The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-11
Governor Asserts Increase of 25 Per Cent in Rates Is ForeShadowed by Excess in
 Value Recently Ordered by
 Majority State Commission
SENSATION IS CREATED AS MESSAGE DELIVERED
Governor Urges Action Taken
 By Associate Commissioners Be Set Aside If Every Legal Power of State Necessary to Bring About Valuation
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU !
 THE AGE-HERALD Montgomery. Ala. Jan. 10 1

THE AGE-H ERAID
 Montgomery. Ala. Jan. 10
 Declaring that the decision of the two associate members of the public service commission estab- fishing d valuation on the property of the Alabama Power company is "one of the most dastardly outrages ever perpetrated on free people" Governor Kilby sent a special mes sage to the legislature Wednesday in which he requested that joint committee of the house and senate be created for the purpose of mak- ing an investigation and the filing of recommendation flor the pro- tection of the interest of the peo- pie of the state"
 This message created sensation when it was read in the two houses. Senator John Craft of Mobile in- mediately offered resolution pro viding for the appointment of a committee by the senate, while Rep resentative C. B. Werner of Tus- caloosa presented a similar reso- lution in the house. The senate adopted Senator Crafts resolution at once, but Lieutenant Governor Miller announced that he would de- fer the appointment of the members until next week in order that 1t might be the duty of his successor, Lieut. Gov. Charles s. Mcdowell. Speaker Merrill in the house re- ferred MT. Verner's resolution to the rules committee.
 Pictures Enormity of 1t
 Governor Kilby's message closed with an eXcoriating recital Of the situation using these words:
 Think. Gentlemen, of the cnor- mity of the thing A finding by d body created for the protection of the public that has the effect of transferring from the pockets of the public to the pockets of a great corporation four or five hundred thousand dollars every 12 months for an indefinite and perhaps very long period of time.
 "It is one of the most dastardly outrages ever perpe etrated on a free people. I know of nothing in the his tory of Alabama since reconstruction days when the carpet bagger eX- plotted our people that approaches it in brazen and disgraceful disregard Of the interests of the people. have requested the attorney general to take cognizanee of the matter with a view to using every legal power of the state in an effort to set ssde this action of the eommis- sioa and bring about a rehearing of the ease and the revaluation of the property. In the meantime. l ear nestly recommend that a joint com mittee of the senate and house of representatives be appointed for the purpose of Investigating the entire matter and reporting its findings with recommenda for appropri. ate action of the legislature for the protection of the Interests of the people of the state. All right think ing people want our state developed and they want to be fair and just to the developers, but they require at the same time fairness and jus tice to the state and it's people"
 Says All Records Not Seen
 Not only did Governor I[ilbys message call for an investigation by the legislature, but 1t announced that the attorney general had been re- quested ito take cognizance of the matter with a view of using every legal power of the state in effort to set aside this action of the commis- sion and brine a0out a hearing Ss the ease and a revaluIGon of the property
 Governor KHby's message reviewed the decision Cf the associate com ndssioners which he aid vas rem dered without consid eratlon being given to it by ;te prcsi lent of thn commission. and declared that the as- sccsate omnisslone."s, in reac1ing. the valuation VrieE tnS estdIlishel in the order, di rat refer to all rec ords of the Aiahapa Power company which the lct requires them tu c'n- slider in the establishment of vllua tion.
 He mentioned that the Alabama Power company declined to produce the records which would furnish sun porting information needed by the commission, and that the associate commissioners established their val uation at the time the commission accountant was in Birmingham In all tContinued on Page sixteen.)