The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-30
THE CENTRAL OF GEORGIA.

Montgomery is naturally interested in the Central of Georgia Railroad. as one of its best lines, the Montgomery and Eufaula, has terminal here For some years there has been discussion as to the ownership of the Central. Under the laws of Georgia, one rail- road line cannot own and operate an- other which by the nature of things would be a competing road. Certain parties held that the Central: to all inc tents and purposes, was owned by the Southern and that this was in viola ton of the State law. In view of this situation Major J. F. Hanson, Presi- dent of the Central, has been actively trying to sell the property in a way that would remove all doubt or discus sion as to actual ownership. whether the two men who are reported to have bought it hold for their own inter- ests. or the Frisco System proves to be the permanent holder. 1t is well that the matter is settled. It is re- ported that the management of the road will continue as heretofore. Com menting on the matter The Macon Tel egraph says:
 demanded of them-having settled all questions of proprietary relationship with the Southern--it smacks of insin cerity now for certain ones who made the loudest outcries against the former conditions to insist that there has been no sale It looks really as if they are disappointed, and are very sorry that the sale has been made, because It re- moves a bone of contention which they delight to gnaw on.
 We have left-after one ideal and then another has been smashed, some confidence in the honesty and sincerity we have left precious little conhdence in,' or respect for, certain class or politicians who live to agitate, and who agitate to live. What great picklngs there would be If the Central could pc wrecked again and divided out to the eaglesi
 Now let us be just For moment let us forget politics, prejudice and against the Central and the Southern in this State has been made in the name and in behalf of competition. But Is 1t not true that competition is thing or the past, mAQe so Dy our oldeS Railroad Commission and our National Railroad Commission? Do not these governmental bodies now fix the rates? Isn't it the present policy of the State and National governments to make a dead level of uniformity in rates? There are no more competitive points There are no more cutting of rates. There is a juster uniformity. The noise then about competing lines Is very largely talk only. There is no competition because 1t Is practically forbidden by law. This fact was evil dently in President Hanson's mind when he said in these columns yester~ day that the relationship between the Southern and the Central had never cost the people of Georgia one dollar. The State fixed the rate on both lines for State transportation Under the new national law the Interstate Com meree Commission will fix the rates for interstate shipments.
 The agitation in Georgia was very largely a piece of political design, and vet there seems to have been techni- cal violation of lazy, notwithstanding the opinion of Hoke Smith and other lawyers and we think that It was a wise step to cut the thing off at the neck by making a sale of the stock to other and independent parties.