The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-23
The Conference of Kansas Rail.
road Attorneys in Chicago,
To Give Reduced Freight Rates
to Kansas Shippers,
DIDN'T LAST ONE DAY.
The Supreme Court Decision
Blocked All Action.
Now What Will Gov. Leedy Do
About It?

of the United States supreme court in
the Transmissouri Freight association
case caused a postponement of the con-
ference called at the office of General
Solicitor e. D. Kenna of the Santa Fe
in this city for the consideration of the
Kansas situation. The conference had
just started on its work when the dis
patches announced that the decisions of
the United States court for the district
Of Kansas and United States court of
appeals in this celebrated case mad been
overruled by the supreme tribunal of
the land. 1t was decided that nothing
further could be done until the attor-
neys had read the full text of the
opinion, and an adjournment was taken
subject TO Mr.. Kenna's call. 1t is
likely that another meeting will be held
early next week.
The dozen or more railroad men who
composed the conference met yesterday
afternoon The following general at
torneys for Kansas We're present: NJ.
A. Low, Rock Island; y. L. Williams,
Union Pacific; B- P. Waggener, Mis-
souri, Pacific; A. A Hurd Santa Fe,
and c. S. Gleed, ST. Louis & San Fran
cisco. General Solicitor Cochran of
the Missouri Pacific and General So
licitor Kenna of the Santa Fe also were
present. The other railroad men in at
tendance were: Vice President Paul
Morton, General Traffic Manager Bid
die and Assistant General Freight
agent HUDSON OF the SANTA re, wee
President Truesdale of the Rock Island.
General Traffic Manager Lincoln and
General Freight Agent Smith of the
Missouri Pacific, General Freight Agent
Monroe of the Union Pacific, Vice Pres
| ident Yocum of the ST. Louis & San
Francisco and General Freight Agent
| Miller of the Burlington. 1t was agreed
| that there were determinations in
| freight rates which ought to be adjust
| ed. For instance, the rate on corn
| from Troy to the Gulf is q cents, while
| the rate from Wichita, 200 miles nearer
| the Gulf is 26 cents. Notwithstanding
everyone admitted that this discriInin-
alton was unfair and furnished a just
| cause of complaint on the part of the
people, there was difference of opin-
| ion as to whether the Wichita rate
| should be reduced to the Troy rate or
| the Troy rate raised to the Wichita
| Before a conclusion was reached in the
matter consideration was postponed for
| the reason stated.
| The members of the conference were
not inclined to talk about the proceed
| ings, and it was with great difficulty
that anything was learned about the
| meeting. One man admitted that they
| had a stormy time,'' but would not
| give the cause of the trouble.
1t is said that Mr.. Waggener led the
fight for a reduced corn rate; also a re
| duced rate on coal, his idea being that
such reductions would pacify the peo-
pie of Kansas and destroy the demand
| for a special session of the legislature.
report, but expressed the opinion that
| if the decision in the Transmissouri
| case had not come when it did, the
| conference would have established re-
| duced rates on com and coal.
| Mr.. Hurd is quoted as having stated
| that the railroads ought to haul al cost,
| and it is said that he supported Wag-
| gener in the fight. Mr. Waggener sub
mitted a proposition to the effect that
| the railroads waive all objections to the
| esta blishment of maximum freight
/ n 11ffal n
| commissioners, request the board TO
| make such maximum rates, the rail
| roads reserving the right to enjofn the
| rates in the federal court if they deem
| ed them to be unjust, a right which
| they would have even were the leglSIa-
| ture to fix the rates
| 1t is said that Mr.. Williams thought
| ia wora bly, of this proposition, but that
| Mr. Low was opposed to it, the
ground that it would be a sign of weak
| ness. No vote was taken on any of the
propositions submitted
| General Solicitor Cochran made
| statement in regard to the postpone
| ment. He said: We all We're sur
| prised at the decision in the Trans
| Missouri Freight association case. We
| were as certain as men can be that the
| decisions of the lower courts would be
| affirmed. The meager reports are that
| the decision is most sweeping in it's eff
| fect-so sweeping, in fact, that some of
| US believe that had we entered into an
| agreement today regarding Kansas
| rates we would have been subject to
| fine and imprisonment under the Sher-
| man antitrust act. We deemed it ad-
| visable to take no action till we know
| what has been decided by the supreme
| court.
| 1t was suggested that the people of
| Kansas might regard the postponement
| as an excuse on the part of the rail-
| roads to get out of giving them the re-
| lief demanded.
| Mr.. Cochran replied: THAT certain
| Iy would be very unjust criticism The
| railroads have gone into this inquiry
| in the best of faith, with the determina-
| ton to correct the evils of discrinina-
| ton wherever found. and to give their
patrons the best terms possible. 1t is
not an easy task to readjust rates;
| there are SO many different interests at
| stake I trust that the people will be
! patient in this matter and give the rail-
| roa dS opportunity to act.
| 1t is said that the conference devoted
| some time to an informal talk about the
| possibility of an extra session of the
| Kansas legislature. but the consensus
| of opinion was not made public. A
| formerly of Kansas man who was not
| attorneys told him that he believed if
| Governor Leedy called the legislature
| together in special session the senate
| would pass maximum freight rate bill
| but the house would never agree to
| such a measure. The prospect of a
| wheat crop in Kansas this year also
| was a subject of discussion.
The Chicago Tribune publishes half
| a page of reports about the wheat out
| diana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri and
| OHIO. The Tribune said: THE Kan
| sas showing is the best of any of the
| states covered. Two-thirds of the dis