The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-15
RATE DECISION is
PARTIAL VICTORY
Export Tariff on Grain to GAL
weston Is High.
LUMBER RATE REDUCED
Wichita Given More Time to
Present Coal Case.

The following Associated Press dispatch
reached Wichita last night:
Washington, Nov 1.-THE inter-sta
commerce commission in decisions an
nounced today in the three cases brought
by the city Ct Wichita Kan, against
the Atchison, Copeka and Santa Fe. Rock
Island and other roads in that locality
declared that both the export rates on
grain from Wichita 10 Galveston ard
the lumber rates from west Of the Aissis-
.sippi river po nts in Louisiana. Arkansas
and Texas to Wichita, are unreasonable
and should be reduced. The city Of
Wichita is allowed until January /. 1874,
TO apply for leave TO submit further
Testimony on the reasonableness OF the
coal rates to Wichita
The first case involved the question
whether the grain expor- rate from
Wichita to Galveston was I'm lawfully
higher than The export rate OF like uaf
fic in force for the longer distance from
Kansas City to Galveston, on some of
which lines " .chita is an intermediate
point The commission says it appeared
that competition, which does not exist at
" ANi4ANeis rIAOL14y NbilltOiS anu AOl NCS TIC
rates from Kansas City. which are never
theless, renumerative TO the roads but
that the present wheat rate of 301z cents
from Wichita to Galveston IS exceSsice
as applied to wheat and other kinds of
grain to the extent Of , cents per hum
dred pounds. The commission besides
that the export rates on grain from
Wichita to Galveston are unreasonable
and unlawful and should be reduced in
accordance with the findings, but that
order can be directed only against the
unreasonableness of such rate and not
against the adjustment or export rates
as between Kansas City and Wichita
TO Galveston
The second case involved carload rates
from Minden. Mo. McAlester. l. T.. and
RussilviIle. Ark. to Wichita as compared
with the rates of Kansas City, ana the
commission says the Wichita rates are
not excessive on the record submitted as
the Kansas City rates are dictated by
competitive conditions.
The third case involved higher rates via
the Santa Fe and the Rock Island sys-
TENS to Wichita than for the longer
distance through Wichita to Kansas City
and other points. is being charged that
the rate TO Wichita is excessive by one
cent per hun4red pounds The commits
sion says: The carriers rates to
Wichita as compared 10 Kansas City.
Omaha and lincoln are not in violation
Of the third and fourth sections of the
interstate commerce act All carriers
violate section of the Get and the San
ia Re and Rock Island systems violate
section four of the act by maintaining
higher lumber rates from such terri
tory and the lumber rate from the ter
ritory Described to Wichita is unreason-
able and should be reduced"
I The above is good news for Kansas,
especially to hose who have been years
at work for equitable rates.
In the spring of 1902 the mayor and
council of tn city, at tie request Of the
freight rate committee Of the Chamber
Of Commerce. authorized City Attorney
A. e Helm to file several complaints
with the Interstate commerce commits
sion, alleging that the rates charged by
the railroads to and from Wichita and
surrounding territory were unreasonable
First comp;Sint alleged that the rate
Of 2S~ cents er hundred on wheat from
Wichita to Galveston ard New Orleans
was unreasonable and extortionate in it
self and a discrimination against Wich-
lta aad Wica.ta territory. in favor of
Kansas City and Missouri river points.
which were styen rate of Is cents per
hundred pounds 10 same points. Wichita
asked that it be given The Kansas City
rate
second-Complaint alleged that the rate
=.
Mo, and other mines in the Pittsburg
district We're unjust and unreasonable In
them selves. ard also dsCriminative as
compared to rate of $50 cents per ton to
Kansas City for about the same dis
lance as to Wichita The city asked that
the rate be reduced to $1.0o per ton to
Wichita.
Third-Complaint alleged that the rate