The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-17

influence. don't know but what
some of them will welcome your as
sistance.
I'm my opinion, your order in this
case should be really three separate
orders, one relating to the distributing,
or less than car load lot rates; one
relating to the in rate in syrup, rice
and other commodities in that class
and one relating to the In rate on
paper. Unless we can get relief, we
might as well give up the struggle and
allow Missouri river points to handle
all the goods sold in Kansas
John H. Atwood of Leavenworth
then spoke for the Missouri river job
bers. He said in part:
If you go ahead and change a rate
because a Missouri man ships in here,
regardless of whether your change is
right or wrong, you violate your oaths
of Office. You must be broad enough
to realize that the days of state rights
is 9ast.
THE interior jobbers seek to intro
duce here a toni er-mile system of
freight rates. This is a beautiful
theory, but as one witness has told
you, If 1t should be applied throughout
the country, the farms of California
would be rendered worthless. and the
/ profits of those farms would rot on the
ground, because the oranges and
| lemons could not be shipped to the
! place of consumption in the east If
/ the ton-per- mile basis is right in Kan
A0N-Af y
The only other alternative is the
/ recognition Of trade competition.
/ Where there is the best market there
is the most competition; competition
reduces prices: this results in more
purchases; more purchases means
more shipments, and more shipments
! mean lower freight rates.
NH. LOOMS followed Mr.. Atwood.
/ He said:
ION the line of the Union Pacific we
have Leavenworth. Lawrence, Topeka
and Salina, all of which have impor-
/ tant Jobbing houses. They all look
alike to US. We want to give them all
a square deal. If we have not done
SO, it is not because OF lack of in
clination.
1--WE are especially proud of that
house at Salina. It is one of the big
gest in the United States It has one
of the finest stocks in the United
States We want to give that house
i every advantage to which it is entitled.
| 1t sells its goods all over central and
western Kansas. It even comes right
| up here to Topeka, and sells goods in
+ competition with houses doing bust
ness here. 1t sells coffee and spices
on the Topeka market in competition
/ with the big firm of observation-disclosures,
There can't be much discrimination
against that house If it can do this.
This Salina house is not only holding
its own, but it is growing rapidly. The
same condition is true of other job
bling houses in other interior towns
Such conditions could not possibly
exist if the conditions described by the
complainants actually exist"
Carr Taylor, attorney for the rail-
road commissioners closed the case
with an able argument. He showed
the determinations to which interior
jobbers are subjected, and asked the
board to give to the interior jobbers
the same protection which the rail-
roads have sought to give to Missouri
river. jobbers.
It is expected that the board will
render decision in the case within a
month. The fact that other rate
cases are set for hearing during the
next few weeks will probably retarc
the decision somewhat.