The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-22
CONVICT DENIES CHARGE AGAINST
 STATE PRISON
Lavender Declares Letter Of Repudiation Was
 Signed Voluntarily
fstats Capital Rureaul

MONTGOMERY, Ala, Aug. 21.- Through the state convict department, the Montgomery Journal Thursday re- ceived a letter from W. D. Lavender, state convict at River Falls, in winch he declares that the charges made against the prison by convicts several days ago have no foundation in fact, He also insists that the convicts who signed the letter of repudiation fol- lowing the publication of the charges cid so voluntarily and were not forced or tricked into it, as was alleged by James l.. Arlington of Birmingham.
 Lavender's letter was sent to Roy l.. Nolen, associate member of the state board of administration, with the request that it be published in the Journal. Mir. Nolen made it public without comment, saying that since it was addressed to the Journal he felt that delivery of it should be made to the Journal ..s
 Rate Suspension Uurged.-A joint protest against, and petition for sus- pension of proposed rates on cotton from points of origin on the Louis vile and Nashville Railroad in Ala bama to all North and South Carolina mill points, has been filed with the Interstate commerce commission by the Alabama public service commission, through Commissioner Frank P. Mor- gan; the Alabama Farm Bureau Cot ton. association, through J. A. Null easy, traffic manager; the Montgomery Cotton exchange, through J. D. Oliver and the Montgomery Chamber of Com merce, through NJ. M. Caskie.
 The scale of rates objected to, pro- posed to become effective September l, provides joint through rates on cot ton from points of origin on the Louis vile and Nashville in Alabama, to the Carolina mills. The proposed rate is somewhat less than the present through rate, it is stated and apparently con- stitutes a reduction to the shippers {; but it is claimed that this does not actually follow, due to the fact that the Louisville and Nashville Railroad does not grant transit privileges on cotton between points of origin in Ala bama and the Carolina mill points, protecting through rates from origin to destination. As a consequence, it is stated, through rates are not used, but instead a combination rate. Under the proposed scale the combination rates would be increased, it is claimed and the actual cost of shipment of cotton to the Carolina mills from Louisville and Nashville origin points increased. It was also claimed that the Louisville and Nashville scale of rates is higher than that of other standard line rail roads from Alabama roints to the Carolinas.
 The Interstate Commerce Commission was asked to prescribe a just and req sonable scale of rates to cover the movement involved and to provide for the transit privilege on cotton from l.. and N. points of origin in Alabama to the Carolina mills.
 Want Service Continued-The Ala bama Public Service Commission today received a petition from citizens of Quinton protesting against discontin- uance of passenger service on the Bir- mingham and Praco branch of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, ex- tending a distance of 35 miles.
 The conteation of the Louisville and Nashville railroad in requesting the dis continuance is that the service is re- suIting in loss of revenue. It was claimed that for the six months ending June 30, the revenue was approximate ly $6,000 and the cost of maintaining service approximately 5000.
 The case has been set for hearing
 before the Public Service Commission