The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-15
MILLIONS AT STAKE.
Railroads May Be Forced to Reduce
Live Stock Rates.

Chicago, Nov. 15.-The interstate
commerce commission has begun TAX
ing testimony in the cases involving
rates on live stock from western and
southwestern points to Chicago and
terminal points on the Mississippi
river About $1,000,0O0 year in
freight rates are said to be at stake
The cases are being brought by
the Texas Cattle Rangers association
against several transportation COM
panies for alleged exorbitant rates
levied on the farmers for the shipment
of live stock.
While awaiting the attorney gem
erals action upon its charges of viola
tons of the law by the beef trust the
commission viii hear accusations that
millions of dollars are unlaWfulIy
reaped annually by railroads, and that
Chicago alone is taxed an excess of IS
TO $40 per car load of live stock from
southern farms Other complafnants
viii succeed the RANGERS with sim
liar charges
The Texas cattle rangers began
their suit about a year ago, and. after
elaborate preparation. the legal rep
resentatives of both sides, several we'll
try'S foremost railroad attorneys will
meet in one of the most sensational
contests ever waged before the COM
mission.
Among the railroads named as de-
PENDANTS are the AtchisOn, Topeka &
Santa Fe, the Rock Island, the Cot
ton Belt" or Gould lines, the Mis-
souri,, Kansas & Texas, the d" Frisco, >"
Burlington & Quincy
J. W Grueber, of Omaha, general
superintendent of the Union Pacific,
was on the witness stand
THE heaviest cattle shipments are
made about the same time of the year
as the dead freight shipments said
Mr.. Grueber, land in the same direc-
ton This makes the empty mileage
On VIII he
very great We can but rarely attain
the schedule of speed fixed for stock
trains and there is added expense OF
caring for stock on the road longer
than it should be-"
Mr.. Grueber was closely questioned
regarding this inability to run the
stock trains through on time, on ac-
count of density of traffic, when by his
own admission, passenger trains main
tanned a schedule of 2 s to AZ miles per
hour.
Which is the more expensive, to
run these trains fast or slow?" asked
Mr.. Prouty.
''Of course fast running is more ex-
pensive, on account of fuel and wear
of machinery" replied the witness.
hen you are really saving money
by this ina biity TO keep up to the
schedule with these trains, are you
nOt?" he was asked
NO, the trains run as fast as re-
quired between stations, but are COM
for other trains to pass"
Commissioner c.. A Prouty declares
that the outcome is of the most vital
Importance to cattle raisers, dealers,
and consumers
Let US take Chicago alone" he
said. AT least 100000 car loads of
live stock enter the city every year.
If it proves that from So to $50 per
car load is charged excessively one
can figure cut the amount involved
Although cattle prices are low on the
farm. meat is sky high at retail
1.-The rangers declare that rates on
live stock are higher than on any
other mmOdity. and that a reduc-
ton must be granted
u have no doubt that the railroads
will claim that live stock shipping
cannot be compared with the shipping
of other commodities, because of the
expensive service of the former and
the special considerations which must
always be made for that sort Of
freight"