Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-15

ION the evening of October 2S, 1898, you
made speech to the people OF Norfolk, in
which you apologized for the deficiencies
of the State Board of Transportation stat
ing that its hands had been tied and that
it had been unable to accomplish anything
on account of being tied up by the supreme
court, but that since the decision of the
supreme court, rendered last May, no COM
plants had been made; that since that de-
cision the board was in position to act and
that in the future, If the people of Nor
folk had any complaint to make, it would
receive prompt and effectual treatment and
that the board was then in power to act
and adjust any discrepancies which might
come before it and assured the people that
1t would be done to their satisfaction and
with justice to all concerned.
1--WE made the complaints; we have shown
that the rates charged at Norfolk are un-
just, discriminating and higher than the
same roads charge for like service to or
from Fremont, Lincoln, Omaha or Sioux
City, and have shown that the same roads
that charge Norfolk 45 cents for seventy
five-mile haul are doing like service for
others at from one-half to one third less
than they charge to Norfolk.
I'VE have shown that they haul freight
for others more than three times the dis
tance to Norfolk for the same money they
charge US and that they can do it over
branch lines and divide up the proceeds
amongst different companies, cheaper than
they can or do on a straight line, and the
railroad officials have themselves admitted
that the rates are unjust, but that traffic
arrangements compelled them to do So
Board Should Earn Its Salary.
There is nothing to be gained by turn
ing the matter over to the railroads for
them to act, and we did not file our COM
plant, nor go to the extent of compiling
the discrepancies we did with the expectation
that they would be handed over to the en-
envy and did not suppose that that was the
way the state board would treat the mat
ter, or that the state paid them a salary
for that purpose
1--WE dislike to believe that the state
ments you made were simply for the pur-
pose of catching votes, and would like you
to advise us as to what course is neces-
sary for US to get action from the state
board, what we have done, or what we have
not done, or what we must do.
I'VE believe We have shown discrepancies
that are directly within the power
of the board to adjust, believe that
a railroad running trains every day to Nor
folk and refusing to haul freight because
Va 'ehi' aSIeeihehIs' HaullnS lrelSnt from
the same starting point three as times as
far in one direction as another for the same
money, and that discriminates in every way
both in through rates and in local rates
against the interests of Norfolk should be
brought to account, and that II the State
Board or Transportation has any duties to
performed and are disposed to do it., that
our case deserves attention and should not
be pigeonholded any longer.
previous communications to the board
having been ignored, copies of this letter
have been sent to The Bee and other papers |
We ask nothing but what is right and If it |
Is within the scope OF the board to do any
thing we desire it done without further de- |
lay and trust you will give us the desired
Very truly yours,
THE RAILROAD COMMITTEE,
Norfolk Business Mems Association"