The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-09
$4,000
PLEDGED
By Kansas MiIIerS and Grain
Men.
TO COMBAT THE RAILROADS
In the Matter of Alleged
Freight Rate Inju8ticeS.
SECRET MEETING SUNDAY
When the Matter Was Thor
OughIy Discussed.

A meeting was held in Wichita on sun
day at which were present a number OF
prominent Kansas mnlers and grain men.
Every effort was made to keep the meet
ing strictly secret but the Eagle is able
to print, in part at least, the matters
discussed, and the result Of the deubera-
uons.
This meeting was the result. or cuImIna-
ton. of an extensive correspondence be-
tween the central associations Of the mil
Iers and grain interests Of Kansas and
their Individual members. since notice Of
the sharp advance in grain and grain
products rates, effective this month. be-
came public
The object OF the meeting was to decide
what action should or could be taken.
and the Eagle can state authorativelv
that Sleel0 has already been pledged. as
d first installment W4th which TO take
the matter into the United States courts
and before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
Action viii be taken along decidedly
more radical nres than ever before At
tempted, and while the allied milIers
ard grain men are not sanguine of ac-
ocmplishing all they viii attempt. they
expect to succeed in part. ana give the
present. injusuces publicltySthat Will
result in great good later
OF The discussion and the reasons given
fcr their proposed action. a well known
U.illcr said:
To begin with, the rates on grain ana
grain products from Kansas points to
the Missouri and Mississippi rivers are
eXtortionate. and always have been.
since the tariff assumed anything like
It's present large proportions.
Second-The frequent changes in rates.
to different points. are menace to leeiti-
rate business. cause heavy losses and
uHsettle business to an alarming extent
Ihird-The advance Of ~ cents per
To- pounds on grain and grain products.
effective this month, is robbery. pure and
s.mple-is not warranted by conditions
and the reasons assigned for some by
The railroads are subterfuge entirely.
and have little or no foundation in truth
"Fourth-That the railroads. as public
l-~A-'f--@r ~ AtkN-l4iLttl flN the
courts, and the roads themselves. arc
rightfully subject to restraint and cor
rection, when they become extremely
Graspiag. and eXtordonaJe. as IN the
present Instance"
IL was alleged at the meeting that the
rates effective prior to December s from
Wichita. f)r instance. namely. 49, cents
and 2liz cents TO the Missouri and Mis-
sissipri rivers. respectively. were far
more than remunera tive, even under the
present railroad conditions-and that
based on tonnage and what it would cost
&c replace the roaGs-tnat IS: the actual
Investment, aside from water. and the
value Of the public highways, the reve-
nue. is really enormous SO much that the
general public and. in fact, many OF the
business interests. have no conception of f
the extent TO which, they are forced to
pay beyond lesl,4mate confines
1T was pointed out that the rate is
Practically twice what is charged. on the
same commodity, east of the Missouri
liver Tor siimlar distances.
1t was claimed. therefore. that the adj
vanco of TWO cents between the rivers.
effective on the 18th. is uncalled for en-
tiTeIy. and extorton of the rankest kind
Ii was pointed cut that one Of the
vorst features that has To be contended F
With. IS the frequent change and Juggling
of rates. AS an Illustration the Texas
tariff was cited. which has been radically
changed three times in as many months.
SO that the freight traffic manager of F.,
enc OF tho largest reads testified on
oath. at the Ia interstate hearing
that neither he nor anyone else could
understand the Texas rates.
The elevators handle grain. and the
MILLS grind it, on transit rates That is.
The grain and its products are carried
at through rates from points Of origin
&c final destination regardless. for in
stance. Of the fact that the grain may
b. millsd or elevated at an intermediate
point irrstransit
In connection herewith, the elevator
and millins interests are frequently hard
Lit by tsrin fluctuations. through the
application IF the rule that the highe-
rate shall always govern. For instance.
L what is shipred from a stated point
N December 9. Is milled at Wichita and
on the 10TH and the freights
'Ecline or the sth. the mills are forced
20 pay the former high rate and SET no