The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-30
WHO OWNS THE CENTRAL?
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION CAN'T
DECIDE THE QUESTION.

II the Southern Owns IL, FreiEhts
Must BE Reduced-A Fight over
Fares Paid on the Trains-street
Car Fare saved 20 Passengers BE
tween Charleston and Savannah.
Other Work of the Commission.
Atlanta. Ca. July 29.-The mooted ques-
ton OF the ownership OF the Central rail-
road was up before the state railroad COM
mission again to-day. The commission has
been hammering away on the theory tina;
the Southern owns the Central and the
Georgia Southern and Florida for sew
eral months. but up 10 date no satisiac-
tory conclusion has been reached ana
after to-day's proceedings the question -
stil hung up in the air. SO far as the
commission is concerned At some future
day not yet named the commission viii
20 into the case again with the hope OF
working down 10 bedrock
Under the rule of the commission TWO
lines that are owned or controlled by the
same company must give the same traf-
nc rates as If they were one single ROAD,
and it is TO determine whether or not this
rule shall be applied TO the Southern, the
Central and the Georgia Southern ana
Florida that the investigation was insti-
tuted. II the rule Is applied II would
mean a general reduction of rates on
goods handled by these lines. When The
case was taken up to-day General COuu-
sci Henderson of the Southern railway
was present TO represent that company,
General Counsel Lawton Of the CcutTd;,
with President Conner and Traffic Mana
ger Shellman Of that line and General
Counsel John l. Han of the Georgia
Southern and Florida for that company
Much the same ground that has
been covered IN previous hearings was
covered again. Arguments We're made by
Gen. Henderson, Mr.. Lawton and Judge
Hall. Quite stir was created over the
stand. and admission taken by Gen. Hen
dersOn. He said that ne was wiling thdt
for the purposes Of the investigation, that
she commission should consider that the
majority OF the stock of the Central was
owned by the Southern. Conceeding this
he argued that the two roads were not
liable TO be placed under the operation Of
rule /, because the Southern had nothing
whatever to do with the management Of
the Central, both companies have several
direct tories and being distinct autonOmies.
In the argument which he made for
the Central. Mr.. Lawton took exceptions
TO what General Henderson had said
about admitting that the Southern owns
the Central. He declared that as the rep
agree to any such admission. That ad-
mission he said would not affect the
Central, which is a competing line with
abe Southern. The Southern would lose
but little If placed under the operation Of
rule I, while the Central would lose a
great deal.
Mr.. Lawton said that the stock of the
Central was owned by Messrs. Thomas
and Ryan, who do not constitute the
Southern Railway Company.
Commissioner CrenShaW wanted 10 know
why II was that Messrs. Thomas and
Ryan were not brought before the com
mission TO testify as to their ownership
of the Central
Mr. Lawton replied that the company
did not consider this necessary, as aftida-
Wits covering this matter had been ad-
duced. Judge Hail, representing the c.
S. and f., presented an affidavit from c. II.
Coster partner of J. Pierpont Morgan,
chairman of the reorganization committee
of the Southern. Mr.. Coster swore that
the Southern had no interest I'm the stock
of the G. S. and f., but that the controll-
ing interests Of the stock was held Par
sans & Edwards Of Boston.
The commission to-day took up several
other important matters, among them the
drawback system in passenger traffic II
is now the rule TO make passengers who
fail 10 secure tickets pay four cents a
mile, and the commission proposes TO
change this so that the passenger can pay
the four cents, but the conductor must, at
tHt same AAnlet give MN a IeDdte Cneck
so that he can get his overcharge by pre-
senting 1t to headquarters. Mr.. S. II.
Hardwck of the Southern. Mr.. B.. w.
Wrenn Of the Plant system. Mr.. John A.
Gee of the Atlanta and West Point Mr..
J. G. Halle of Central, and Mr. Alexander
W. Smith, attorney for the Marietta and
North Georgia, argued against the change,
as they declared that the present rule was
working well. The commission took the
matter under consideration.
On account of a complaint made to the
commission, passengers from Savannah
TO Charleston over the Charleston and Sa-
vannah railroad, will in the future be
enabled to ride between the two places
Tor 10 cents less than they have been pay
ing. Only ten miles of this road is in Geor-
gia, and the fare heretofore has been 81. CO.
Complaint was made to the commission
that this was in excess of the maximum
rate of cents allowed by the board The
road was summoned to show cause why
II should not reduce the fare. Mr. Wrenn
representing the Savannah, Florida and
Western. which controls the road was
willing to knock off 10 cents from the price
OF the ticket, which would make the
fare for the ten miles in Georgia strictly
within the rules of the commission. Ii
any further reduction is wanted it will
have to be granted in South Carolina.