The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-03

This move on the part of the rail-
roads was a surprise to nearly every
one. The reason given for it was that
the roads are convinced that the cattle
business is demoralized at present and
that the service on the railroads is poor
as result of the floods, and that as a
result an increase in freight rates
might not be warranted at this time
The roads simply postpone them in
definitely. however. claiming the right
to advance the rates whenever they see
fit
The only testimony introduced by the
railroads was a single schedule present
ed by H. II. Embry. general freight
agent of the Rock Island lines west of
the Missouri river. This schedule was
TO prove that the cattle rates in Kan
sas are lower than those in other states.
Not only will the old rates on cattle
be continued. but on hogs and other
classes of live stock well. The new
tariff proposed slight advance on
nearly all kinds of live stock.
The cattle shippers placed only two
witnesses on the stand today. the first
was George Donaldson of Marion, one
of the big shippers of that part of the
state. The other was NJ. G. Campbell
OF Wichita, chairman of the state live
stock sanitary cOmmission,and heavy
cattle shipper Donaldson testified that
his freight charges have been advanc-
ing during the past five or six years,
and Campbell testified that the pro
posed tariff would make his freight
rates from seven to ten dollars car
higher than they were under the old
car load rates.
r. p Waggener then asked for
brief recess to allow the railroad men
to confer. They were out about fifteen
Il
Low put Mr.. Embry on the stand to
introduce the schedule comparing Kan
sas cattle rates with those in other
states. This was to combat the sched-
duced by the cattle shippers to prove
that the Kansas rates are higher than
those OF neighboring states.
The schedule prepared by the cattle
shippers compared the rate from towns
a given distance from Kansas City
with the rate from towns in other
) states the same distance from the point
of destination. The schedule introduced
by the railroad companies figured on
different basis. 1t compared the rates
per ton per mile. A list of twenty-five
towns on the Rock Island in Kansas
was given and the cattle rate per ton
per mile under the old rate from these
towns was shown to be 1.36 cents; and
under the proposed rate 1455 cents.
Compared with this was given a list
of twenty-five towns on the Rock Is
land in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota,
giving the rate to Chicago, and show
ing that the rate per ton per mile is
1892 cents. A similar list of towns on
the Chicago. Milwaukee q St. Paul in
Illinois, Iowa. Wisconsin and Minnesota
with the rate to Chicago was given to
show that the rate per ton per mile on
that road is l.603 cents. similar
schedule showed that the rate per ton
per mile on the Chicago Northwestern
is les. cents.
Mr. Low then arose and said: "In
view of the bad state of the cattle
fact that the service is not what it
knowledge. the defendants have agreed
to postpone for a time putting into
effect the new rate schedule. reserving
the right. however. to put the same
into effect whenever conditions justify
It..
J. ". Robson, president of the State
Z railroad companies for their action on
behalf of his association. Then Paul
Morton. second vice president of the
santa Fe. went over practically the
same ground as Mr.. Low and in addi-
ton told the cattle shippers that the
railroads proposed to give them the best
preciated the business of the cattlenen
end did not wish to deal unjustly with
them.
This ends the cattle rate case so far as
the present complaint is concerned and
uhile the roads reserved the right to