The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-03
Railroads Bitterly Contest Mill
ers' Application.
Mr.. Hurd Cross Examines the
Witnesses.
ON STAND.
SarcasticalIy Remarks That
Railroads Never Cut Rate.
David Bowie Gives Some Exam
pies Of Discrimination.

The hearing in the case Of the To-
peka millers VS.. The Santa Fe this
morning was replete with series of
brilliant cross questionings and the
tendency to get as far away from the
question as possible.
OF the millers there were present
Herbert Hackney. president of the To-
-peka Milling company David Bowie. J.
P Griswold. Armin Fassler. A repre-
sentative of the ottawa mill also look
ed on.
This was the first formal hearing the
railroad board has ever considered.
sitting as a court.
Chairman Walker dilated on the
practice of this court when Judge
S1onecker asked that Mr. Bowie read
the statement prepared by the mnlers.
A general discussion on its propriety
preceded the admission of the state
.4This court has no established rules
of practice, said Mr.. Walker. Now
let US understand each other how We
FIRST the statement and then the
evidence, / presume.
'sOf course" replied Judge Slonecker,
1.-The statement is prepared by the mill
lers themselves and is better put than
I can put it."
well, if there are no objections"
said Walker. Mr.. Hurd2"
Its all right, guess. assume they
state the case as in the complaint
said Hurd.
Walker-Of course.
Slonecker-Certainly.
Hurd-I assume they would not pre-
sent new argument different from
the complaint.
Slonecker-I assume. you assume
Walker-Its all right 1 guess. The
court will hear the statement by Mr..
Bowie.
Mr.. Bowie then read the statement.
]. F. Griswold of the Shawnee Mill
ing company was the first witness call
ed He stated that he had been man
ufacturing flour in Topeka for thirty
years. He said Mr.. Goddard gave him
the rate on wheat of five cents hum
dred less than Kansas City IN 1877 or
Were the rates substantially the
same up to 1882"
There was a drop in 1896 and an ad-
vance in 1900. In 1900 the old rate was,
Where do Topeka mills buy most OF
Florence and west of there"
East of Newton we would get mix
ed variety of wheat We must go west
of there to get hard wheat
Mr.. Griswold outlined the milling sit
uation along the Santa Fe west Of here.
saying there is no mill at Usage City.
one at Florence, two at Emporia two
at Newton, one at Halsey, three at
Mr.. Hurd asked: was not Topeka
put on an equality with Kansas City2"
mo. That was not the idea"
Mr.. GODDARD gave US the rate for 10
cal trade. I shipped products back as
far as Newton"
what advantage have the millers
now2"
1--WE have cent advantage over
Kansas City in eastern shipments. so
has every other miller in Kansas"
You used to have five cents the
worst Of it did you not?"
We didn't do any milling in transit
then.
IF you had?"
NO"
In reply to Judge slonecker Mr.. Girls
void said:
I'VE paid the rate in andwe paid the
rate out Didn't know anything about
milling in transit in those days"
"As matter of fact, don't the rail-
roads cut under on st. Louis rate?'
asked Judge Slonecler.
"Oh No A railroad wouldn't cut
rate" answered Grfswold sarcastically.
Don't some people?"
I'VE think they do. But guess not
since we have such an able state COM
mission"
David Bowie. of the Mid-continent
mills. quoted some rates his concern
paid. Aida, Brewer, Partridge. and
Milan, used to be 10 cents, now it is Is.
Conway was 103s, once 8 cents. now
4112 cents.
How many raises in rates in last
four years2 asked Judge Slonecker.
Two"
The raises amount to what7"
About 100 per cent
WAS it any concern of the railroads
where your products went?"
mo. The rate was in"
In reply to Mr.. Hurd Bowie admitted
that at the time there was a FIVE cent
differential for Topeka millers. there
was a five cent differential against
them on shipping products east.
What per cent of your business goes
east?"
About IS per cent
Assistant General Freight Agent F.
c. Maegley was called to be questioned
by Judge Slonecker.
What would be the rate on wheat
from Coolidge to Kansas City according
to distance tarim?"
'Twenty-six cents"
What is the rate2"
Seventeen cents"
when wheat was shipped into To
peka on diferential rates did that end
the transaction with the Santa Fe2'
TT did,
Were they required to ship out over
your 1fne2"
No"
IF they did ship out the previous
transaction affected their rates?"
Yes
"The rate established last March does
not alter this?"
No"
do you carry goods from east here
AT less than distance tarin2f
Yes