The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-28

before courts at law. The commissioners
just sit and listen TO the evidence sub
m:tted; when they do not understand a
point they ask questions, and often they
ask questions that bring out points in
favor Of one or the other side
Seven cases were filed before the COM
mission, one alleging that the railroads
granted Oklahoma points a lower rate on
the classes and commodities than were
granted Wichita from points east OF the
Mississippi river. from which most OF the
goods sold in the stores Of this city comes
Ia this case the railroads had announced
that the Oklahoma rate should be made
the maximum 10 Wichita, and this being
done, the petition viii be held until ii is
seen that the rate is made permanent.
The other case was alleging a diserimi-
nation against this city on bananas from
the south and southeast. Since the com
plant was filed the railroads have re-
duced their rates to Wichita. and they are
more nearly proportional with other
cities. The rates are not as low as asked
for in the complaint, but as substantial
reduction had been made It was decided
not to try this case al this time. but il
viii be held until some future time. or Il
the merchants of Wichita are satisfied
with the rates the case viii be dismissed.
The first case tried was the export grain
case, in which it was alleged that Kansas
City enjoyed rate of Is cents per hun
dred pounds on grain TO Galveston for
export, while the Wichita dealer had TO
pay the Is cents and also the local rate
Of 49, cents to Kansas City, which virtu-
ally meant that all of the wheat had to
GO to Galveston by first going to Kansas
City ana re-shipped over the same roads
through Wichita to the Gulf.
1t was clearly shown that Wichita
should have some reduction on in rates
to the Gulf, if not as much as the Kansas
City dealer, but yet a substantial reduc-
ton. The railroads claimed that the lum-
Der roads reaching Kansas City made the
rate because they did not want TO haul
their cars TO the south empty. and the
revenue on wheat however so little, was
virtually all profit. The railroad attor-
neys believed that if a low rate was
made from Wichita the lumber roads
would make a similar reduction that
would place Wichita in the same position
she now is, bat she would have lower
grain rates, which would mean more TO
that If this was so, let the rates be re-
duced and give the farmer more money
foi his wheat and let the lumber roads
lower the rate if they wanted to.
The second case was the one in which Il
diferential Of cents per hundred pounds
was charged on flour above wheat when
shipped to Texas points. The Kansas
nillers claimed that this was tariff that
shut them out of the Texas markets with
their -four, but it allowed the Texas
miller to come into Kansas and buy
wheat which, with the differential on
-four. allowed them to ship IL TO Texas
and mill it and pay a higher price in
Kansas for the wheat than the price in
the eastern market warranted This is
Why the Texas miller could pay more
for wheat in Wichita than a dealer could
pay for wheat which he expected TO sell
in Chicago with the freight to that point
added. This threw the Kansas millers
out of line with the other markets of the
world, and was almost enough 10 drive
the millers out of business right in the
greatest wheat country in the world.
This case had been tried twice before
the commission. in which it was decided
dustry of Texas the differential was al
lowed to remain. The Texas milers
claimed that the conditions had not
changed since the cases were tried, but
il was conclusively proven that the mil
iers now receive free milling in transit
rates which they did not have ten years
ago. when the first case was tried. The
Texas roads make a re-consignment
charge Of cents per hundred. and it was
stated by a commissioner that the Texas
miilers asked the commission TO help
them out of a predicament made by their
own railroads and allowed by their own
railroad commissioners.
The third case tried was that alleging
discrimination by the railroads on coal
from the Minden and nearby mines, the
Russelville. Ark, mines and the McAllis-
ter mines. The rate from Minden. Mo.
on coal is S1.50 per ton for lump and
81. . on slack, while the rate to Kansas
city from the same point is 20 cents.
This the city claimed was unfair but the
railroads claimed that il was made in or
der that the southern Missouri and Kan
sas miners could compete with the mines
nearer Kansas City. II was proven by the
Wichita men that a dollar rate on coal
II Wichita was not an unreasonably low
rate. and one that would make the rail-
roads a good deal Of money. As IT is ar
present many industries are kept out Of
Wichita on account of high rates on coal
which keeps Wichita from advancing as
it would II a dollar rate was made.
The fourth case was the one alleging
on lumber against
Wichita and in favor Of Topeka and Kan
sas City. It was claimed by the city that
The railroads hauled lumber from the
mills at Camden Ark. Trinity. Tex. and
Palquemine, La. through Wichita TO
Topeka for Is cents per hundred. to kan
sas City for . cents per hundred. and the
rate 10 Wichita is 81 cents per hundred
This the railroads admitted To be fact
and the Rock Island admitted that il
hauled lumber through Wichits and to
Wichita from the mills al the above
named points AZ the above mentioned /
rates. and Mr.. Lowe the attorney for
the company, asked that the commission +
make an order that would prevent this (
condition as he or his company did not +
believe X was just. and that Il Vas cx-
pensive TO his company. but they had u
meet IL because of competition az Kansas {
city The other railroads admitted the I
rate in force. hut denied that they hauled /
5, through wishita. and the Missouri Pa Z
cifc and Frisco presented good proof +
that they Gid not but the Santa Re was F..
not 50 fortunate. as i had = road
through Wichita ard the Florence cnt-o1. +
and il was proven that they sometimes !
sent lumber through Wichita. but Only
when impossible n send i via the F1o-- 4