B. B. Conner, former governor of Alabama. was a witness before the state railroad com mission this afternoon Governor Conner appeared before the commission volunta- riiy to protest against increases in freight rates asked by the carriers, and, while on the stand, made a lengthy state ment dealing with various phases of the railroad rate situation.
 The former governor first took up the request of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St Louis railroad for an advance of line. He called attention to the law of the state which prohibits railroad, the majority of whose stock is owned by another road in the state, from charging higher rates than the parent line He said that inasmuch as the Nashville Chattanooga and St. Louis is a subsid- iary of the Louisville and Nashville, it cannot legally ask to advance rates above those charged by the Louisville and Nashville.
 Enters Protest
 Governor Conner also entered a vigor-
  the 10 per cent increase. He declared that there are a number of articles hauled that are staple commodities and that the business depression does not affect this class of business, hence saw no reason why the commission should grant the railroads petition for a con tinuation of the 10 per cent increase after June 20.
 Regarding the rate on coal from the pli11ps n enefia1 jnIf1ctriaS at Art, for Gadsden Taladega and other places the former governor said this rate should be reduced from 70 cents to 50 cents. He declared that he had built his mill at Sylacauga on the representations of the railroads that he would receive rate of 90 cents. and stated that since the rail- roads had increased this rate to 70 cents he had contracted with the Alabama Power company to use electricity in run ming bis mill instead of coal.
 Governor Conner also made mention of politics in his statement before the commission. calling attention to the va ricus amounts of money which the Louis vile and Nashville Railroad company had spent in several state campaigns
 On the whole. MT. Comers statement was clear exposition of what he con- ceived to be the situation with reference to the rate increases asked by the roads It was not sensational, nor did it con- tain any of his former charges to the effect that the state had been sold to the railroads. He was on the stand 30 minutes
 Coal Rate Cases Heard
 The commission today entered upon the hearing of the coal rate cases, all of them being grouped together. These cases relate to the rate from the mines to Birmingham, from the mines to An niston Selma and other places, and nu- mcrous changes in the rate on coke
 The railroads are asking 10 per cent increase in rate on coal from the mines to Birmingham and the city of Anniston is asking reduction of 20 cents per ton on coal from the mines to that city Most of the cases have been heard be- fore.
 The three cases of the Nashville Chat tanooga and St. Louis railroad were con eluded today The most important of these cases was the petition of the road for an increase in rates on the Hunts- vile division of the line. The other two cases pertaned to a readjustment of the rate on cotton seed.
 A number of witnesses are here to testify before the commission in the coal rate cases, which will not be con- cluded for several days.