The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-13
THE RATE QUESTION.

yards of this city are preparing An elabor
ate case against all of the railway lines
centering in this city. The complaint will
cover the present discrimination in rail
way rates made against this city and
points in southern Kansas in the raising
OF the rates on live stock, which took effect
on August l. Not only the equity powers
OF the courts but the railroad commission
ers OF the state will be appealed to to right
what the stockmen consider a grievous
! wrong. 1t Is settled and the railway COM
panies have so indicated that they will
only concede that which is contended for
and granted the shippers in the courts.
Complaints will at once be filed in the
court and before the board of railway
commissioners and pushed to as speedy a
hearing as possible Petitioners claim
that in every way possible that the new
rate discriminates against Wichita; that,
In short, the railway liues have pooled,
under the beck and call of the Transmits
souri, association. and have so arranged
rates as to hurt the hog and cattle bust
ness all ovsr Kansas.
The Transmissouri association, as is
| claimed by the petitioners, is a pool or
| trust made up of the various freight
agents of these various railway lines.
| This association absolutely dictates and
| determines railway rates on the Kansas
railways. 1t is barely possible that the
! aid of the antitrust law of the United
States, and of Kansas will be called
! into play to dissolve this brilliant aggrega-
ton of general freight agents, that meets
about once in each month at the Coates
house in Kansas City. AS soon as Kansas
has a little show for prosperity up go the
| rates on hogs and cattle These freight
men seem to forget that Kansas has
simply voted millions of dollars in
municipal and other aid to these
railways, and that the most OBJ
scure Kansas farmer has greater
yea! even a more direct interest in the rail-
ways than they have. 1t is amusing to
see the difference in the attitude of the
railways now and during the session of
legisla ture last winter. Now they are ar
rogant. Last winter they were cowed and
whipped. Now they ignore all restraint
advance the rates without reason or fair
ness, last winter they were ready to do
anything and make any concession, coun-
sci for the stock yards company and com
mission men say that they have only
begun and that they will stay with the
railway companies until the bitter end
They say further that the Wichita decision
of the railway commissioners make the
Wichita rate line up with the Kansas
City rate within a certain limit,
that for the purpose of hurt
ing the Wichita yards, the Trans
missouri association advanced the rates at
Kansas City, within certain limits and
then put up the Wichita rates. All of the
buster of the railway officials, who claim
that yards will be located at Strong City
for the purpose of feeding through cattle, !
Will not deter the petitioners from insist |
ing on their rights in the matter, so say |
their counsel The railway rate matter |
as affecting Kansas business interests, was |
discussed and cussed yesterday by the tax
payers at the court house and by the bust |
ness men of this city.
A somewhat heated reference was made |
to the treatment received by the county |
and city by the railway companies The |
Rock Island Railway company was aided |
IN the sum of Sl5O0J0 by Sedgwick county. |
In exchange for our county bonds the !
railroad company gave US the stock of the !
Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska railway,
rendered utterly valuless by |
the action of the railway company. We
got the same treatment from the Missouri
Pacific company. But our good bonds
brought so much cash and are held by
eastern parties and the city and county
are now paying interest on them. What
we received in exchange for these good
bonds, is worthless paper.
Said a prominent merchant Yesterday Il
see that Marion county is moving in the
matter of contesting their bonds to the
Rock Island railway. Sedgwick county
should do the same. All of these matters
should be scrutinized carefully and where
the railway companies have clearly viO-
lated their contract the county should not
be held. We can" said he. "in the next
few years make it extremely lively for
these railway gentlemen. In every case
where there has been a breach OF faith on
the part of the railway company the city
and county should take advantage of it
and contest he bonds voted"
AT the stock yards the rate matter and
5he unjust and unreasonable advance
IN live stock was the main topic of CONVEX
,ation. 1t was discussed by stockmen,
men aud farmers. The action
II the railways and the dictation of the
association was condemned
Il unmeasured terms.
Said well known lawyer: 81 have been
with great interest the Marion
county case in which Hon j. c. Waters
md local counsel are conUesting the val
dity Of the bonds voted by that county
o the Rock Island Railway company ,
The same defects are in the bonds
,oted by Sedgwick county, and as
he railway company has violated d,
very, moral and legal obligation l am in D.,
avor of contesting our bonds in our courts. :
The county now holds lot of worthless :
took in the Chicago, Kansas and Ne =
raska Railway company, a defunct aud :
ogus corporation, while Sedgwick county
; now paying interest on Sl50,00O and the
Rock Island Railway company now ownes
he railway. In every instance the county
holds the bag" 1t is time these matters
'ere fully Investigated in our courts, and =
his will be done.
LETTER OF SYMPATHY.
The many friends of Miss Anna Bogue
ill be panied to hear of her death at her I