The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-02-03
KICKING ON RATES
RAILROADS ASK THE COMMISSION
FOR A NEW DEAL
Trying to Reopen the Symms Groc.
cry Case For Another Hearing.
The Matter Will Probably
be Finished Today.
Other Matters.

| Yesterday afternoon at o'clock tn,
board Of railroad commissioners consider
| ed the application for a rehearins in th'
case of the Wichit3 Wholesale Grocer
company versus the Santa Fe. the Mis-
souri, Pacific, the Rock Island and tn.
St. Louis and Santa Fe. The rehssring
was asked by B. P. Waggener, general at
| torney of the Missouri Pacific. and NJ. A.
| Low of the Rock Island.
This case was decided on March 16, 1892,
| and fixed the rate on sugar, in car load
lots from Fort Scott. Kansas City. Kan,
Lsavenworth and Atchison at Is cents per
100 pounds; and on canned goods,
coffee aud beans, in car load lots,
at % cents from Saliua, 25 cents to
Hutchinson and Wichita, and 2S cents to
Arkansas City. The Symms Grocer COM
pany OF Atchison. upon the announce
ment of this decision. obtained an in-
junction in the district court of Atchison
county, enioining the commissioners and
the railroads from putting these rates into
effect. This Injunction was dissolved oy
the supreme court at its January sitting.
Thereupon the application for a rehearing
of the case was made, six reasons being
was unreasonable, unjust and discrimina-
tory. Second. that the rates are unreason-
ably low and if similar rates were enforced
on other commodities no railroad in the
state could earn operating expenses
Third, the rates are unfairly in favor OF
the jobbers at Salins, Hutchinson,
Wichita aud Arkansas City, and against
all other jobbers of the state. Fourth,
that the order unreasonably increases the
differential between fourth and fifth class
rates. and was made to discriminate un-
justly against Missouri river merchants
Fifth, 1t would cost more for Missouri
jobber to ship one-half u car to Wichita
than it would cost the jobbsr of that city
for the transportation of an entire car
from the same point. Sixth, That the
order affects interstate rates.
The Symns Grocer company of Atchison,
the Bittman-Todd Grocer company Of
Leavenwortb, and other Missouri river
jobbing houses. flied supplemental ap-
plcatlons yesterday They say that the
rates would not in the least degree ben
eft the consumer. but would impede the
free operation of the laws of trade,
destroy competition. build up monoplies,
and promote the very Things denounced
by public policy by giving to certain
favored localities al arbitrary artificial
advantage sufficient to effect the snbstan-
tial ruin of the Missouri river jobbers.
This application of thsse merchants then
gives the Populist board OF commissioners
a considerable amount OF "taffy." IL says
the petitioners believe that 1.-The board is
now composed Of persons who entertain
sounde: views Of law aud public policy.
and more correct opinions in relation to
the nature and scope of the authority of
the board" than were manifested by their
SUCCESSORS.
The petitioners say that they are un-
able to state whether the excessive differ
ence between car load lots and less than
Car load lots could be fairly aud justly to
all concerned. obliterated by putting the
car load up, or less than car load down. or
the one up and the other down to proper
parallel, but ask that a true difference be
fixed and maintained upon such basis as
will allow the transportation companies
only fair compensation, and the consumer
the benefit of she lowest rates compatible
with justice. They ask the board to sus-
pend the order of March, 1892, until an
other hearing of the case has been had.