The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-21
MORGAN CONTROLS
SOUTHERN ROADS
This the Complaint Made BY the
Kentucky Commission.
APPEAL TO NATIONAL BODY
Repres en,atives Of Coast Line, South
ern, 4. g. N. and Other Roads Will
Be Called Before ton Charge
ofUnIawful Combination.
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, D. c., October 2o.-The
Interstate Commerce Commission to-day
made public the complaint Of the Rail
way Commission of Kentucky against tho
Atlantic Coast Line Railway Company, the
Louisville and Nashville Railway, the
Southern Railway, the Southern Railway
in Kentucky, the Southern Railway in
Indiana, the Cincinnati, New Orleans and
Texas Pacific Railway Company. the
Cincinnati-Southern Railway Company
anu the Chicago. Indianapolis and Louis
vile Railway Company, involving ale
cations 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, etc: the issuance OF subpoenas
for witnesses: an inquiry into the man
agcment of the business of these roads,
an inquiry as to whether their contracts.
etc. constitute an unlawful combination
ard a conspiracy to pool the freights
of the different and competing roads in
advance to enable the roads to divide the
ret proceeds so as to eIuaiize the net
earnings of each of them.
The complaint says that these roads
cover all important railroad points and
n y
gregating 1000 miles Of railway with an
OF. "a ting income Of over S30.GNVG0o an
n..ully and charges that J. P. Morgan
and Company have secured practica! Con
troll and mana cement OF the affairs of.
all these lines. The transportation ia
cil:tes OF this territory. the complaint
charges practically will become one sys-
tenn. operated by a few individuals. and
will control the commerce of Kentucky.
Tennessee Mississippi. Alabama, Geor-.
cia. Florida North Carolina. South Car
DINA. Virginia and Maryland. The can
itali.ation of the defendant roads is stat
ed to amount to at least a billion doll
lars.
ONE MAN CONTROLS.
Zone man or firm, with a few asso-5
c.ates, controlling the Southern Railway.
the complaint alleges. has now secured
control of the stock of the Louisville AMI
Nashville Railroad. and later of the stock
Of the Atlantic Coast Line Company. and
tho Atlantic Coast Line Railway Com
PAM, and has secured an entrance into
ST Louis and Chicago through lines ny
which it would be able to force and con-
ncl Other lines out of st. Louis ana Chi
cago into that territory. to make rates
such as il should dictate. and to dictate
schedules terms and rates Of every kind
&c all smaller roads
The complaint alleges that this pur-
chase and ownership means coasolida ton
ard means the placing OF the commences
of that entire section under the acortro
and operation OF a very few men. dom
mated by the firm of J.. p Morgan and
Company.
1t is alleged that the defendant compa-
liios have not filed with the Interstate
Commerce Commission. as required by
law, copies of the contracts, agreements
etc It is charged that such arrangements
producing Of what is called a Community
Of interest constitute simply an agree
;nert or comhina ton by which all freightss
of all roads named shall be pooled or
controlled or routed so rs to prevent
competition. THIS consolidation, joint
ownership and joint control. it IS
charged, are simply TO pool freights be-
rs those controlling or rnanasing the coln-
hination shall designate. and so destroy
competition.
The complaint alleges that as a resrlt
the rates will be advanced communities
Disseminated against. and freight viii
be routed over one or another of these
lines to maintain increased earnings and
create fictitious earnings to give fictitious
values
'.I;y this control and operation" saws
the complaint. 1.-THE commerce of these
ststes viii become subject to the dicta-
Non of a few individuals and by the
tremendous combination of powers this
secured legislation 1nay be had, traffic
i1npeded and business destroyed in part of
this territory.
The object" the complaint continues,
Sis to place all the railroads under the
control Of a single firm or \ few indi-
viduals; to control the railroad traffic in
all this territory; to produce enormous
prcfts. etc. and 10 place al the business
and products OF over 100000 people in
i22c square miles Of territory under the
control and domination OF a single Ii-2
diviGual.''
The combination the commission
charges, is in violation of both the let-
ter and spirit of the laws of the United
States and Of the several States involved.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
VII. Immediately notify all concerned of
the complaint, and probably will arrange
for hearing not earlier than December.