The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-30
OWNERSHIP OF THE CENTRAL.
THE COMPANY TO BE FORCED TO
SHOW ITS HAND.

The state Railroad Commission De-
mands the Information In order
to Decide on the status Of the
Corporations Under Rule 1 OF the
Freight Rate Regulations - Fur
ther Complications May Follow n
the Southern Proves 10 he the
Owner.
Atlanta. Ca. May 29.-The state railroad
commission has determined to force the
Central Of Georgia Railway Company 10
disclose the names Of the owners OF its
stocks and bonds. To-day Chairman
Trammen. acting for tho commission.
sent a percmpt0ry notification 10 Presl-
dent Conner Of the Central, citing him TO
appear before the commission on June r.
and bring with him the minutes u the re-
organization, or, lf they do not show the
names OF the individual stockholders and
holders Of bonds any other books OF tho
company that viii make that disclosure.
The letter to President Conner Is couch
ed ia such terms as to leave no doubt
that the commission has determined to
Insist upon fun showdown by the Gem
tral for the purpose of ascertalning wheth-
er or not it is owned or controlled by the
Southern Railway Company
To-days notification Is a second step by
the state railroad commission taken for
the purpose of getting at the exact status
or the Southern's holdings In Georgia In
April the Georgia Southern and Florida
was before the commission under similar
circumstance. the specific point being to
ascertain whether or nos rule one Of the
commission tarin is applicable TO the
Southern In its traffic arrangements with
Mn
Florida, and the Macon and Northern.
which is also included in the investigation.
This rule one. provides that IL two
or more lines are owned and controlled
~ the same company, the rates over the
ulherent lines shall be the same as IL they
were IN iact all single continuous line.
AZ present the arrangements between the
central and the Southern, and the Cieor-
Bia southern and Florida and the South
crn are based upon the rule allowing a
higher rate for shipments over two or
more different lines. II rule one h ap-
pned, on IT. a new rule having the same
OF the commission have intimated will be
done In case rule one Is evaded by a tech
nlcallty there viii be a considerable re-
uucton IN freight rates over the Southern
ln connection with the Central and the
Southern and the Georgia Southern.
ON IN IS account the results Of the COM
mission investigation Is being watched
with deep interest by shippers all over The
state. when the case Of the Georgia
southern was heard few weeks ago able
arguments were made by the general
counsel OF both the Southern and the
Georgia Southern. but the commission
has held up us decision. 1t was admitted
nnally that the Southern owns the ma
JOrity Of the stock OF the Georgia South
ern, but the point was raised that even
IT. this were so, rule one could not be aD-
pHed because the two lines were actually
managed by separate directories This Is
the technicality that is troubling the rail-
road commissioners. The case IS highly
important from the additional fact that
II the railroad commission should find that
the central and the Georgia Southern are
owned and controlled by the Southern.
there might De further trouble on account
the ownership Of competing lines BY the
same COMPANY