The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-03
B. B. Conner FIGHTS
F RE|GHT INCREASE
BEFORE COMMISSION
Former Governor Appears
Before the Public Service
Body to Show Why Pc
tition Should Be Denied

| montgomery, October 2.-(Special)
/, With his characteristic dramatic en-
| fhasis, former Gov. Braxton Bragg Co
1 nner appeared before the Alabama pub
| lie service commission today in pro-
| test against the petition of four Ala
bama carriers to make permanent the
rate increases of 10 per cent granted
on the nonpercentage commodities of
the eightgr act soon after the war
| depression was felt. Declaring that he
appeared on behalf of the poverty
| the commission. If necessary, he would
| employ the most skilled legal talent
! to fight the advance. but he trusted
| it would not be necessary and If need
people of the state.
That's pretty good nomination
| speech" interrupted c. T. Airy, freight
traffic manager of the Central OF
Georgia railway. who was on the
stand
| 1T might be-, retorted Mr.. Conner.
| Mr.. Airy was testifying when the
! former executive asked leave to cross
examine the witness. but before the
curtain had been drawn the former
governor had made a ringing speech
| Wits were matched between two of
| the keenest intellects in the south
when Mr.. Airy and Governor Conner
| met. Their tits were numerous and
often feverish.
! On direct examination Mr.. Airy
| pleaded that the railroads should be
| given the Increased rate permanently
4 because their earnings in Alabama had
/, shown no improvement since the Initial
| financial depression. Governor Conner
said he came to Montgomery especial
| ly to submit a protest and emphasized
that the railroads had given only IL
| days notice of the proposed advance.
Mr.. Airy insisted that the people had
| offered no protest. but was immedi-
| ately met by sharp reply
Now. the people are asking to be
protected. by the eternal GODS de-
clared Mr. Conner. He said the people,
stricken by boil weevil and floods, are
suffering and poorer than ever before
and are asking to be given back their
rates.
Mr.. Airy tried to appease the wrath
of Mr.. Conner in, stating that the car
riers had done everything possible to
encourage diversifcation and had spent
money made in other states for that
purpose. declaring some good results
had been obtained
THE people haven't protested against
giving US this small crumb of in
crease. said Mr.. Airy Small srumb.''
Numbered, shouted Governor Conner,
''and when you state the people are not
protesting you are not stating the case.
| That's the reason why you are here
He declared it was an outrage for the
railroads to be asking for the increase
iwhile the people haven't rations
You talk about the price of cotton
and cotton seed being up he said,
"the people haven't any. This money if
given, must be wrung out of poverty.
| Sitting with Mr.. Conner were Nor
gan Richards. secretary of the Selma
Chamber of Commerce. and the rate
clerk of the Montgomery freight bu-
;reau. The latter two did not oppose .
Temporary extension of the increase
but protested against making it per-
manent. Under a former order the i'm
creased rates are in effect only until
October 80 unless the commissions
igrants the petition of the railroads.
Following Mr.. Airy. E. T. Eccies,
tContinued On Page seven,