The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
COMER DEFENDS WORK OF C. w. AUSTIN FOR ENFORCEMENT OF LAW
Former Senator Also Criti- cizes VaucIain's Attitude
 On Public Utility Control

Former Senator B. B. Conner. Sat urday issued a communication up- holding c. w Austin in his fight for law enforcement and criticizing re- cent remarks of President Nauelain of the Baldwin Locomotive Works condemning attempts of state and federal authorities to control public service corporations. His communi- cation Is as folows:
 April 2s, 1923. ITO the Editor of The Age-Herald
 Please allow lie to call your at- tention to what I am sure wa an un- intentional injustice done MT. Con rad Austin in your paper of April 2s, headed Tn Print Again." over a picture of Mir. Austin and the fol- lowing remarks:
 The percussion cap exploding many law enforcement sensations in Alabama and q storm center of Gov. Thomas kilby's administration, a quarrel with the Governor resulting in his dismissal Cor allege' insub ordination. MT. Austin has resigned as federal prohibition general agent. charging that guilty persons were being shielded
 And in your paper sf April 27 a SlI0lIdr CTlllClZlllS HotlGt
 'I have always thought that NIT. Austin was good officer-enforc- ing the law without fear or favor, without regard to person or class and this I believe Is exactly right. Possibly it is his unwillingness to compromise with wrong that is at the bottom of some of his trouble.
 Tn his present conduct as federal enforcement officer l still believe he -;r ( icd dF.i Inc 1t1xy q " posture the head enforcement officer should have it carried out to the let ter. let the chips fall where they will. and if we have got an enforcement officer or any head enforcing officer who has in the past been suborned in the least, and we all know that whisky, liquor. booze is the most de- bauching proposition in the world. and if Mr. Austin us enforcement of ficer las discovered any species of crookedness, he merits the assist ance aid not the condemnation of the press, the assistance of every gov ernment interest and particularly the highest government interest.
 T will also call your attention that MT. Vauclain, president of the Baldwin Locomotive Work, while on recent visit to our city. gave us a great deal of useful advice. but l must also call attention that his criticisms condemning tk5 attempt, both federal and state, to control public service corporations limiting their charges, was certainly a art from the good taste and from good judgment. MT. Vauclains company manufactures locomotives. his custo- mer Is the railroad, his environ ment Is the railroad environment and while no doubt he gets as much from the railroad in his charges as he can, he will admit that the railroad would get as much from the people as they can, and everybody knows that the farm O! this whole country must have r9lief. MT. Vauclain's charges are c. ntrolled by competition; without ooupeti- tion the railroad charges are not controlled by the law, then they will have free hand in taxing the peo- pie and this e knoy is dangerous.
 If this danger was so recognized that we thought 1t necessary to put into our cons: tuition the strongest restrictions against the taxing of our selves for ourselves by our elected agents, ther how much mor2 neces- sary is 1t for us to restrict l lblic service corporations and utilities in their cha. ges. Yeu-s very truly,
 "B. B. CONFER"