The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-21
Complaints of the Kentucky Railroad Commission Are
 Made Public
CHARGED THAT DEAL
 WILL HURT COMMERCE
It Is Set Forth That the Merger Cow CTS All Important Roads In the South and Would Control
 Interstate Trade.

Washington, October 20. = The inter public the complaint of the railroad com mission of Kentucky against the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad company, the Louis ville and Nashville railroad, the Southern railway, the Southern Railway in Ken lucky, the Southern railway in Indiana, the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific railway, the Cincinnati Southern railway and the Chicago Indianapolis and Louisville railroad involving allega- tions of unlawful combination
 The complaint asks for an investigation Of these roads by the commission, an ex- animation of the contracts, agreements, etc., the production of books, papers, tariffs, contracts, tho issuance of sub poerfaes for witnesses. an inquiry into the management of the business of these roads, an inquiry as to whether their contracts, etc., constitute an unlawful combination and a device to enable the roads to divide the earnings so as to equalize the earnings of each of them and the general results of the arrange ments made on the commerce of the sec- tion involved
 Aggregate 25,o0o Miles.
 The complaint says these roads cover all important railroad points and all rail- road lines in territory aggregating 25,- 900 miles, with an operating income of over $S0,O0O annual and charges that J. P. Morgan & Co. have secured practical control and management of the affairs of all these lines. The transportation facilities of this territory, the complaint charges, practically will become one system operated by few individuals and will control the commerce of Kentucky. Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Geor- gia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. The capitalization of the defendant roads is stated to amount to at least billion dollars. "One man or firm with a few as- sociates, controlling the Southern rail- way" the complaint alleges, "has now secured control of the stock of the Louis vile and Nashville railroad and later Of the stock of the Atlantic Coast Line company and the Atlantic Coast Line Railway company and has secured an en- trance Into St. Louis and Chicago through lines by which 1t would be able 
 Chicago and St. Louis in territory to make rates such as 1t should dictate; and to dictate schedules, terms and rates of every kind to all smaller roads" The complaint alleges that this purchase, con- solidation and ownership means the plac- ing of the commerce of that entire sec tion under the control and operation of a very few men, dominated by the firm of J. P. Morgan & Co.
 Have Not Filed Contracts.
 If is alleged that the defendant com nanies have not filed with the :1.,r state commerce commission, as required by law, copies of the contracts. agreements, etc. It is charged that such arrange. ments, combination, purchase and sale for the producing of what is called "community of interest is simply an agreement or combination by which all freights of all roads iamed shall be pooled or controlled or routed so as to prevent competition. The complaint al- leges that as a result the rates will be advanced, communities discriminated against and freight will be routed over one or another of thess lines to main tain increased earnings md create fcti- tious earnings to give fictitious values
 The combination, the commission charges, is in violation os boSh the letter and spirit of the laws Of the United States and of the several states in- volved.
 The interstate commerce commission will immediately notify all concerned of the complaint and probably will arrange for hearing not carrier than Decem- her