Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-03
MAINTAINING RATES
EXPORT AND DOMESTIC RATES DIS
USSED by A GRAIN SHIPPER.
Al In All Declarations to Observe
Printed Tariffs a Loophoif Is Left
for Observation-Disclosures
of Various shippers.

"A planked Mhitefish and 4 pot of cof-
fee was the order given by a prominent
grain man yesterday morning as Il reporter
for The Journal sank into a. seat beside
him and asked for Il story. Naturally we
are all interested in the Improvement of
the mail service and the closer We are put
in communication with the seaboard. the
better. or course. | am speaking from the
standpoint of 4 grain shipper. but l sup
pose it is the same with all lines OF busl-
ness. But to my mind the most important
declaration the railroads have made in the
last decade is the determination to main
tain tariff rates. Yet. L must confess that
it looks TO me as if there was a loophole
for manipulation. You might dub 1t Il
step in the right direction but those steps
are taken so o%ften-and b~roken-that when.
ever one comes TO light it reminds ME oil
the story of the boy whose excuse Tor
being late at school on a slippery morning
ward he slipped back two and when asked
how he finally arrived, replied: 1 walked
BACKWARDS
Now. that the railroads have declared
they would maintain tariff rates and re-
port to the interstate commits
sion any deviation that came under their
consideration to the practice OF making
lower rates or export freight than is en-
loyed by domestic business. To charge a
higher rate on grain shipped from the
West to a domestic market than Is charged
where grain is shipped for export is man
ifestly unjust and threatens the very eX-
istence of the great central markets, where
as it would appear that a railroads own
interest would be TO foster the home mar
freight and passenger earnings. Ana II
any discrimination in rates were permissi-
BILE, domestic business should receive the
| preference. rather than pay a higher
freight rate in addition to terminal charges.
while through billed grain from the West
for export goes at a reduced rate and avoids
| aleya tors n nd terminal charges ar the sea-
board; :, oa, .,,t
riously affect the commercial interests or
the great cities. but affords the loophole
referred to for a line DESTROYS OF cutting
rates. For the protection of the railroad
and commercial interests of the United
States, rates on export and domestic ship
ments should be on an equality. Advocates
of lower eXpori rates may plead necessity.
but if any such necessity exists it was
created by the railroads. and they have the
power owe TO s destroy t9 "a, a building fgG,, oi 1heIr own
IF the railroads terminating at the mar.
ket centers will make as low rates on local
business as is enjoyed by through traffic
for export the Eastern and Western lines
| will secure as much business as under the
present system of discrimination, Prompt
unloading of grain at elevators and the re-
turn of emptieS to the owners will obviate
car famines, commercial and industrial in
terests at the terminals Viii be gIea1 ny sSn-
plitied and rate cutting will be the eXcep-
ton rather than the rule.
THE interests of the commission men,
elevator owners. millers and. l might add,
the packers and live stock shippers. at the
terminal markets would be stimulated and
developed and the future prosperity of the
railroads logically depend largely upon the
opportunities they may, afford the origina
promoters of their welfare. These promot-
ers. who have millions invested in eleva-
tors. mills and packing houses. and fol-
current use in the prosecution of theiI
business, should be accorded an opportunity
at least equal to that afforded the export
buyerS and shippers.