The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-17

STATE OF Georgia In their constitution
and laws prohibiting monopoly and en-
couraging competition merely uttered q
lot OF meaningless sentences, which cor
porations may defy at pleasure and
with impunty.
1t Is not my purpose to take up serIa-
tim each of the assertions of your let
ter. The intelligent public will perceive
that IL the statements which / have
controverted are incorrect it necessaril-
ly follows that the rest of your letter Is
mere argument, based thereon, and
must necessarily fall.
I desire. however, to chiefly challenge
your statement as to the railroad situa-
t!on at Macon. Ga. Concerning the at
titude of the Central and Georgia roll
ROADS do not care to say more. How
ever. L ask whether you can produce a
single instance in which the Georgia
railroad or the Central of Georgia have
adopted measures or taken action con-
trary to the expressed wishes of the
southern Railway Company. am
quite certain that IL they ever have the
public has never been appraised thereof
so tar as the Georgia Southern and
rioIioa' Macon and Birmingham rail
roaos are concerned, in regard to the
former l simply desire to quote from
your letter of July 10, 1895. written to the
Macon Chamber of Commerce, in which
you say LAS regards the Georgia
Southern and Florida, the Southern
trol not all. but only a majority Of the
securities" When and how have the
Southern Railway and it's friends ceased
10 control the majority of these securi-
ties? Is it not true that you are the
president of this company, and is it not
<rue that you control it's operations?
In regard to the Macon and Birmine-
nam railroad ii is Il well-known fact
That shortly before the sale OF that rail-
roau under foreclosure large portion
OF ITS bonds were sold and purchased
IA the interest OF the Southern Railway
company. 1t is also known that the
same bonds were rendered by the pur-
chasers. Edwards and Parsons, in part
payment for the Macon and Birming-
ham railroad. 1t is well-known that the
confirmation of the sale was resisted by
me compliments In the suit under
which the Macon and Birmingham was
SOLD and that the attorneys for these
plaintiffs proposed to examine under
oath Mr.. Lewis Garrard, who had regis
tered the sale Of these bonds, for the
purpose OF showing that the purchase of
.ue raliroad was in the interest of the
southern Railway Company, and that
ne ponds had been sold to them or Its
irlenos. Mr.. Garrard refused to testify
III the case and claimed his privilege MS
an attorney. which the court sustained.
When single word from his Inns had
the facts been otherwise. would have
entirely relieved the Southern Railway
from all connection with the transa ction
ana cleared his clients from the belief
mat they were merely it's representa-
lives.
Inc pubic do not understand why
Alessrs. Edwards and Parsons brol,ers
or Boston. with no interest in the South,
ern halfway situation, should buy n
Toau IKE the Macon and Birmingham
Whlch Is unable to support itself. much
,ess 10 pay an interest upon the invest
It'll, Just as they fail to understand
WhN the Southern Railway Companv
should have desired to purchase the
Atlanta and Florida railroad as an in
Festment. but they can understand
whV each of these roads should have
peen bought either for or at the instance
OF the southern railway for the purpose
OF controlling the movement of freieht
IN inns State. OF shutting out competi-
tlon and promoting a MONOPOLY. The
pubic would like a very full explano
ZION or who Messrs. Edwards and Par
sons are. and why and at whose in :
stance they may have purchased the
Macon and Birmingham railroad. of tho
course or the dealings which We're had
IN the Macon and Birmingham bonds
prior to the sale. and of exactly how
me reorganized Macon and Birminrham
Company now stands. of where lis stnci,
| Is. and all about it.
The public is quite willing to believe
mat the Southern Railway Comnanv
does not hold the stock in its own
name: also that il has probably under
the advice OF able counsel. DESIRING IN
technicail conform to the laws and
constitution of the State, placed III
WHERE l HAVE NO such t.chnicaI
ownership therein, as ii is forced 10 adj
mt; put they want TO see. as I have
sald before. not the negative side of The
picture. but the afTirmau i've side of n
ans 10 have a full. fair and free die
cIoSure OF ALL the substantial facts
from the papers filed with the railroad
commission 1t Will appear that a portion
Oh the securities of the Georgia South
ern and Florida railroads are now hold
oV Edwards and Parsons These So
curlties. under the facts which are now
weilknown. and in the absence of that
complete disclosure which is above So
lcited. must be considered as held nm
DER some sort of an agreement I'm tho
interests of the Southern Rajlway
Company or it's friends"
think from the foregoing statement
the public VIII have no difficulty i'm ner-
ceiNihG that, Notwithstanding the very
ingenious denials of your letters 7 was
substantially correct in my statement
as 10 the various railroad lines in this
State. 90 '"''
few words as to your reference to
nv course and the course of the sea
board Air Line in this matter. find
IN Your annual report for the wear end-
ing June GOTH 1896. this statement.
The rates have been better maintained
during the year throughout the terri
tory reached by the company's lines
man for several years past" AS this