The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-22
FIDDLING AS ROME BURNED

| the manifestations of public sentiment in Alabama with respect to the lease system, there was being fatally neg lected in the house one of those legis- lative opportunities such as alone could furnish a basis on which the legislature might rest defense And when the house denied the public vel fare of Alabama the benefit of this constructive measure it was deliber- ately transferring to the railroads of this state further strategic entrench- ment in their fight against the faic and equitable adjustment of trans portation rates within Alabama.
 When the house committee failed to report the measure placing upon the railroads the burden of proof with respect to rate citations of the Pub lie Service Commission, the house was to a marked degree nullifying the benefits of the seaport measure as a stimulant to commerce by making it possible for the railroads to block the establishment of the rate schedules that properly obtain in any territory contiguous to well-equipped seaport. This failure to enact this measure places the commission and the indus trial and commercial interests of Ala bama at such disadvantage in bring ing about necessary rate adjustments as to cause inevitable delay and cost to the entire state, with the railroads di- rectly profiting at the public expense by every day of delay thus gained.
 In support of the belief that the railroads were in active opposition to the measure, not only in the Hobbies, but even on the floor of the house, there may be cited the worthy effort of Representative Powell of Walker, who read Section s3 of the constitu- tion which forbids all members having personal interest in a bill from vot- ing on it. MT Powell explained his reading by saying that large num- Der of the members of the house were railroad attorneys and riding on rail. road passes, and demanded that they disclose their personal interest and re- frain from voting. No member on roll call gave notice of any such personal interest, but Representative Charles B. Werner of Tuscaloosa, while admitting that he is a director in the Southern Railway, yet voted, saying that he had no personal interest.
 Such denial of interest is incredi ble, since no one can be a director in a corporation without owning some of it's securities. Therefore MT. Werner is by his own personal statement in- terested in the Southern Railway and therefore in any measure fought by that railway. Yet, in spite of the constitutional provision depriving him of his vote, he voted and was not de- nied. The Southern Railway, with which MT. Werner admits he is affili- ated, and directors meetings of which he himself says he has attended since his. election to the legislature, has long been known as. .an enemy of the sea- port at Mobile, and has fought the development of the port in every pos sible manner. The Southern Railway has been convicted before the Inter- state Commerce Commission of delib- crate discrimination against the sea- port of Alabama and Mobile, and one interested in that railway sits in Ala bama's legislature casting his vote for the benefit of the railroad and in opposition to the development of Ala bama's seaport!
 Because on Thursday the house was concerning itself with its politico- gubernatorial game, the measure died on the last day on which it could have legally been considered. The peoples business suffered, but the special in- terests profited, because the servants of the railroads were on the job, and the servants of the people did not say them nay.
 HIGHWAY PROGRESS AT STAKE