The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1892-01-14
THE WHOLESALE MEN WIN.

On Friday last the board Of rail-
way commissioners handed down
decision in the case OF several whole
sale grocery firms Of Arkansas City,
Wichita, Hutchinson and Sslina
against the Union Pacific. Missouri
Pacific, Rock Island, Santa Fe and
Frisco railroads. The case was ar
gued and submitted last September,
but the Importance and intricacies
of the case required lengthy research
and deliberation, and so the decision
comes late. Tn special charge in
the complaint was that the rates on
sugar in ear load lots from Atchin-
SOD, Leavenworth, Fl. Scott, Cherry
vale, and other points within the
state, to the interior iobbing points,
OF which Salina is one, and Hutch
inson another, are unjust, unreason-
able and exorbitant. The complaint
also charged there had been a recent
advance Of ten cents per hundred on
the through rate on sugar from New
Orleans to the interior job6ing cities
of Kansas; that the rate has been in
force almost entirely within the
state and points outside the stste not
being effected thereby. In other
words il was a clear case of discrimi-
nation against the wholesale firms OF
the interior, intended to crush out
the business Of jobbing, and render
ing the people subservient to the
will of the railroads aud the whole
sale firms of the Missouri valley.
The matter was such fragrant out
rage that there could he but one de-
cision in the case, and that has come
as expected, in favor of the whole
sale men.
Under the rates complained of the
retail dealers Of the state were COM
PEELED to pay premium Of from
five to twenty-five cents per hundred
pounds on all goods they purchased
for the privilege Of trading with
the wholesale merchants of the in
terror OF the state. The commits
sioners decided to establish q COM
modify rate on sugar from points on
the border of the state, on Feb.
which will relieve the wholesale
men and permit retail men to do
business with their neighbors with
out paying a penalty for the privi-
lege. The rate established by the
commission Is as follows: To
Wichita and Hutchinson, 80 cents;
to Arkansas City, 80 cents; to Sslins,
% cents per 100 pounds. This gives
reduction Of about IL cents per
100 pounds, all around, and will en-
able Interior wholesale merchants to
meet their Missouri river conf
petitOrs on equal grounds.
IL will be seen, also, that Salina
has the advantage of other points in
the state i'm the matter of rates by
four cents. This will make Salins
better point than the others for the
reason that she has better freight
rates, and il may be the means of
our getting another wholesale
grocery house. that will help the III.
ID. Lee Mercantile Company to carry
on the fight for our rights, which
company has intelligentiy, valiantly,
patiently and laboriously carried on
the fight thus far. Salina owes
much to the efforts of Mr.. Lee for
many things he has done, but per-
hsps more for staying on the ground
here and fighting the battle, when
wholesale men in Topeka, and other
points nearer the border Of the state
have thrown up the sponge.
1t il not at all probable that the
railroads and the Wholesale grocery
trust Of the Missouri valley will give
up the fight because 1t has been de-
feated once more. On the contrary
il is likely that a more strenuous
and determined effort will be made
to crush out the wholesale men of
the interior; but they have been
taught that the Wholesale men OF
the interior of Kansas have mettle,
and will stand up and fight for their
rights as long as there is law and
justice left in the land. The retail
grocery men of Kansas should stand
by their neighbors more closely than
they do. They are trying to build
up magnificent state and they owe
it to themselves to pstronize the
men who are trying to get nearer to
them and at the same time furnish
them commodities at less rates than
the trusts and combines OF other
states. II all the wholesale grocery
firms OF central Kansas we've to quit
business, at once the retail men
would be thrown into a state of
trouble and vexation OF spirit that
would make them long for the job
bers' return. Every voter also has
an interest in this matter In seeing
to il that only tried and trusted men
are allow to go TO the legislature
and make laws for the government
of commerce in the state. Our laws
which relate to commerce need \
Strengthening and amending, and
only honest and capable men should |
be allowed to do the work.
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