The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-19
Lumbermen Still Dickering For
Lower Freight Rates.
Will Hold Meeting in Topeka on
July so.
MR.. GODARD'S PROMISE
Says He Will Help to Secure
Justice.
Why Complaints Archaic About
Freight Charges.

The Kansas 1umberTnen have about
given up hope of obtaining an adjust
ment of freight rates through the me-
dunn of conferences with railway off,
Gals and there will be a general meet
ing in this city, probably July 80, at
which petitions in several suits will be
drawn and filed in the Shawnee county
district court against the railroads
Just what line of procedure will be
followed the men in charge of this new
move are unable to state at this time.
Iut. it IS an assured fact that the
lumber1nen are now in much earnest
and that every point of their contention
will be put into the form of a case
against the railroads and a vigorous
fight will be made.
If a reasonable basis upon which a
suit may be founded in the federal
court is discovered the railroads will
be brought also into that tribunal, but
the general proceedings will begin in
the district courts
The lumbermen have secured from
Attorney General GODDARD a promise to
assist them in these suits and he will
at once begin active work. Mr.. GODDARD
when he first became identified with
the proceedings believed that q CONFER
ence with the railroad men would re-
suit in an adjustment of some of the
determinations complained of. Mr.
iseS of this kind that the people have
little confidence in his intentions.
An effort was made to have con-
ference during the national Democratic
convention at Kansas City July 5, but
the railroad men, lumber men and law
yers went to the big convention. Then
an arrangement was made for another
conference last Saturday, but the rail-
road men pleaded inability to be pres
ent so it ended. Then the lumbermen
decided to take more decisive action
The attorneys were requested to pre-
pare to bring suits against the railroad
companies.
The July 80 meeting will be made up
of the men in authority in the associa-
ton and the attorneys. The prelimf-
nary petitions will have been completed
by that time and the final preparations
for the suits will be completed.
The lumbermen claim they are the
subjects of great and unjust diScrimin-
atiOns. One of the principal instances
which they use to demonstrate the posi-
ton which they occupy is that lumber
comes into the state at Winfield and
Wichita at 80 cent? per thousand. At
Newton the rate is %; at Emporia 26
cents; at Topeka and east to Kansas
City "a cents. East of Kansas City to
Chicago % cents
Missouri lumber gets into Kansas
City for IS cents and it is brought west
at the same rate, preventing its ship
ment to Kansas, but slashing the mar
ket east of the state.
Inc average lQInOer TalC III 1AlSSOdAA
is 231h cents per thousand In Kansas
the average is nearly 80 cents.
Asked why they make these discr1m-
nations, the railroads reply to the
lumbermen that they are trying to pro-
tect the white pine dealer in the south
Then they charge IS cents for bringing
the product into Kansas The protec-
ton which the shipper gets, so the
lumbermen claim. goes principally into
the pockets of the railroads.
These are but few of the diserimin
atoms complained of. The price of
lumber is not so much higher than it
has been but the freight rates have
boosted it up to such an extent that
many proposed buildings planned for
Topeka this year have been abandoned.
Il have made a careful examination
of the rates. said Attorney General
GODDARD today, land I am somewhat sur
prised to discover that there are nu
merous discrepancies and discrimina-
tons which are apparent even to one
not versed in the science of rate max
ing. The 1umbermen will bring suit to
determine the disputed questions and
the association is confident that
enough material and evidence are at
hand to make a showing in their
80