The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-29
FIRST STEP IS TAKEN
Railroads Notify Lumber Firms
of a Change.
MUST PAY FREIGHT BILLS
When Presented the C a S h
Must Be forthcoming

Kansas City, Jan. 2S-The members OF
/ the Southwestern Lumbermen's associa
/ ton were notified in convention that the
railroads had taken the first step in re-
/ taliation for the lumbermen's expressed
determination 10 resist the payment of
| demurrage charges. This information
came in a letter addressed to Harry
| Gorsuch, the secretary of the association.
1t was signed by the agents of sixteen
railroads and stated that in the future
all bills for freight charges, switching
charges, car service charges and recon-
signment charges must be paid on pre-
sentation. Hereafter, firms which fail to
comply with this rule Will be required TO
settle charges at the respective offices of
the railroads before orders will be &C
copied for the disposition of freight. The
railroads sending this communication
were the Rock Island Missouri Pacific,
Chicago & Great Western. Kansas City
Southern, Chicago & Alton. Union Pacific.
Wabash, Kansas City Belt, the Burling
ton, Milwaukee, Santa Fe, Missouri. Kan
sas & Texas, Quincy, Omaha & Kansas
City, st. Joseph & Grand Island, the
Leavenworth. Kansas & Western, and the
Frisco system.
The members of the association who
were asked about the particular causes
leading to the writing of the letter by the
railroad representatives said they pre-
sumed it was brought about by the lum-
bermen trying TO obtain the passage by
congress of bill which shall compel rail-
roads to move freight shipments more
promptly and withir a stated time or be
liable to a fine of 80 a day for each car
delayed. Many lumbermen have also re-
sisted the payment of demurrage charges,
and their refusal has caused a controversy
which the members of the association say
Will ultimately result in test suit to see
If the roads may force a collection OF
the demurrage charges. The reconsign-
ment charge is another bone of contention
among the lumbermen, but has not as
sumed the same proportions that is has
among the shippers of gram.
The letter of the railroad companies
was not discussed in the convention.
The first business of the convention this
morning, when it was called to order at
II o'clock, was the report of the resolu-
tons committee on the proposed cooper
alton of the association with the Manu-
facturers' and Merchants association of
Kansas City in building clubhouse. The
committee submitted the following resoiu-
ton, which was adopted unanimously:
Whereas, The manufacturing interests
of Kansas City propose the erection of a
building for the holding of conventions
such as the present and,
Whereas. A committee of said manufac-
turers has appeared before our body and
invited our cooperation. Therefore, be it
Resolved, That we instruct our direct
ors to further investigate said building
project, and we hereby empower them to
take such action regarding an invest
ment in the same as their judgment may
dictate.
The convention adopted a resolution
the practice of certain whole
saIers of knowingly shipping inferior
grades of lumber and another leaving to
the directors the ACCESSIBILITY of holding
a convention at St Louis during the
worlds fair.
The nominating committee reported the
following choice of officers for 1904:
j. AloOIelSdu, 1thlllSloD,
Mo-; first vice president. E. r. Burk-
holder; second vice president, T. H
Rogers. Oklahoma City; treasurer George
ID. Hope, Kansas City, Mo-; directors, |
James Costello, Liberty, Mo-; w. NJ
Johns, Sedalia, Mo-; Z. R. H. Remley, |
Topeka, Kan; j. E. Evans, Emporia, |
Kan; II. c. Lemon, Pittsburg, Kan; |
Henry Frantz, Enid, o. T.
The election of the officers and directors |
was unanimous Mr.. Moorehead was vice |
president of the association last year !
and was chosen for the higher office /
this year in compliance with the long |
established precedent of the association I
IN promoting the vice presidents year by /
year. The other officers are given to Kan
sas and Missouri men alternately.
Mr.. Moorehead made a graceful speech /
accepting his new office and was warmly
applauded.