The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-02
RATE CASE BEGINS
Seven Wichita Coal Dealers
Testify Before the Board
THIRTY THOUSAND TONS
Are Brought to Wichita for
Local Consumption,

Only a few people have any idea Of the
aggregate amount Of coal Of the various
grades that is annually brought into this
city for home consumption, nor do they
realize the vast importance Of the mat
ter Of transportation charges on this one
commodity.
A conservative and fair estimate, taking
1ne year with another, taking the testi-
nlony of dealers before the railroad com
missioners yesterday, would give from
L400 to 100 cars, with the probability
leaning toward the latter figures. There
are now fourteen permanently established
coal agencies in the city representing the
large mine syndicates and shippers. These
: fourteen firms receive through the year
from 50 10 250 cars each, averaging very
easily 100 cars. Each cars capacity is
% tons, making a total Of nearly 90 900 tons
Of coal annually shipped into Wichita
figuring II on the 100 car basis. To the
consumer then it is readily perceived. the
matter Of reasonable rates becomes Of
vital Importance, since ne ultimately
pays the freight" BY resolution
passed by the city council about month
ago City Attorney George Adams was
authorized 70 commence proceedings
against those railroads which haul coal
into Wichita from eastern and southeast
ern Kansas the chief source Of supply
for coal for this region. All the roads
coming into the city are involved except
the Rock Island, which has no lines reach
ing these mines and IS obliged, like the
rests Of the unfortuuates, 70 buy their
coal Of the other roads. The jurisdiction
Of the case comes primarily under the
scope Of the state board of railroad COM
missioners. and pursuant 10 this boards
official notice, the case was commenced
yesterday morning at 10 o'clock before the
assembled board meeting in the city coun-
ell chambers.
President billiard called the session to
order promptly, all the commissioners be
ing present For the city, Public Prosecu-
tor George Adams appeared The princi-
pal roads interested were represented by
counsel as follows: For the Atkinson,
Topeka and Santa Fe, A. 4. Hurd, gen
eraI solicitor of the system for Kansas:
for the Missouri Pacific Judge J. H.
Richards, Of Fort Scott. general counsel
for Kansas Of that company, and J. VIII
lis GIeed Tor the ST. Louis and san Fran
cisco.
The idea Of the special court first meet
ing in this city was 10 take such local
oral testimony as necessary on which 10
base further prosecution. Representative
resident coal merchants were subpoenaed
20 appear and submit testimony showing
cost of coal at the mines, retail prices
and such detail matters as the board de-
sired TO know at the start. These agents
testified: George T. Walker Of the I. g.
Jackson company: Wilbur r Stout of the
Kansas & Texas: y W. Reynolds of the
Weir City; ". ~. Hacker of the Scam
mon: NJ 5. Hinmau of the CIaremore;
Charles Schwartz of Schwartz Bros, and
George Ross Of the Ross Coal company.
There were about six more on the list,
but Il was agreed by the attorneys, in
order 70 expedite matters. that they
should all be considered as testifying ia
the same thing. and 50 they were not
called. The temper Of the board seemed
entirely impartial. they being as much OPP
posed to any pooling on the part of the
various coal companies as autaEonistic ID
me railroad combine. To each of the
witnesses the question was put by Chair
man DiIard i. they had any reason 20
suspect that the same rate was not being
made TO all alike
They all replied promptly in the mega
tive. There was practically no difference
n the testimony submitted. and IL seemed
that the only thing deduced from the evil
dence wos fact that had never been an
issue. or questioned by either side namely.
that the rate from the eastern and south
eastern coal fields 70 Wichita was $50:
N.25 was shown % be The rate from Usage. /
The retail price was shown to be $Ao0 on
the scales and A25 delivered. and the
unanimous insistence from the witnesses
was that this was just as low as il could
probably be sold here
After this part Of the proceedings had
been disposed Of. the attorneys and COM
mIssiouers agreed on the 18th Of this
month. TWO weeks from the day of the
6rsr session. as the date for the next meet
ing, which viii then be held in Topeka at
the office Of the board. the better 10 get
convenient access to necessary records.
City Attorney Adams has not rested his
case. and viii continue his side al the
next session. after which the railroads
viii submit their reply and the commits
sioners Will take the matter under adj
visement. Their decision VII not be
reached for some time
Besides the legal representatives above
mentioned. there were present also the
officials from the commercial and freight
departments Of the roads and these were
Paul Morton. second vice president and
Industrial manager Of the Santa Fe; r
c. Gay. general freight agent, and Robert
the Santa Fe; J c. Lincoln aud \ ".
Fellows for the Missouri Pacific. Carl
Gray. formerly commercial agent for the
Frisco AZ this point. now one Of the sys-
TENS division superintendenrs. was in the
city but was not present at the hearing
Fred W. Bentley. special attorney FOR the
receiver Of the Wichita and Western and
attorney for the southern division Santa
Fe, was also present.
RUNAWAY ON n0liGI AS AVFNlIF