The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-11
Topeka Commercial Club to
Have Freight Hearing.
Will Meet Paul Morton Here on
Saturday.
WHAT is WANTED.
Demands of Topeka Are Careful
ly Prepared.
Relief from Situation Which
Cripples City Is Asked.

Paul Morton, vice president of the
Santa Fe railway, will be in Topeka
Saturday morning, May IA, to discuss
the freight rate situation with the
merchants of this city and the sub
committee appointed by the CONNER
cial club to wait upon him in regard
to the matter According to the pre-
viously announced itinerary, Mr.. Nor
ton was to have come to Topeka Tues
day, May II. but he and his party
have been gaining time on the tour of
inspection which they are now MAX
ing over this division of the road. and
will get here three days ahead of the
scheduled date.
No definite statement can be made
as to what hours he will be here. T.
J. Hurley, general superintendent of
the Santa Fe. who is with Mr.. Nor
ton, telegraphed to his office that
the special which is carrying the par
ty expects to leave on Saturday noon
for Chicago, which means that only
a few hours will be spent in the city.
The Commercial club sUbcommit-
tee selected to lay before Mr.. Morton
the needs of this city along the line of
freight reduction, consists of Frank p.
MacLennan, Thomas Doran, w. H.
Davis, 7. J. Anderson and w. H. Jen-
sen. A number of things will be ask
ed for, the principal among which are
as follows:
from Kansas City to Topeka, from the
old schedule of Il cents against the
Omaha to Lincoln rate of cents.
A reduction from southeastern Kan
sas to 80 cents per ton for slack coal
and a corresponding reduction on all
other grades, instead of the present
rate of S1.4O for lump and $1.25 for
slack coal.
A restoration of the old dinerential
Tor the milling concerns, which brings
wheat into Topeka at a smaller rate
than it can be shipped into Kansas
City from the Kansas wheat belt.
An equalization of the inconsistent
discrepancy now existing against the
city for the hauling of lumber from
Texas.
An adjustment of the inconsistent
rate for hauling paper to the publish
ers in Kansas City and Lincoln, as
against Topeka
It is necessary that Topeka get bet
ter rates or the industries of the city
carefully laid before Mr.. Morton, and
he will be apprised of the fact that
prominent manufacturing and whole
sale concerns will look for other fields
unless they can bring their material
and goods to Topeka at a, lower haul
ing price. The rebate or going OUT
as the merchants call it, will also come
in for a share of attention. For in
stance on the uIEn class OF STOCK, the
ParkhurSt-DaviS company pays twelve
cents in and gets seven cents per hun
dred pounds OF going out What IS
wanted is ten in and ten out so that
the local wholesalers are put on a par
with Kansas City. To explain this
further for those who do not under
stand the subject, it might be stated
that when merchant jobs stock he
gets a certain rebate, or price off the
hauling in rate, when he again ships
it out to mis- customers over the state.
AS it now stands, jobbers here lose
the difference between twelve and
seven cents on all goods brought here
and then sold out to other parts or
the state. This they want equalized.
1t is so in Kansas City, and there is
no reason why the same condition
should not also exist in Topeka.
Lincoln, Neb., has much the advan-
tage over this city in the way of rates.
The two cities are similarly situated,
in fact almost identical in every way.
It will be asked of Mr.. Morton why
that discrepancy exists and that To-
peka be put on par with its Nebras-
ka. twin.
It is believed that the Santa Fe will
heed the demands of this city and re-
spOnd with a fair reduction in rates.
That is all that is asked for The Com
mercial club subcommittee has at all
times indicated that it wants to be
absolutely reasonable and only asks
for such things as are right. That this
city is now the victim of a discrepancy
cannot be denied, not even by the
railroads themselves. All that is de-
nanded is that this city be put on a
par with the other towns throughout
this territory. The major share OF
them have a big edge oyer Topeka If
the railroads can make such conceS-
sions, why is it that Topeka must suf-
fer? That is the question which will be
asked of Mr.. Morton, and from express
sions which he has let fall in the past
it is believed that this city is on
fair way towards getting a decent and
equitable basis of freight ratings.