have one run by or near their home. This does not mean the total absence of complaint against this type of corporation, for such would be an incorrect assumption, but it does mean that in Alabama comparatively less criticism was hurled against the railroads than in the West where the Grangers fought fiercely and effectively against railroads and elevator monopolies.

A bitter fight was waged in "The Grange legislature" during the session of 1876-'77 over a bill to regulate freight rates, particularly as regards rates on long and short hauls.87 The average man could not understand why the railroad should carry freight on beyond its destination and then back to its destination cheaper than to stop off there at first. He could see the necessity for higher local rates than on through traffic, but could not see how, for example, a shipment of goods for Evergreen could go from Mobile through Evergreen to Montgomery and then back to Evergreen cheaper than by a direct shipment to Evergreen from Mobile.88 Do away with this "indirect method" and there would be no kick against the railroads. L. P. Walker, President of the Constitutional Convention of 1875, had stated that the growth of corporations was one of the marvels of the age. "Their power like that of King George III," said he, "has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished," for they represented individuals and were for selfish, personal ends.

Alabama had had her bitter experience with real and fake railroads during the early 'seventies, and the consequent tax burden imposed upon the people was sufficient to jog the memory of property owners for many dreary winters. The railroads of the country were blamed chiefly for the panic of 1873 which helped to set going the two decades of depression which followed. Bankruptcy and ruin were caused by these socalled haughty tyrants which had fattened on the people's generosity and patron

(Populist) candidate for governor in 1896. He says: "The people were friendly to the railroads. Knowing their importance in the development of the country, they thought they were entitled to earn a reasonable dividend on their investment, and their employes, were entitled to receive generous salaries and wages. The railroads excited prejudice (however) by their efforts to evade just claims, and to postpone their payments. This condition has been lately remedied."

87 Advertiser, Jan. 27, 1877; House and Senate Journals, 1876-77. 88 Annual Report of R. R. Com., 1884-5.

89 Advertiser, Sept. 7, 1875; Journal of the Convention, 1875.

age.90 After 1877 railroad strikes came with their increasing disasters, and many even in Alabama recognized that a pruning of power and a general cleansing were necessary and that the government should deal more radically than merely to adjust freight and passenger rates.91 By 1880 there was a cry over the state for the legislature to create a railroad commission. The movement was led by Colonel Daniel S. Troy, senator from Montgomery county, who wrote newspaper articles 92 to instruct the people and the legislature on railroads. The press became enthusiastic for regulations. It was claimed that the earnings of the roads were large, due to their high rates, and that their control had passed largely to Wall Street.

Indeed some of the press were especially antagonistic toward the railroads and other corporations which were thought to be too powerful, too autocratic, overriding private rights. As one paper93 put it, "If the members of the present general assembly fail to provide a remedy for these evils, then the people will find men who have the nerve and brain to inaugurate and execute the much needed reform."

By 1881, comparatively early among the Southern states, sufficient opposition to the railroad policy was aroused to force through the legislature a bill to create a State Railroad Commission, to be composed of three expert members, appointed by the governor with the senate's approval.94 This commission was a product of

90 Advertiser, July 25, 1877. See Fleming Civil War, pp. 587-605 for railroad mileage, values, etc. See also W. E. Martin, Inter

nal Improvements, p. 70.

91 DuBose, Article No. 48, in Age-Herald, August 11, 1913. 92 Iron Age, Feb. 2, 1881.

93 See Acts, 1881-2, p. 72; also Acts, 1886-7, p. 48. Iron Age, March 2, 1881; DuBose, Article No. 48; Age-Herald, Aug. 11, 1913; Brown, Alabama, p. 293; Advertiser, Feb. 3, 1881, Feb. 26, 1881, Feb. 22, 1881; Miller, Alabama, p. 275; Owen, Alabama, II, p. 1152. The bill passed the house by 59 to 20 and the senate 28 to 0. Gov. Cobb approved the act Feb. 26, 1881 and appointed these three commissioners: W. L. Bragg, Pres.; C. P. Ball, railroad man, and Jas. Crook, farmer, associate members. The salaries, respectively, were $3,500 and $3,000 with a clerk at $1,500. The legislature is said to have profited especially by the Massachusetts and Georgia laws relating to commissions. (See House and Senate

Journals, 1881.)

94 Acts, p. 177, 178, 190; DuBose, Article, No. 69, in Age-Herald, Oct. 10, 1913; Advertiser Nov. 25, 1886; Miller, Alabama, p. 275; See Auditor's Reports and R. R. Com. Report 1886 and each year. Iron Age, March 30, 1882; August 18, 1881. See Annual Reports

the State Grange's influence, and its powers were very complete. The work of the commission was very wholesome to the interests not only of the agricultural class but of all classes.

The railroads were due a debt of gratitude from the people for their part in building up the state, and they had their defenders. The Auditor's Report for 1879 showed the value of the twenty-three railroads in the state to be approximately $15,000,000-by no means a poor showing considering what the state had passed through during the previous decade.95 Dozens of acts for the incorporation of new roads were passed by the legislature during the 'eighties, especially the later years of the decade.96

In spite of what the commission had done in the way of improved facilities, reduction of freight and passenger rates97 (saving passengers alone over two-thirds of a million each year), the prevention of pools and discriminations, by 1889-a very active year of railroad building -no other question was so much discussed as was the railroad commission. Although Mr. Kolb was riding on free passes and in Pullman cars, he was at the same time complaining of high freight rates.98 In February, 1889, he reported that as yet the Alliance had not been able to accomplish aught in the reduction of transportation charges.99

In that year the railroads seem to have been attacked on all sides, by people and press. There were as many as fifteen100 bills hostile to the railroads in the 1888-89

R. R. Com. for the period 1881-1897; Buck, Granger Movement, p. 181. For railroad bills before the legislature in 1884 see W. L. Bragg, speech before the Senate Judiciary Committee, 1884. Passenger rates were rather generally reduced from 5 or 6 cents a mile to 3 cents. (See, e. g., 4th Ann. Report R. R. Com., 1885, p. 11.) The Fourth Report stated that the commission's decisions and recommendations as to rates had not been disobeyed by a single road.

95 Advertiser, Jan. 2, 1879; Auditor's Report, 1879.

96 See Acts, 1888-9, pp. 268, 458, and passim; Miller, Alabama, p. 283.

97 See House and Senate Journals, 1889-90; Acts, 1889-90, passim. He complained bitterly against the rates on shipping melons, saying the freight was too high, that the freight at a hundred dollars a car amounted to 10 cents a melon which was a good price for the melon itself.

98 Proceedings Fifth Semi-Ann. Sess. Agric. Soc. pp. 60-63. 99 Ibid., p. 72.

100 Birmingham News, Nov. 27, 1892; Advertiser, Dec. 13, 1888; House and Senate Journals, 1888-9, passim.

session, several of these providing for the abolition of the commission by the "Kid Legislature." It was urged that the commission was a political machine. While many papers urged drastic action, others cautioned conservatism, saying the state owed much to its carriers.101 The 1889 session adjourned after voting down all of the fifteen bills.102 But the fight continued. There was much talk of discrimination by the railroads to the detriment of the depressed farmer who was hurt by high tariffs whether he exported his own products or imported goods. The net result was that he received a much smaller price for the goods he sold, and paid an exorbitant price, due partly to transportation charges, for the goods he bought. The profit went, so it was contended, to soulless corporations.103

Several bills for the repeal of the commission were introduced in 1892-3. Others intended to kill it by abolishing the salaries of the commissioners. One great complaint, in addition to the fact that the commission was virtually paid from railroad funds,104 was against the governor's power of appointing the members. This gave him too much political leverage. His hands were tied, so it was said, by the powerful railroad companies. The farmers advocated popular election of the commission, but it was several years before such a law was enacted. As in 1889, it was charged that the commission was run solely in the interests of a few chosen spirits; that since its establishment no state convention or legislature had met which had not been "fixed" or "bossed" by the commissioners in the interests of their friends.105 So evident was this influence that it was claimed that the bulk of the people would tolerate it no longer. These high salaried minions of oppressive trusts should be abolished.106

101 Advertiser, March, 1889; Advertiser, Jan. 1, 31, 1889; Feb. 7, 1889. One defect of the law establishing the commission was that its salary was to be paid from funds paid into the state treasury by the railroads. This was regarded as a stupendous

104 House and Senate Journals, 1892-3, passim; Advertiser, Feb. 7, 1889, Feb. 9 and July 19, 1893. See accompanying map for railroad lines in 1869 and 1893.

105 Birmingham News, Nov. 21, 1892; Ibid., August 8, 1892. 106 Birmingham News, Nov. 27, 1892; Advertiser, April 3, 1887; See Owen, Alabama, Vols. III and IV under each commissioner's name. Mr. W. L. Bragg, president of the first commission had become a member of the newly created Interstate Commerce Com