The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17
MAY STIR THINGS
Movement on Foot to ReVOlu-
tf0niZe Grain Rates.
Wichita Takes the Lead in
Local CIRCLES.
OVER THE GULF RATES
Want Better Recognition For
Galveston Port.
YER THE GULF RATES
Complaint Filed With Inter
state Commerce Commission.


grain rates from Kansas and Oklahoma
to the Gulf of Mexico.
Complaint has been filed with the In
terstate Commerce Commission, accord
ing to a dispatch from Washington, d.
c., today, against the Atchison. Topeka
/, & Santa Fe railway. and the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific railway by the
II Central Grain Trade association of
Wichita, Kansas, alleging unjust and
ldiscriminative rates on export ship
ments of grain. The charges are made
that the shipments are manipulated at
Fort Worth, Gainesville, Galveston and
other Texas points in a way that gives
great advantage to the competitors of
the compliments before the commerce
commission.
Violation of the long and short haul
clause OF the interstate commerce act
is alleged.
Topeka dealers are quite satisfied with
the rates on export grain from Topeka.
The rate from Topeka is Is cents per
hundred to Galveston. 1t is the same
rate as is in effect from Kansas City.
Wichita, however. more than two
hundred miles nearer Galveston than
Kansas City via the two roads against
which complaint has been made, has
to pay rate of % cents per hundred
1 to Galveston.
This seems to be a direct violation of
the interstate commerce law, and it is
generally believed that the contention
of the people of Wichita before the in
terstate commerce commission will be
upheld.
If the commission holds that this sit
uation is unjust and orders a reversal
of the rates it will have the effect of
completely diSrupting the export bust
ness out of Kansas City of Kansas and
Oklahoma grain. 1t will react diSaS-
trously to Topeka dealers also, but not
in such a great proportion as to Kan
saS City dealers
About three years ago the Rock Is
land railroad placed in effect a tariff
giving Harrington, Salina, and other
wheat belt centers the same export
rate to Galveston that was in effect
from Kansas City.
The dealers in Kansas City at once
put into effect a boycott on the Rock
Island and the tariff was soon termi-
mated
AS the tariffs now stand, dealers in
the Kansas wheat belt who desire to
export via Galveston, are required to
pay the local freight tariff from their
shipping point to Kansas City, and
the rate of is cents from Kansas City
to Galveston in addition. The actual
wheat, however, is shipped direct fcom
the originating point south to Calves
ton and does not pass through Kansas
City at all.
1t is the same problem which has
been occupying the attention of the
week. The distance of shipments in
question is not so great as in the Col
orado problem, but the volume OF bus
mess is immensely larger.
Denver shippers have been introduce
ing evidence before the interstate COM
merce commission all the past week.
General Traffic Manager Biddle OF
the Santa Fe has be9p IN attendance,
and the attorney who has been prose-
cutting the cases against the railroads
gave Mr.. Biddle some conundrums
which the traffic manager announced
was beyond his power to explain
As an illustration of the Denver sit
uation which seems to involve the
same problems as those which enter
into the export grain situation in Kan
SaS, the following from Denver paper
is pertinent:
There was an interesting tilt between
George J. Kindel and w. B. Biddle of
the Santa Fe railroad at yesterday
afternoons session.
Kindel then fired this question at
Biddle: 81 show you here that the
rate on news print and wrapping pa
Francisco is only IS cents, and back
from Frisco to Salt Lake for $1.27 u, |
making a $2.O2 Y rate. Now, the rate
from Wisconsin points to Denver is
n cents, or two cents more than is
charged to haul it to Frisco, and from |
here to Salt Lake is $1.36, making it
cost the Denver jobbers 101A cents
more to sell in Salt Lake than it costs
5000 miles farther over the mountains. |
How do you account for such discrim-
ination? ?"
1t was a solar plexus but Mr. Kin
del had another shot to fire. You adj |
NIT that shoes and leather goods are |
shipped from New England to Frisco |
for $1.15 and back to Denver for $1.05, |
making $500 in all?''
yes" answered Biddle.
'"Then," said Kindel. chow do you |
account for the fact that the rate from |
New England direct to Denver is 1920. |
making it as easy for the Pacific coast
jobber to sell here as for our mer-
chants to buy direct?"
Il don't know" said Biddle.
you don't? Well. that's your bust
ness. What is the railroad hiring you |
for?" retorted Kindel and things be- |
came exciting.
A new phase of the desperate straits
in which the railroads find themselves |
is SHOWN by the following from the |
Denver Times:
The interstate commerce commission, |
which is now sitting in Denver will be |
abolished if the railroads can bring it |
about. The railroads want to wipe out |
the commission because it stands be- |
tween the railroads, n common carrier,
and the small shippers. and prevents |
the charging of exorbitant freight rates.
Candidates of the Republican party |
have been seen" by the railroads, it
is charged.
Word reached the commission this
morning from California that the
Southern Pacific, which is a part of the
Union Pacific system, had formulated
a plan in conjunction with the Santa I
Fe and other large railroads of the
country, to elect enough members to the
United States congress to control it and
have them pass measure for the abo-
lition of the commission. All the rail-
roads against whom charges have been |
made in Denver are alleged to be par
ties the plot
Agents of the various roads have
haa vlf 411a fff.i.a !