The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-05-05

terstate Commerce Commission--Kan-
sas City Wants the Benefits of Cheap
River Rates--Mr. Douglass Asks Them
Why Wichita Should Not Have the
Benefits of Cheap Water Rates on the
Gulf of Mexico--Rock Island People
Favor Justice TO Wichita.
Hon. George L. Douglass returned
last night from Kansas City where he
had been attending a case before the
interstate commerce commission invol-
ing the matter Of determinations in
freight rates against Wichita.
The interstate commerce commission
went To Omaha, Kansas City and now
TO Chicago TO hear cases against the
railroads. and the Wichita case was
heard this week.
The Kansas City papers have had a
good deal to say about the hearing in
the Wichita case, and thinking that Mr..
Douglass might be able to say some
thing that would interest the readers of
the Eagle, a reporter for this paper
called at hi sresidence on North Law
renee last night.
Mr.. Douglass came in on the night
train and when the reporter called he
had eaten his supper and did not look
any the worse for the contest in which
he had been engaged for the three days
previous. He is enthusiastic for Wichi-
ia and believes there are good things
in store for this people.
Mr.. Dougless explained that the pro-
ceeding was begun in the name Of the
Johnston-Larimer Dry Goods company,
on behalf of themselves and other mer-
chats interested III the jobbing trade al
cd Ia K-lnn
ton Of the discrimination against
Wichita
The case occupied the whole day and
the Kansas City papers state that it :
the most important case which has
come before the commission on its pres
ent trip.
The commission sat in the CONNER
ciai club rooms at Kansas City, and
attracted much attention. The rail
roads We're represented by their lead
ing attorneys and traffic men.
Mr.. Douglass represented the Wichi-
ia side of the case, and Mr.. w. w.
JohnSt. IT., AIR. Lehman of the Len
: -Higgfnson Grocery company. Mr..
Hess of the Wichita Wholesale Grocery
company were witnesses. The rail-
roads put on the stadn their freight
experts and on behal fof Kansas City,
MIR. ValiUIhdingham, the manager Of
the Kansas City freight bureau was eX-
prove facts in regard Otfe late steam
er lines on the Missouri river, and their
effects on freight rates To Kansas City.
What claims did the railroads make,
and what claims did you make?"
''The proof was limited to about six
items, but they fairly represent the
whole issue. Kansas City is more than
geo moles farther from Galveston than
Wichita: yet the freight charges from
Galveston to Wichita upon many lead
ing commodities are much higher than
they are to Kansas City. For instance.
the rate on sugar to Kansas City is 80
cents per hundred pound weight. and it
Is 80 cents to Wichita less distance
by over 200 miles. On coffee the freight
to Kansas City is % cents. and to Wich-
lta 40 cents; on rice to Kansas City, 30
cents and to Wichita 20 cents; on cotton
piece goods the rate 20 Kansas City is
Cor has BEEN % cents, and to Wichita
"a cents. This list could be extended,
but these items are sufficient to Illus
trate the discrimination.
THE Kansas City people and the
railroad companies claim that this low
rate to Kansas City is made necessary
upon some commodities by the cOmpe-
titOn from New Orleans by the Mississi-
ppi river boat lines, and as to dry goods
by the competition OF goods from
southern cotton factories which must be
met AT Kansas City. They say that the
rate is not renumerative; but thew must
accept ii or so out of the business;
and they insist that the rate to Wich-
ita is not in itself unreasonable. They
admit that the condition of things is
unfortunate; but say that it can't be
helped, etc. That is the general argU-
ment.
The Wichita position is this: That
We are entitled To some benefits of our
geographical location. If we pay more
for goods coming from the east than
Kansas City pays, we ought to pay less
for goods coming from the south and
west and not have to pay double
rate from both directions We insisted
that if Kansas City gets the benefit
of cheap water transportation up the
Mississippi To St Louis that Wichita is
entitled to share in the benefits of the
cheap water transportation from New
ORLEANS and the Atlantic ports to Cal
weston. But that the railroads by
making the rate from Galveston to
Wichita so much higher than the rate
from Galveston 10 Kansas City COM
pletely neutraliZed the benefits TO Wien
tia of such water transportation.
In other words. we insisted that the pre-
sent adjustment operated to give to
Kansas City exactly what is denied to
Wichita-tO wit: the benefits of a port
water route from common points Of
supply.
1--WE also showed to the commission
the unfaYorable effects Of these rates
upon the growth OF Wichita and the
undue and artificial advantages af
forded TO Kansas City.
THE other side seemed to he much
Impressed with the huSinesS-like appear
ance and general thrifty look of our
business men in attendance and I'M
I dertook TO argue that men who made
such a good appearance and were evil
IDENTIFY prospecting couldn't have much
ground for complaint. l don't think
the commission viii attach any I'M
due weight to that argument.
AT the outset the Rock Island COM
pany gave formal notice that ii had re-
fused To sanction any tariffs which
antagonized a lower rate to Kansas
City than 10 Wichita over its Texas
lines and that all such tariffs would
he cancelled from and after May },
yesterday
After the close of the testimony.
Mr.. Low. speaking for the Rock Island.
said that he thought a final adjust
ment of this business ought to be reach
ed by some order of the commission
which would concede to Wichita moro
favorable rates and at the same time
enable the companies To continue in
the Kansas City business. He said
that he spoke only for the two COM
panies that he represented; but that
20 far as they were concerned they