The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-12-19
The LATE BOYCOTT
OF THE COLUMBUS SOUTHERN RAIL
WAY

Nav Bring on Lawsuit-The Georgia
Railroad Commission Takes a Hand
in the Affair.
There is an important case before the
state railroad commission which threat
ems to bring about quite row among
the roads before it is settled.
The case is that which has been made
out on behalf OF the Columbus Southern
railroad and the Savannah, Americas Il
Montgomery railroad against the Geor-
gia Central and the Savannah, Florida
and Western in particular, and the South
ern Railway and Steamship Association
in general.
1t is in the nature Of comp amt filed
by the railroad commission against the
roads named GA account of the recent
order of Commissioner Stahlman insti-
tuting IL boyc) TT against the Columbus
Southern.
The boycott against the Columbus
Southern was issued by Commissioner
Stahlman because of alleged violations
OF the rate agreement.
The Columbus Southern was reported
as having cut The regular rates at this
point and that. The managers were no,
titled by the commissioner that unless 1t
was stopped the association would boy
colt the line. 1t appears that the com
missioner had reason later for issuing
the boycott order against the road, and
this is what brings on the trouble.
It is claimed in the complaint that has
been filed that the boy colt which is now
in effect causes business and freight
traffic 10 be turned away from the sec
tions through which it would otherwise
pass 1t is further charged in the COM
plant that these roads are being de-
prived of their rightfu' traffic unjustly,
and that certain towns in that region of
the state are crippled by the boycott
against the Columbus Southern.
For such reasons, as SET forth in the
complaint, the railroad commissioners
summoned Commissioner Stahlman, of
the the Southern Railway and Steamship
Association, TO appear before them and
give cause for declaring boycott against
the road, and show the justice of such a
step.
Commissioners Stahlman appeared be
fore the commission and in general
way was made acquainted with the mo-
tive for filing such a complaint
81 must first know the exact charge
against me as the representative of the
Southern Railway and Steamship AssO
citation before l enter into any argument
of the justification of the boycott issued
by me against the Columbus Southern"
said Major Stahlman to the commission
erS.
Definite charges of discrimination will
be brought, pending which the railrC a 1
commission will take no action.
In this connection it is interesting to
know that the presidents of the roads of
the south, while in their recent meeting
of the executive board of the Southern
Railway and Steamship Association,
passed resolution unanimously author
izing the commissioner of the assOcia
ton to declare a boycott against any and
all roads he caught Slashing rates and in
other ways violating the rules and pull
ing down the interests of the roads that
form tle Southern Railway aud Steam
ship Assoc ion.
With this authority behind him Com
missioner Stahlman seems pretty well
backed for a lively tilt with the issut
that is sprung by the railroad commits
sion Of the state.
If it comes down to direct question
as TO whether the Southern Railway and
Steamship Association has a right to de-
clare a boycott against railroad out of
the association or not, there is certain to
be great deal of interest in the fight.