Kansas City journal., 1898-01-19
munication of the Iowa board of railv
commissioners.
2-Cent Rate Improbable.

muntcation Of the Iowa board OF railway
commissioners. a.
2-Cent Rate Improbable.
Probably the most exhaustive inquiry
which has ever been made by any state
authorities into the subject of passenger
rates was made by the committee OF the
Ohio senate. to which was referred bill
fares in the state to a uniform 2-cent-a-mile
basis. The committee went very thorough
~ into all details of the question OF the
cost OF service. ETC.. and reported that the
able"
l do not believe that anybody in Kan,
commissioners of Iowa or Illinois or the
members of the Ohio state legislature of
being unduly preiudiced in favor of the
raliWays. They certainly have not that
i believe that these facts and figures are
sumcient answer to Mr.. Davis inquiry
his statement as to his inability to find
any record Of higher rates in foreign coun-
frles than the rates in America. II Mr.
said. 1 shall be pleased to furnish them
in any quantity.
I come now to what I trust I am not
letter, where he calls my attention to some
additional wrongs"-though 1t is little
discouraging TO be told that they can not not
Ripley may Utter. any aee The wrongs wrongs @ referred
to are:
Some "AdditfOnal Wrongs"
1. 1t is alleged that it has sometimes
been the railway policy to make lower
rates on lumber for towns and cities fur
ther west than for those some miles to
the east of them. and that this has some =
times been carried to such an extent that 1t
mas been found cheaper to ship to the re-
mote point and haul back by teams. and
that this practice was SO common that IT
was, was found necessary to provide - against :s,I
such policy by the enactment of the long
and short haul clause" of the interstate
law.
1 gather from the foregoing that the
cases referred to occurred prior to the
passage of the interstate law or more than
ten years ago 1t is rather much to- ask
me to defend all the abuses that may have
occurred in the gradual evolution OF the
railway system of this country and l have
not undertaken that contract. II all the
facts Of these cases referred to could be
ascertatned however. l have little doubt
that very good excuse. If not a perfect
justification. could be found for the con-
ditions said to have existed. Even con-
gress recognized that a lesser charge for
the longer distance was sometimes justi-
fable and gave the commission power to
suspend this section of the lava power
which the commission has frequently eX-
ercised.
2. 1t is charged that wheat and other
products originating on east and west lines
and destined south are charged to junction
points of southern lines as much as II
forwarded much farther on east and west
and that in this way the has
as for 1853 miles on the same road and in
the same direction.
am unable to reply intelligently to this
without further knowledge OF the particu-
lar cases and conditions: but can conceive
of conditions that would make this course
able and See II tbaf
cases where 1t would also actually be more
profitable to the road to haul over the l03
miles to the terminal Of the road rather
nection on haul of only thirteen miles.
The case is probably an isolated and Pc
culiar one, however.
The Free Pass Question.
g. This charge consists mainly of ex-
tracts regarding free passes taken from q
book written by Mr.. A. B. Stickney, who
is SO fortunate as to be styled by Mr..
Davis a veteran railway man."
/! have high personal regard and esteem.
but hardly think he would himself claim
is a man of high character and ability. but
not of great experience In railway opera
ton. He has built up considerable sys-
ital. and somewhat to the detriment of the
investors, and he has written book which
is remarkable for the extent of the mis-
is an exceedingly able bodied developer Of
impracticable theories, but must decline
to accept him as final authority upon gen.
have very little criticism to make upon his
quoted remarks as to the free pass evil.
In fact. / am and have always been rad.
of free transportation. and would gladly
do away with it If possible. But It is q
mistake to suppose that the abolition Of
reduce passenger rates. for. in the first
place. those who travel on passes would
ride but little If they had to pay fare, ana.
T. ~, xh@ x~t $50 F,&@ I'D
computed at regular rates of fare would
not add enough to the passenger receipts
to warrant any general reduction. 1t is
makes the issuance Of free passes an
noying. 1t is the fact that some persons
have them while others do not. and what
company. and however much they may feel
entitled" to passes. their neighbors who
do not have them fail to appreciate those
me in print on this question. Permit me to
say now to him that l should be exceed
ingly glad to see state or national laws,
or both. making 1t a state prison offense
to either give or receive pass or any form
of free transportation, except. perhaps, on
account Of charity. should also like to
see those laws enforced.
Rates on Kansas Corn.
Lastly, Mr.. Davis says the rate on corn
from Hutchinson to Kansas City is cents
per bushel. while from Kansas City to
Chicago It is cents-and he solemnly as
pays the freight in the one case and the
.'speculator" In the other. As matter of
fact there are no such rates But for the
stated. l hardly think the grain merchants
Of Kansas Ctty-1 mean those who actually
handle and ship the I gainSaR all ,aa BE- bee eassed
The Kansas City dealer sells his grain in
Chicago or ST. Louis or New York or Liv-
hd fan Se S it to the
Louis or Chicago or New York Or Liverpool
HIM him WHAT the ire freight rate rate IS so long as Il
tor s ~ has 4 It It is IS higher. his his GO sompetitors
If If IS lower @ hs can sell at the fe same rate
as his competitor and put the difference
in his pocket. But in practice his desire
very se' lowest ssaas price @ Which viii M allow him
margin of. say. quarter of cent profit,
because he fears that otherwise his offers
curs siu anW @ reduction in the rat rate, 's Wheti9er her
east or west of Kansas City. the sole and
only effect is that the price to the con-
is reduced, with no benefit to the producer
or middleman. If grain dealer in Kansas
City has secret reduction in rate and
am an equally ~ low @ secret rate by some s other her
line, he. Of course. has an advantage and
this may enable him either to pay the
sumer at a little less; or he may pocket
all the difference himself But If two deal
ers have the same rate. the simple and in
evitable result is that they base their SELL
ing price on it and by SO much reduce the
price to the consumer. AS I have had oc-
casion to state before, 1t is my belief that
throughout Kansas and Nebraska would
merely reduce it's value in Kansas CITY,
Chicago. st. Louis and Galveston and would
country stations. The SuppoSition that
rates are lower per mile between Kansas
City and Chicago than between Hutchin-