The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-16
Alabama Railroad Commission
 Takes Decisive Action
CITIZENS ARE INJURED
It Is Held By Complainant Before the Interstate Commerce Commission That Action of Railroads
 Is Very Unjust.

Washington, August -(Special.)- The Louisville and Nashville, the South ern, the Atlantic Coast Line, and other railways in the south. on account of recent advances of rates in the south, were today made defendants by the railroad commission of the state of Alabama in a complaint filed with the interstate commerce commission. The railroads are alleged to be members of the South eastern Freight associa- tion, associations organized and maintained under agreements for pur- poses which constitute an illegal con tract, combination and conspiracy in restraint of trade and commerce among the several states in violation of the Sherman antitrust law. Most of the lines are alleged to be under the same control, and 1t Is stated that the ad- vance will cost Alabama shippers alone over half a million dollars.
 It is also charged that the defendant companies by concurrence of action and through the medium of the South eastern Freight association and the
 
 sociation, can and do fix rates from Ohio and Mississippi river crossings to southeastern destinations in Georgia Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and l South Carolina.
 After a recital of the lines controlle i l by the Louisville and Nashville and the 1 Southern companies the pointed state ment Is then made that complainant on Iinformation and belief ayers that the 1 Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railroad is owned by the Louisville and 1 Nashville through an ownership of q majority of its capital stock; that the ], Atlantic Coast Line owns or controls l the Louisville and Nashville through an ownership of a majority of its capi- | tai stock or otherwise; that the Atlantic Coast Line company (organfzed under the laws of the state of Connecticut l owns a majority of stock of both the Atlantic Coast Line company and the Louisville and Nashville company, thus constituting one large system of rail- way lines extending from the Missis sippi and Ohio rivers, crossing into and through southeastern territory; and Louisville and Nashville company con trols the South and North Alabama Railroad company through an owner ship of its stock and it operates the South and North Alabama railroad from Decatur to Montgomery.
 It is next claimed that the ownership of control of the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic railway has been, or is about, to be acquired by the Nashville, l Chattanooga and St. Louis company thus enlarging that system.
 It Is stated by complainant that the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pa cific is owned or controlled by the Southern Railway company. which con- pany also controls the Alabama Great Southern and the Mobile and Ohio lines. which to all practical intents and pur- poses are part of the Southern Railway system; that the Illinois Central is owned or controlled by the same in- terests that dominate and control the Central of Georgia so as to constitute a system of railway lines from the rivef crossings to south eastern destinations Complainant next charges that owing to the fact that the above systems of rail- ways have continuous lines from Ohio and Mississippi river crossings to south eastern destinations, they can and do fix rates between such points; that the sys- tems are natural competitors, so that any combination, agreement or understanding. between them whereby rates are advanced and maintained is in suppression of com petition
 Complainant states that during the year 1904 and prior thereto there was discon- tent with the railroad rates of freight from both western and eastern points of origin to Atlanta, and over points made with relation thereto, which included Ma con, Columbus Rome and many other points in Georgia; also that there was much discontent concerning the railroad rates of freight from both western and eastern points of origin to Chattanooga, and that such discontent existed among the shippers and receivers of freight in the cities of Chattanooga and Atlanta. After giving the rates in detail that were reduced, complainant charges at the same time these reductions were made to Chat tanooga and Atlanta and related points no similar reduction in rates was made for the benefit of Alabama cities, or the commerce of that state, the result being that a discrimination was made in favor of Chattanooga and related points as against the cities of Alabama, and the business of Alabama citizens.
 Complainant further ayers that the rates made effective August 1, 1908, are unrea- sonably high; that an illegal combination has been formed in restraint of trade and in suppression of competition and that they discriminate against the citizens and industries of Alabama It is charged that through the instrumentalities of the Southeastern Freight association and the Southeastern Mississippi Valley associa- ton the railroads have illegally combined and by wholesale reductions in which AL abama shippers did not share. and then by wholesale raises in which they did not participate, have taken from Alabama the advantage of her geographical position and short-line mileage to Mississippi river crossings and laid a burden upon her commerce with other states In violation of the inhibitions of the Sherman anti trust law.
 It is claimed that the local distributing rates over the Louisville and Nashville lines are higher in Alabama than in Geor- gia, so that the through rate from the west to the final Alabama consumer at the ------------->-- ----->--->