Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-06-28

money Of her people should be employed Ia eleAs
q manner IS 20 Tepress Development and enter
prise within the state and Determine the location
OF esplt2l and business at q point Immediately
beyond her limits We are quite unable to iresS
me and nC, one has revealed to as sfrqTe ress0u
founded In Justice or good business policy, why
Hissouriars living In Kansas CITY ecrnEsffnss foT
the trade OF Kansas with Ealssns living 10 the
interior OF the state and pursuing the same lines
OF business, should be given 20 Ter cent. the ed
vantage over the Kansas transportation
rates over Kansas railroads The logic Of our de-
clgOn in this case is, that the Kansas man is en-
ton of fair equality with the MissouTian.
Upon the rehear1ng OF this case upon the Ath
OF June, nothing new was developed having any
material bearing on the case. The chief plea, and
the only one worthy Of consideration was the lcss
posed change would involve. 1t was cOntended,
and doubtless correctly, that this rule the case
same right to other cities in the state having sim
lar lines of trade, and that this would serve to
place rates upon a lower plane, and that. IN the
present condition OF traffic, this could not be az
1Orded by the railroad companies.
We have heretofore expressed our opinion that
greater snr1nEage In earnings nom thus ctanee 49
anticipated than the nature of the Is at all
likely to be realized. These rates ara intended to
operate IN the main, upon manufacturing ana
WhOsesaling. As 1t respects nearly ali lines Of man
the material and IUel must be transported over
Kansas roads; and the rates charged upon them to
gether with the rates upon the manufactured
product shipped TO various points, may reason
ably be expected to equal if they do not exceed
the single rates upon the like products If manu-
IacUured and shipped to the same points nom the
Missouri river. Moreover, the quickened actly-
iy impaired to industries the more rapid increase
of business and wealth in localities viii serve to
increase the volume Of traffic and swell the earn
IngS OF railroads. 1t can never be nationally re-
gaTded as the best policy from selfish stand
point for railroads to pursue, to greatly COnceu-
trate business for thereby the forces of cOInpetl
ton are brought into more active play. The con-
ditiOns conducive TO the most permanent pros
DeFity to railroads are those which insure strong
and steady but increasing local traffic These con
ditiOns are not produced by a system Of freight
rates which unfairly discriminate against and
tend to repress rather than promote local INDUS
tries.
Another illustration of a presumed equality OF
rates and earnings from the disposition OF Fates
in so far as they may apply to trade-freIghts, may
here be cited.
on first class, is % cents. The local rate out OF
Wichita to point 80 miles would be e cents, the
point fifty miles from Wichita is that much farth-
er from the Missouri river than Wichita, the rate
on first class from the river to the further point
is 4 Genus, the co4aDln6u trtIS e16e14LlS me
gle by % cents. The great bulk OF freIghts which
would be the subject of wholesale traffic would
have to be tlrst handled over Kansas roads %
Wichita, and the conditions of substantial equal
1ty between the trade OF that place ana Inose uP
on the Missouri river would have to be gained py
such diHerentlals as are allowed upon Icng-haul
traffic from Eastern points and the lower clssl-
fcatiOn taken by many classes OF freight where
shipped in large quantities.
Substantially the same volume OF frelghts
VIII be carried upon as high a plane OF rates, but
its distribution viii IN a measure be changed
1t appears to be apprehended rather that the
changes proposed may lead 20 others OF more
radical character, and the losses spoken OF be SUI
fered from this source
We understand that objection exists to errang-
ing the proposed rates upon the first four classes
in the general classification sheet, and that this
would not be necessary to carry out the purpose
and intent of this decision. 1t is proper to say
thatl no other method has been suggested, and
that in SUGGESTING this in our original decision
we but followed practice already established by
the voluntary action OF the roads as applied to
Wichita. The main purpose is to abate the dis
crfFainatiOn existing between the manufacturing
and commercial business situated in one part OF
the state as compared with those in another. The
method by which this shell be accomplished Is
intended to be left with the railroad companies
themselves, no particular method being Obiga-
tory so long as the result is in substantial con-
fOrmity with the requirements OF the law.
We have been unable upon this review to reach
any other conclusion than that the discTinnina-
lions complained of in this case, are unjust, and
IN violation of statutory provision, and that the
same must be corrected; and we therefore affirm
the decision heretofore made in this case, and d.
rect that the rates to and from Wichita indicated
in our decision of March 18th last be made effect
i've on or before the LIST day of July, prozim0,
BY THE BOARD.
Attest: Il. c. RIzER, Secretary.
TOPEKA, June z, 1889.