The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-07
Railroad Board Still Working
on Rate Figures.
Time Limit for Report Was
September 3.
AN IMPORTANT MOVE.
Will Show How Kansas Stands
With Railroads.
Open Way to Get at the Dis
examinations.

The time limit Of September 8 fixed
by the legislature on the work of the
state board of railroad commissioners
in preparing the rate statistics called
for by the Stone resolution, has expired,
and the voiuminous tables of statistics
are not yet complete. It will be a cou-
pie Of weeks before the board can de-
liver copies of the tables to the COVER
nor. and make the results of the exami
nation public.
In their present state, the tables have
not been summarized, as they are so
voluminous that it is impossible for the
board to give out any results. The fact,
however. that the time limit has run
on the work will not interfere with the
final completion of the job, nor is it
likely to make any trouble for the
board of commissioners. Robert Stone,
the author of the resolution, said this
morning:
THE resolution was passed on March
by both senate and house which would
make the six month limit expire on
September 3. But this fact will not
make any material difference in the
work. 1t can be completed and filed as
soon as possible. l understand that the
work is progressing as rapidly as pos
sible,a and that the results will be all that
had been hoped for. One of the officers of
the board informed me that he believed
most important piece of railroad legisla-
ton enacted by the last legislature"
It is known that when the tables are
summarized, and the comparative rail-
road rates of Kansas, Missouri Illinois,
Iowa, Nebraska and Texas can be seen
at a glance, there will be the basis fur
nished for a lot of important rate legis-
lation and rate lawsuits Already At
torney Carr Taylor has instituted a
fight on the coal rates prevalent in the
state, and the material for this suit is
gained largely from the tables secured
under the terms of the one resolution.
A similar suit concerning the rate on
salt has been filed, and also suits to eX-
anime the whole question of jobbing
rates.
The tables will show great discrepan-
cies in the rates prevalent in different
states. InSOme classes of commodities,
they will show that Kansas is getting
lower rates than prevail in any of the
other states under examination. This is
especially true in live stock shipments.
Kansas is now getting bottom figures on
its live stock.
On coal and grain, however, Kansas is
paying for its advantages in live stock
The coal and grain rates are higher in
Kansas than in most of the other states
of the group 5-sIG
The Stone resolution provided that the
rates on AL commodities Should be ex-
amined. but the list of all possible com
mOditieS is so vast that a complete
presentation would have been impossi-
bic without filing all the tariffs of the
various railroads. So the railroad COM
missioners arbitrarily went ahead and
selected the following list of cOmmOdi-
ties for examination: Cattle, hogs,
sheep, horses soft coal, grain. flour,
poultry. butter, eggs, potatoes, apples,
cement, salt. lime. brick, sand, lumber,
stone and hay
Even with this limitation on the
original terms of the resolution, the
tables necessary to cover the examina-
ton cover 40 sheets of typewriter
matter, each sheet being three feet
square. The resolution requires that
the following be shown:
1. The distance tariff in Kansas and
in each of the states named, in parallel
columns.
,. Rates charged in Kansas and the
states named on all classes and kinds
of freight for the same distance to the
same market.
3. Rates charged in Kansas and in
the states named on all classes and
kinds of freight for the same distance
to different markets.
4. A comparison of rates on coal
from mines in Kansas to all Kansas
points on a mileage basis.
8. A comparison of rates coal
from mines in Kansas to points in
Missouri on a mileage basis.
6. A comparison of rates on Kansas
roads having continuous lines of road
in other states, showing charges on the
same class of freight in Kansas, and in
road operates.
Z. A statement of all rates charged
jobbers in interior Kansas towns as
compared with rates from points on
the Missouri river.
8. A complete statement of all
charges made by Kansas roads on all
commodities and compared with like
commodities in other states named.
The objects of the Stone resolution
are set forth in the preamble as fol-
lows:
Whereas, It is claimed by the rail-
road companies operating in Kansas
that their charges are reasonable and
Just for the services rendered and are
not in excess of rates charged for the
same services in adjoining states, and
Whereas, 1t is claimed by the ship
pers that the railroad charges in Kan
sas are greatly in excess of the rates
charged in adjoining states for, like
services, therefore, resolved"
The resolution goes on to provide
that the state board shall make the
investigation, and shall have power to
send for persons and papers and ex-
anime witnesses under oath. A report
Of findings shall be sent to the gov
ernor within six months and the find
ings given to the press. In con-
clusion, the object of the investigation
is set forth as follows:
ITO secure an official and intelligent
statement from the board of railroad
commissioners. and furnished by the
board to the press in such shape as
may ne pAdlIlly SHOWN 10 anu UNDER
stood by the people, and thus settle the
controversy as to rates which is now
pending between the railroads and the
people of this state
The board of railroad commissioners
is preparing by the use of carbon
sheets, four copies of the tables One
copy will go to the governor, one will
be filed in the office of the board, one
will be for the use of the press. and
one will be used as printers copy in
the annual report.