The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-22

stop ruinOus competition in what
might be termed neutral territory"
The witness testified that this divis-
ion of territory went out of existence
when the railroads raised the Kansas
rates and let Michigan producers cover
the whole Kansas field.
Now" said the witness, they ship
salt from Detroit to St. Louis for IT
cents barrel and from Hutchinson to
St Louis, about the same distance, the
rate is 45 cents a barrel"
All of which goes to prove" said NJ.
A Low, that circumstances and not
distance control rates"
Are Present Tariffs Violated?
J. c. Lincoln questioned Mr.. Moore
concerning the present Kansas rates TO
Missouri river points. and the witness
replied that he didn't know what the
rates We're; he only knew what the tariff
sheets showed.
do you mean that the tariff rates
are not maintained?" said Lincoln.
4 suspect it sometimes; I used to
think that tariff rates must be all right
until your own traffic manager testified
that you paid secret rebates"
Can you say where rebates are be-
ing paid now?'
~Oh, I'm not accusing you; I simply
say that we suspect your tariffs
Then you think that rates to the
river should be reduced simply to save
the railroads from the temptation of re-
bating?"
I never saw a rate yet declared the
witness emphatically, "Of over So cents
per 100 pounds, or anything, that a rail-
road company wouldn't rebate to about
that figure if it had to do it to get the
business
You say that by personal exper-
ience ?" said Lincoln.
I certainly do" replied Mr.. Moore.
I've been there"
Mr. Lincoln thereupon dropped. ont of
the game but J. H. Richards, attorney
for the Missouri Pacific took up the wit
ness on different tack. He tried to
clear up the record of the Missouri Pa
cific traffic mana ger concerning the req
bates paid to the salt trust as developed
at the session of the interstate com
merce commission at Hutchinson.
Don't you remember said Mr.. Rich
ards, that Mr.. Stith said he withdrew
those rates complained of just as soon
as he understood the nature of the trans
actiOn2"
II don't remember that" said Mr.
Moore but I do remember of walking
down the street with you, and your
saying that your only hope was to prove
that Mr. Stith was d ignOramusi -
This answer produced roars of laugh
ter.
II. A. Scandrett of the Union Pacific
then went after Mr.. Moore concerning
his testimony about the inability of
Kansas producers to sell salt in NebraS-
ka Mr. Moore cited rates and dis
tances to prove that salt is hauled two
or three times as far from Michigan
and put into Nebraska markets at al
most the same freight rate as Kansas
salt Mr. Moore admitted that salt is
produced at less expense in Michigan
than in Kansas owing to cheaper labor
and cheaper coal He declared how
ever. that western railroads have en-
tered into a deal with roads east Of Chi
cago to pay part Of the profits on their
salt hauls to the roads between Detroit
and Chicago to compensate them for
the cent rate which is made between
those points
why don't you western roads treat
us fair1y?'' said Mr.. Moore with con
siderable feeling, leaning toward the
railroad cohorts. why do you let these
eastern roads drag you into deal to
haul their salt clear out here into our
territory for less money for the long
haul than you can make handling our
salt for a short haul? What's the use
in your helping those eastern roads
tear down a Kansas enterprise2 we
are only asking for a square deal; all
we want is to get into this territory
which lies close to US, and which by
all laws Of ordinary rate making we
ought to have. It will help you and
/ help US