The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-13
Attacked Consolidation Law.

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The petition then alleges that the act
under winch the United Railways Company
was formed, an act TO amend chapter LAB
1853. and Gmendatory acts thereto. entitled
Street Railways" approved June ls. 1898.
allowing the property OF company on a
company. TO be sold, assigned or leased. is
violative OF section 10. article /. of. and the
f1tth and Fourteenth amendments OF the
Constitution of the United States, and sec
tons Is, 70 and 90 of Article 2, and section
IS Of article I; and sections ., IS and 10 OF
/; is alleged that the Southern Electric
company hai issued sTts,oO worth Of bonds
ana that by virtue Of the conveyance to
the United Railways Company, it has been
manned, crippled and destroyed in its abil-
lily and power to discharge the interest
The pilintiff further states that the
United Railways Company was organized
for the purpose OF asserting and exercising
the privileges, liberties and franchises OF.
and acquiring by purchase, lease, or by pur-
chase of part or all OF the stock or other
wise. all OF the property of all the street
railway corporations owning ami operating
lines and systems OF street railways IN the
f. city and county OF ST. Louis, Mo, that said
corporation was originally Incorporated on
the nth day OF March. 1885, AS the Central
Traction Company.
On July TO- 1883 it is alleged, articles were
filed with the Secretary OF State in which
the name Of the Central Traction Company
was changed to :he United Railways Com
pany and on September IS, 1893. the United
Railways Company filed with the Secretary
OF State, articles showing an Increase in its
capital stock from 100000 to si5.oeo.Oo0 OF
which sD0o0G was preferred stock.
1t n averred that * is the purpose Of the
United Railways Company to acquire the
St. Louis and Suburban Railway Company's
property. and that for that purpose it has
made a reservation OF S5,ou0oo0 first mort
gage bonds.
Agreements Said to Exist.
It k averred that the st; Louis Transit
company and both cOlODanleS with each
other. that the St Louis Transit Company
should pay interest which had accrued and
to accrue. the same becomes due and
payable, on all bonds issued. and then out
standing. by any Of the companies whose
had purchased. ard that among the bonds
whereon Interest is to be paid are the fol-
go; Forest Park, Laeiede and Fourth Street
Railway Company, $500: Lindell Railway
Company. sl.5e10oo; Compton Heights.
Railroad t tSmp amy co; Taylor ana
nue. Railway Company. $4,000: Union Depot
ks aiIy0sd GSSmpsny e 2gnd Sty
que Railroad Company, s21looo Peoples
Railway Company. $2c5ooo; Southern Flee
nue. and Fair Grounds Railway Company,
3, $1,000: Citizens Railway Company, ST.
VT is alleged that the ST. Louis Transit
Company is required to pay interest on
Fixed charges amounting TO S.. 7s2.oo. in
Guiding interest on bonds issued since the
consolidation, and per cent on so, o99ooo
OF preferred stock of the United Railways
Company 1t is alleged that under the pro-
visions of the lease by the United Railways
Company to the St. Louis Transit Company
no hetterments or improvements Will be
made on any OF the properties belonging 10
the United Railways Company until after
interest on the fixed charges has been
paid. and per cent annual dividends on
$90.sr9001 of the capital stock of the st
Louis Transit Company. and before the St
Louis Transit Company shall be required to
make any improvements or provisions Tor
the redemption retirement Of bonds the
ST Louis Transit Company Is required TO
pay annually per cent on $lO2, 1ss,cO OF
stock and securities.
Governor Stones Statement.
Former Governor william J. Stone, coun-
sci for the complainants, said yesterday In
connection with the suit filed by Attorney
General Crow:
THE bill OF complaint states our cause OF
action IN full. We think that both the
State and national Constitutions were vio-
lated when consolidation of the lines took
place, and on that ground We propose to
fight the monopoly. The case instituted is
a Test case. And whether action will be
brought against the other lines depends
upon the decision in this case against the
Southern Electric Railway Company. Both
the Attorney General and myself are con-
fident that the act of consolidation was
carried out In direct conflict to the consti-
tutiorai provisions mentioned In the bill,
6nd We expect that the prayer OF our bill