The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-14
HADN'T A CHANCE
Interior Jobbers Victims Of
Conspiracy, Says Mr.. George.
Makes Charges During the Rail-
road Hearing.
DIDN'T GIVE NAME.
Refused to Tell Who Was his
Informant.
Of Discrimination in
Rates Pointed Out.

modify case before the state board OF I
railroad commissioners Monday after
noon, gave sensational testimony on
the part of the interior jobbers. He
charged that up to within a few years,
a conspiracy existed among the Mis-
souri, river jobbers for the purpose of.
maintaining high prices for groceries
in the eastern half of the state.
Mr.. George is the manager Of the
Hutchinson Wholesale Grocery COM
pany, and proved to be a strong wit |
ness for the interior jobbers. The evil |
dence of the conspiracy was brought I
out by J. H. Atwood attorney for the /
Missouri river jobbers, who was try /
ing to show on cross examination that |
if interior jobbers should be given the
benefit of a differential, they would |
conspire to raise prices.
81 think the gentleman must be !
judging our actions by those OF his |
own clients said Mr.. George.
you mean to say" replied Mr.. At |
wood, that there is a conspiracy
among Missouri river jobbers to main
tain prices2"
s'I say there was such a conspiracy
few years ago; I don't know how it
s'How do you know"
Travelling men who had been en-
ployed by Missouri river jobbers but
who were then employed by me, show
ed me maps and price lists of groceries
which they were under agreement to
charge in ali towns of eastern KansaF
which were not reached by competi-1
ton from interior jobbing points. In
competitive points they cut their
prices"
who gave you this information? ~
II don't care to give the mans
name; there's no use mixing him up in
| this affair"
II want his name"
well, I don't think I'll give it to
s'Do you remember it?"
II think so%
81 ask that the commissioners in
| struct this witness to give the name
of the man
The commissioners conferred to-
gether a moment, and then Chairman
Robson announced that the commits
sioners did not think it material that
the mans name should be given.
IT insist said Mr.. Atwood, that it
isn't fair for this witness to make a
criminal charge and then retire behind
| the technicalfty that it is not ma
teriaI"
Mr.. George the Only Witness.
Mr.. George was the only witness
| examined at the afternoon session.
/ testimony that discrimination exists
in favor of Missouri river jobbers, by
means of commodity rates and blanket
rates throughout the western part of
shipments. The attorneys represent
/ ing the petitioners are A. E. Helm of
Wichita and Carr Taylor, attorney for
I the board. J. H. Atwood of Leaven-
worth appears for the defendants, but
! he has N. H. LOOMS. of the Union
/ Pacific, Paul Walker of the Rock
Island w. R. Smith and A. A. Hurd of
| the Santa Fe. Frank Doster of the
Missouri Pacific, and number of
railroad freight experts to assist him.
| Technically, however, Mr.. Atwood Is
! representing the Bittmann-Todd Gro
Ger company of Leavenworth, the
SyInns Grocery company of Atchison
and the Fort Scott Wholesale Grocery
company of Fort Scott.
The battle before the board opened
with the introduction by Mr.. Atwood
of a long interplea on behalf Of the
Missouri river jobbers.
The interplea is remarkable from
| the fact that it charges the railroads
with discriminating against the Mis-
souri, river 5obbers and in favor of the
interior jobbers. and asks the board
to reduce the less than car load lot
rates. It says:
The InterpIea.
"These fnterpleaders further say that
/ the rates which now obtain from the
river and interior points are discrim-
/ NATIVE against the former and in favor
of the latter to the amount OF from
| to 30 cents per 100 weight; that the
rates should be adjusted that these in
| terpleaders can reach the consumers in
| the middle and western parts of the
state at approximately the same freight
cost as the compliments, and that to
accomplish this purpose there should be
a reduction in the existing freight rates
! westward from the river of at least Is
| cents per hundred weight on dried fruits
! and rice and five cents per hundred
weight on beans in less than
car load lots, and at least Is
cents per 100 weight on prepared cereals
| with proportionate charges on other
! wholesale commodities, and these inter
/ p1eaders pray that such reduction in
rates as last aforesaid be made by the
/ board
The interplea also makes the claim
that if any reduction is granted to IN
terror jobbers on car load lots, the Mis-
souri, river jobers should be given an
lot rates. Tt says:
I'm the adjustment Of all rates the
| primal purpose of the board should be
| the maintenance of competition for the
consumer. so far as commercial condi-
lions make the same possible, and that
any reduction in rates from interior
| towns should be accompanied by a pro
| portionate reduction from the river
points to the end that such competition
NAV be maintained and pray that any
| adjustment of freight rates be made in
such a manner that such results viii
be obtained
After the introduction Of this docu-
ment, which covered about six type
| written pages, all of the attorneys took
the opportunity to do a little free-for-all
i talking. Each side set forth what 1t
expected to prove and six witnesses for
the plaintiffs were sworn in. Mr..
/ George then took the stand.
Mr.. George showed himself to be
master Of the freight rate situation so
far as it relates to the grocery jobbing
| business. In response to questions. Mr..
George testified that the class tariffs on
groceries continue only d short distance
east Of Kansas City. where they are
ty tariffs On the santa F7e the divid-
ing line is Scranton. The commodity
II rates extend westward to the state line