The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-23
CATTLE TALK.
Big Railroad Men In Topeka
Today.
Here to Talk With Live Stock
Shippers.
THE CAR LOAD RATES.
Explanations From Paul Nor
ton and President Burt.
Cattlemen Show Inconsistencies
In Statements.
THE CAR LOAD RATES.

The conference called by Governor
Stanley with the Kansas railroads for
the benefit of the cattlemen, to discuss
freight rates. opened at the supreme
court room at IL o'clock this forenoon
The crowd of railroad men and cattle
men was so large that the meeting
could not be held in the governors
office. The procession went to the court
room. following the governor, who
called the meeting to order.
The governor said: Il desire to ex-
press my appreciation of the general
response to my invitation realize
that there has been much agitation Of
the railroad question out of which not
much good has come" The governor
referred to his inaugural message. and
renewed the suggestion of an amicable
settlement of the differences. THE
meeting was called without a sugges-
tion from any one. After a discussion
OF the subject with the cattlemen 1
decided that this afforded a good op-
portunity to carry out and put into
practice the theories of my message.
The interests of the roads and shippers
are mutual, and 1 am at a loss to un-
deTStand why there should be so much
controversy. This is your meeting, and
I hope cool, careful judgment will pre-
vail, and I also hope some good may
come out of it,"
J. w. Robson of El Dorado, wanted
the governor demurred, preferring that
the various interests represented gov
ern the meeting. However, the gov
ernor was prevailed upon to accept the
Office.
It was early agreed that a committee
composed of seven cattlemen and a rep
resentative of each railroad be ap-
pointed to make an effort to settle the
controversy.
Paul Morton of the Santa Fe was the
first to start the nrOcpadinpS Nor
toms suggestion that the cattlemen
present their grievances, caused Mr..
Robson to call upon the railroads 20
explain why the rates had been advanc-
ed.
Mr. Morton responded. He said: '"The
methods which we have adopted are
t not new; they may be new and untrfed
IN Kansas. We appreciate that the
stockmen are large shippers
I'VE believe that the rates per pound,
instead of the old car load rate, are a
reasonable assessment of the charges.
We think it is unfair to charge the
| shipper of IS head of steers, the same
as one who ships 25.
This pound rate is effective and
without hardship at Kansas City to
interstate points-in Chicago and at
/ other places. We believe it is the fair
est way to do the business.
| The Kansas complaint that rates
/ have been advanced, we think is mis-
! take Except in test cases where the
1 car shipment has been larger than nor
| NAL there has been no increase. The
! cars were formerly % feet long: then
81; now many are SO feet long. The car
/ rying space has been increased 2S per
/ cent. The rate has been increased 10
| per cent.
''The live stock rates in Kansas are
/ lower in proportion than any rate we
4 have"
Mr.. Morton admitted that the hand
! ling of cattle has not been a first-class
service owing to the great demands for
cars, and said:
L am here to promise better facili-
ties in the future. The difficulty has
been due to prosperity;more shipments;
more business"
Mr.. Morton said the railroads are
willing to right any wrongs which have
i been committed.
We do not mean to raise rates. In
/ same cases rates are higher: in others
! lower; but the average is about the
same. We could defend a radical in
crease of rates because the overdose of
prosperity from which we are suffering
will cost US $3.50 more per mile to oper-
ate our roads this year"
J. w Thompson of the Rock Island
followed Mr.. Morton, and argued along
! similar lines He holds that the increase
in the capacity of the cars demanded a
| change of rates, but denied that the
change recently made causes an ad-
| vance.
Mr.. Thompson, from a statement of
business for December showed that the
large cars had caused some advances.
| The 100 pound rate and the car load
rate muddled the governor and he ask
| ed for a little light Mr.. Morton then
/ explained the case. He said:
For December and January, I have
comparative statement. From Ash
| land We have II cars of stock. Under
| the old system Of charges we would
| have received $710. SO, under the new
method we collected 1867.
From Peabody we had Sc cars We
received 81, $3.50. Under the car load
| rate would have had 26Q
From Emporia we had SO cars and
| collected $905-I4 We would have had
under the car load rate $905.5O
From Ell Dorado we had cars col
| lecting $299 80. Under the old system of
| 1915. 10"
Vice President c. G. Warner of the
| Missouri Pacific said: I'VE made the
changes in the system of collecting
rates in simple justice to the railroads
and the shipper
Mr.. Warner suggested that commit
| tee OF traffic men and cattlemen be
| named to get together and solve the
problem.
President H. G. Burt of the Union Pa
/ cific said the principal reasons for the
change in the system of collecting
| charges are:
First to prevent discrimination
against either shippers or railroads.
~Second-The railroad companies now
receive pay for the service performed
The pound rate discourages the over
crOwding of the cars, by which under
| the car load system the cattlemen take
advantages, and ship more than they
pay for.
';Third-From a humane standpoint.
The cars are now not crowded. This
benefits the cattle, we think. Injury
| and damages often arise by OVercrowd-
| ing cars Now the cars are not crowded.
''Fourth-The new plan facilitates
| business because there is not the delay
which might arise concerning cars.