The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-26
Hadley Takes New Tack in
Search of Octopus.
hissOuri's Attorney General
After Parallel Railway Lines.
COMPETITORS.
Several Big Roads May Be
Forced Into ReceiTerships.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

Kansas City, No. March 26.-Two or
more railroads may be thrown into re-
ceivership by proceedings to be insti-
tuted by Attorney General Hadley.
With the prospective ending of his fight
against the Standard Oil company, the
Missouri attorney general is planning to
attack the octopus in an entirely differ
ent quarter He mas chosen the rail-
roads owning parallel and erstwhile
competing lines. which have violated
the constitution of the state Of Missouri
by combining.
For the past several days agents of
the attorney general have been gather
Ing facts upon which proceedings may
he based. Principal among the roads
tc be attacked are the Burlington, which
owns the Quincy, Omaha & Kansas
city, parallel line, and the Frisco,
which owns the Kansas city. Clinton
q Springfield, parallehng its own line.
The attorney general is said to be con
WINGED he will be able to make out
case against the Burlington and Frisco
systems
The Rock Island and the Chicago &
alton, which are owned by common in
terests, and which parallel each other
IN Missouri, and the Missouri Pacific
and Wabash, both Could properties and
parallel, may also be proceeded against
by the attorney general, although the
ownership in the case of these latter
syteTns is not SO clear as in the matter
Of the Burlington and the Frisco.
In the case of the Quincy, Omaha q
Kansas City, there has never been any
effort to conceal the fact that 1t is own
ed and operated as a part of the Bur
nngtOn system. When 1t was purchased
by the Burlington, the stock was placed
IN the hands of a trustee, but has since,
il is understood, been turned over to the
Northern Securities company. The
road has separate set of officers,
maintaining general offices in Kansas
City, but to suggest that it was OBJ
Grated as an Independent line would be
considered a joke in railroad circles.
The Kansas City, Clinton & Spring
field, controlled by the Frisco, was q
part Of the old Kansas City. Fort Scott
& Memphis system which was absorbed
by the Frisco several years ago. At
that time there vas considerable op-
position from certain interests in kan
sas City to the consolidation of the
Frisco and Memphis systems, and the
taking away from this city of the gen
eral offices of the Fort Scott road. which
had always been here, and this constitu-
tional provision against common own
ership of parallel lines was invoked.
The opposition to the consolidation was
finally pactfied and the merger proceed
ed, the Kansas City. Clinton & Spring
field, however. being given a separate
set of officers. Mr.. Hadley's agents
believe they have secured sufficient evil
dence to show that this road is in re-
atty operated as part Of the Frisco
system.
Is is said to be part Of Mr.. Had
ley's plan to ask for receivers for
the Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City
and for the Kansas City. Clinton &
Springfield. He is said to have not as
yet reached a conclusion in the more
important matters Of the possible VIC
lation of the constitutional provisions
by the Gould roads and by the Rock
Island-Alton combination. Receiver
ship proceedings in the matter of these
roads might have far-reaching conse-
ouences, and. IN view of the possible
difficulty In esta biishing common own
ership. it is not supposed such action
will be taken at the outset.
In the case of the Alton road. how