The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-04
COAL CASE DRAGS
Only Three Witnesses Examined
at Rate Investigation.
Prove Existence of Secret Rate
to Hutchinson.
HELPED SALT TRUST.
Fight Will Center on the Lump
Coal Rates.
Carr Taylor Working for
Further Reductions in Tariffs.

Two things were brought out in the
hearing of the coal rate cases before
the board of railroad commissioners
which adjourned at noon today to No
vember p, after being in session since
Friday afternoon at o'clock. These
were:
Hutchinson, and particularly the
Hutchinson Salt company, has enjoyed
some secret rates on coal from the
Pittsburg fields discriminatory to 9TH
er towns in that group of which
Anthony, Kingman, Abilene, Lyons,
Salina, Ellsworth and a few more are
principal
The rate for coal from the Pitts
burg mines to Hutchinson and the salt
fields is twice as high per ton per
mile as the rate from Arkansas and
Indian territory coal fields. The dis
tance of the former is 239 miles; or
the latter. over 500 miles.
The hearing in reality only got start
ed. The mater Of secret rates for
the Hutchinson Salt company is natur-
ally the particular gist of the revela-
tions, and it is the point that Carr
Taylor. attorney for the board, is now
directly after. But he did not get
deeply enough into the matter as yet
to give the exact facts of the discrim-
inaion at the present time if they do
still exist.
I'VE will keep right after that" he
said today after the hearing was
over s'In regard to the secret rates
to Hutchinson, I found out from the
testimony of z. Gartiner, formerly
manager of the Joy Morton Salt COM
pany, now the Hutchinson Salt COM
pany. and the big trust in Kansas,
that for three years previous to or
ganizing the new concern, is paid rs
cents for slack coal from the Pitts
burg fields while other points in that
group paid S1.40. I thing that the
Hutchinson Salt company is enjoying
a secret rate now, but I do not know
what it is
What roads did this?'' was asked.
The Missouri Pacific and the Santa
Fe,' was his reply
But three men were examined yes
/ terday afternoon and this morning.
When the session commenced A. A
Berney, a coal dealer of Horton, was
placed on the stand. He testified that
the rate on lump coal from the Cen
( terVille district to Horton is $1.10 per
ton, while from Pittsburg, which is
practically the same distance, the rate
is $1.40. He also testified that it is
possible to get coal from the Iowa dis
trict in about four days, on an aver
age, while the average time required
to obtain a shipment from the Pitts
burg district is ten days and in many
cases cars from the latter point are on
the road a month. He also testified
that there is a discrimination against
Usage coal. Two years ago the rate to
Horton from Usage City was $1.10. At
the present time it is $3.50.
George 3. Kelly of the Champion
Coal company of Kansas City, No.
was placed on the stand to testify con-
/ cerning the prices of different kinds of
coal at the mines. He said that the
new tariff put into effect by the rail-
roads October 10 affected slack coal to
considerable extent but that very
few reductions were made on lump
coal to any points.
When the hearing is resumed on
November % the matter Of the Hutchin-
son secret rates will BIT taken up again.
The group of towns of which Hutchin-
son is one is demanding an open pub
Iished rate Of 81 on slack coal and not
more than 25 cents additional for lump
coal Topeka will come into the mat
ter also. Here there is an open rate of
80 cents for slack coal and $40 for
lump coal. It is the consumer of fuel
coal that needs help just now.
'Dou you think" was asked of Mr..
Taylor this morning, ''that the railroads
can make money on the secret rates
which it. appears they are giving to
certain points? %
''They certainly do replied Mr.. Tay-
lor, ''else they wouldn't make them.
That point will be brought out. It is
one of the things that we have on the
slate