The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-20

Emporia, Kan, to New Orleans. 1,o10
miles; to Galveston, S04 miles. rate 80
cents; Wichita is 100 miles nearer des-
tination, rate 80 cents
Mcpherson, Kan, TO New Orleans,
LOOP miles; 70 Galveston.7s6 miles;rate
30 cents; from Wichita, % miles nearer
destination, rate is 81 cents
Caldwell, Kan, 10 New Orleans. $50
miles; TO Galveston, 7s6 miles: rate 81
cents; from Wichita 81 miles further
the rate is 90 cents
II is hoped that these Illustrations
will sufficiently explain the situation.
The injustice complained OF is the
application of higher rate TO New Or
leans and Galveston from Kansas
points that are nearer those ports by
direct lines than is in effect from Kan
sas City and other Missouri river points
The following, IN attempted justif-
cation Of such policy we take from
letter from manager of one Of the in
terstate roads:
The rates from Kansas points 70 New
Orleans base on Kansas City and in
the past Kansas grain destined 10 New
Orleans has moved through Kansas
City or the lower Missouri river cross
ings. The opening Of new lines TO Tex
as has in connection with the Texas
New Orleans lines formed ew routes
10 New Orleans as in the case of the
Rock Island road, which in connection
with the Texas and Pacific from FIT.
Worth forms line from Kansas points
to New Orleans. If the Rock Island
should engage in the transportation
Of traffic from Kansas City TO New
Orleans it would OF course be compel
led 10 do so at the short line rate and
h foo laa@ - :,
ducing its intermediate point rates
does not involve any unjust discrim-
indtion within the meaning of the in
terstate comermce law. If the Rock
Island, Atchison or other roads should
carry such traffic via Kansas City as
formerly, the rates would in no case
be higher from intermediate points
than from points beyond and the mere
fact that they should elect 10 route
such traffic via. Fort Worth and the
Texas and Pacific road or other con-
nections does not change the condi-
tons or in any way constitute unjust
discrimination between persons or pIa-
ces.
1T is very hard for a Kansas pro-
Queer 10 understand wherein equity re-
quires that he should fOrego the advan-
tage Of being nearer the Seaboard than
Kansas City and in order TO benefit the
latter or some other city east, be COM
PEELED by arbitrary action Of common
carriers 70 pay such freight rates as
will defect his shipments from their
obvious natural route.
This board had notice in advance of
the contemplated restoration Of rates
of January 20, and Immediately took
the matter up with the carriers opera
ting in this territory and have heen in
con tinuous correspondence since and as
a result are now strongly of the belief
that very soon there will be such a re-
adjustment of rates from points in this
territory as will give to those points the
benefit of their proximity to gulf ports;
in other words. rates to all sea-coast
harbors by direct routes will be made
with relative equity
The Importance of the question and
the conflicting interests of carriers pre-
clude q h2sty conclusion and a reason
able time for an adjustment is properly
but the board thinks that
the matter should be determined now
very soon and should the next few days
not develop the fact that the relief de-
sired for the people of this state will be
granted in a reasonable time the board
then designs TO carry the matter before
the interstate commerce commission
and to that end has prepared a COM
plaint.in the premises which undue de-
lay on the part of the carriers in reach
ing a conclusion will cause to be filed
And in that connection the board deems
it proper to say that it believes that
congress should so amend the inter-
state commerce act as to give the COM
mission charged with its administra-
ton power to make applicable at once
its conclusions the same to continue
in force until revoked by the commits
sion or by the courts, provision being
made for an immediate review by the
courts of the commissions act"
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