The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-01
KANSAS ROADS WILL NOT OBEY.

From the Kansas City star
If the railroads which compose the
| Transmissouri association have started in
to give United States District Attorney
Ady some cause for dissolving the asso-
citation they have gone about it in pretty
nearly the proper way. Of course the
| trouble does not originate in the Trans
missouri, but it might just as well. The
Western Traffic association is the real
cause of the trouble and if Chairman
Midgley gives one of his characteristic
rulings, in which he shall refuse TO allow
the Transmissouri lines TO reduce the
rates on fifth-class commodities as agreed
to in the conference with the Kansas
railroad commissioners. it will show con-
clusivelv that the Transmissouri and all
other associations are opposed to and
working against the interests of shippers.
Perhaps not Kansas City shippers and
wholesalers, but Kansas City isn't the
entire earth, and that's just what the
Kansas commissioners are trying TO
prove.
The best posted railroad men take
this view of the case, and still they are
all more than pleased when their own
line stands out on techniquealities and
refuses to lower rates as agreed with the
Kansas commissioners. Commissioner
Vanlindangham of the transportation
bureau takes this view of the situation,
although as matter of course he is in
favor Of anything which will benefit
Kansas City. 1t is claimed, of course,
for there must be some basis for a
refusal to lower rates, that the rates
ordered by the Kansas commissioners
will not stick before the interstate COM
mission, and if politics did not enter
into the matter perhaps they would not.
But even then it Is a showing of
authority by an association which will
prove a powerful weapon in the case
about to be tried.
As was briefly outlined in the Star
yesterday the trouble arises from a pro-
test against the recent fifth class re-
ductlon made by certain members OF the
Western Traffic association whose lines
do not extend beyond the Missouri river
but who would be compelled to reduce
their proportions of the through rate
under the new arrangement. They con-
tend that the Kansas roads had no right
to enter into an agreement involving a
change in rates without notifying Chair
man Midgley in advance of their Inten-
ton and proceeding in the manner pro-
vided by the rules and agreement of the
association, and Chairman Midgley has
been asked for a ruling on the question.
Yesterday evening message was re-
ceived by Mr.. Wentz Of the Rock Island
saying that the Rock Island had refused
to make the reduction. Inasmuch as
the Rock Island was the first road 10
agree to adopt the rates ordered by the
Kansas commissioners the announce
ment has caused considerable comment.
The other roads interested will doubtless
make the same announcement.
As sort of backing to the railroads
meeting of wholesale grocers from Mis-
souri, river points was held in the Com
mercial club rooms yesterday afternoon
behind closed doors. The meeting
organized by the election of Mr.. James
N. Nave of the Nave-McCord Mercantile
company as chairman and Mr.. A. j.
Vanlandingham, commissioner of the
Kansas City transportation bureau, as
secretary. During the course of an in
formal discussion upon the question of
what ways and means should be adopted
to obtain most speedily restoration of
the equality of the Missouri river and
Eastern Kansas as points Of distribution,
twenty-five different plans of action
were proposed by the twenty-five repre-
sentatives present. Finally it was de-
cided to permit each city represented to
name member of special committee
whose duty it shall be to devise plan of
united action, which committee shall
assemble at the call of the chairman. Its
report is expected to be ready by the
latter mart of next week
The outcome of the matter will be
awaited, but it is admitted by
all that the present is not the best time
in the world to stir up such fuss.