MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE--I have the honor to inclose to you a copy of a letter addressed to me by gentlemen comprising the Railroad Commission of Alabama, elected under a recent act of the Legislature of that State. The thirty-first section of that section provides that "Mission, by correspondence, convention, or otherwise, to confer with such persons from States having no Railroad Commissioners, as the Governor of such State may appoint for the purpose of agreeing, if practicable, upon a draft of statutes to be submitted to the Legislature of each State, which shall secure such uniform control of railroad transportation on the several statutes, and from one State into or through another State, as will best subserve the interest of trade and commerce in the whole country, and said Commission shall include in their report to the Governor an abstract of the proceedings of any such conference or Convention."
The letter states that it is believed by those who have given the movement consideration that a Convention be held at some point that may be agreed upon in the month of June or July next, might be productive of good in many respects. The Governor of the State not being empowered by law to appoint delegates to such conference or Convention as is contemplated in the resolution above quoted, and there being no appropriation available for paying the expenses of delegates in case they should be appointed, the subject is respectfully referred to the General Assembly for such action as may be deemed by it to be appropriate. Having received a copy of the act mentioned in the letter above referred to, I have the honor to transmit it to the Senate for examination by Senators and Representatives who may desire to read it.
A. G. PORTER, Governor.
OFFICE OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSIONER OF ALABAMA, MONTGOMERY, Ala., March 15, 1881.
To His Excellency Hon. Albert G. Porter, Governor of Indiana:
DEAR SIR: By an act of the Legislature of Alabama, approved February 26, 1881, a Railroad Commission was provided for, and the undersigned have been elected such Commissioners. The thirty-first section of this act provides: "Mission by correspondence, convention or otherwise to confer with such persons from States having no Railroad Commissioners as the Governor of such State may appoint for the purpose of agreeing, if practicable, upon a draft of statutes to be submitted to the Legislature of each State, which shall secure such uniform control of railroad transportation on the several statutes, and from one State into or through another State, as will best subserve the interest of trade and commerce in the whole country, and said Commission shall include in their annual report to the
page: 112[View Page 112]Governor an abstract of the proceedings of any such Conference or Convention." In obedience to this provision of the law, we respectfully invite your attention to what it contemplates, and beg leave to request an expression of your views respecting it as early as may be convenient. It is believed by those who have given the movement some consideration that such a Convention, held at some point that may be agreed upon like, for instance, Louisville, Ky., in the month of June or July next, might be productive of good in many respects.
Yours respectfully,W. L. BRAGG,President,JAMES COOK, CHARLES P. BALL,Associate Railroad Commissioners of Alabama.
