The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-04
EASTERN GREED.
How Senator Aldrich of Rhode
Island
Acted the Rascal About Kansas
Grain Rates.
Senator PETERS Timely Resolu-
ton to Inquire
INTO THE OUTRAGE
Recently Committed Against
the Interests of Kansas
Was Clicked to Death by a
ScOundrelly Senator,
Who Represents the Allied
Eastern Railroads.
BEN TILLMAN'S TRADE
None Too Severe for Some Of the
SoDaf OrC
Who Represents the Allied
Eastern Railroads.
BEN TILLMAN'S TRADE
None Too Severe for Some Of the
Senators
Who Are Merely Tools of East
ern Corporations.

From the State Journals Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4-The efforts of
Senator PETER to have the injustice
worked on Kansas shippers inquired into,
have been blocked for the time at least.
The senator's resolution introduced in
the senate Tuesday requesting the inter-
state commerce commission to inquire
whether an agreement or traffic arrange
ment had been made whereby charges
for carrying grain and other farm pro-
duce from points in Missouri, Kansas
Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and In
dian Territory to Texas and Mexico
points had been advanced, has gone TO
the calendar and will have to await its
turn or be taken up by unanimous con-
sent.
Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island is
responsible for blocking this resolution
which sought to obtain information of
| interest to Kansas farmers and shippers
and have evils if they we're found to ex-
| ist, corrected. Senator Aldrich sought
| to have the resolution referred to a com
mittee, which meant that it would never
| be heard of again, and when that action
seemed unlikely to be taken he consum-
| ed the remainder of the morning hour in
| talking, so that the regular order crowded
| the resolution to the calendar.
Unless therefore, Senator PETER can
get his resolution up by unanimous con-
! sent sometime when Mr.. Aldrich or any
| other senator equally determined that
| the injustice to Kansas farmers and grain
men shall continue is absent, the steps
| toward redress will be delayed weeks
and perhaps months.
Senator PETER in explanation of his
resolution to the JOURNAL correspondent
| said that it was in response to a remon-
| nv grain m and farmers
against traffic arrangement which is
| said to have been made by the railroads
whereby the prices of transportation on
| grain west of the Missouri, principally
corn. to the gulf ports had been
raised SO as to make them equal to the
rates from Kansas City to Nav York
sit appears" said Senator PETER, 'that
the roads east of Kansas City have a
traffic agreement as to grain rates be-
! tween Kansas City and New York, and
until lately there has been no agreement
between these lines and those west of
the Missouri. But the rate on grain from
Kansas City to the Gulf of Mexico has
been less than from Kansas City to New
York by about cents. The result has
been that most of Kansas corn shipped
| to European countries, and that is where
the largest part of our surplus goes. has
gone by way of trans Missouri railroads
10 Gulf ports. It res ulted in a great
saving 10 Shippers ana IN Detter prices
for the farmers.
This of course deprived the roads
carrying to New York of a great deal
| of Business, and is seems they
got together and demanded that the
western roads raise their prices to Gulf
points to rate equal to the one to New
| York. If the western roads refused,
these roads threatened to refuse to carry
any of their freight east"
The result of this raise in transporta-
ton rates has been a great loss to Kan
sas and other western states, but reso-
luton to have this wrong righted has
been sidetracked, because there are SEN
ators from the east who don't care how
much the west has to suffer, and who are
perhaps interested in eastern railroads
obtaining more business.
Senator PETER, in the course of his con-
| versation, showed that on account OF
present traffic arrangements it was cheap.
er to send freight from San Francisco
for instance, to Kansas point, clear &c
Kansas City and then west, than to gel
it direct from San Francisco. NJ. F. n.