The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-11
READY FOR THEM.
Carr Taylor Moves in Paper
Rate Question.
Applies to the Board to Make
Reductions.
CHARGING TOO MUCH
That Is Allegation, Made Against
Railroads.
Cases Will Probably Go to
Supreme Court.

Newspaper publishers of the state of
Kansas will be interested to know that
Carr Taylor. attorney for the state
board of railroad commissioners, will
today file his petition for general re-
duction in the freight rates on paper.
H. L. Reising, of the Wichita Board
of Trade, who is to be Mr.. Taylor's
chief witness in the case, was in To-
peka Saturday for conference, and it
is understood notified Mr.. Taylor that
the evidence necessary for the case has
been secured.
Il will file the case sometime today"
said Mr.. Taylor this morning. TT will
be in the form of an intervening petit
ton in the commodity rate case filed
by number of the wholesale grocers
of the state. The users of paper in the
state will all benefit. Paper jobbing
houses Will profit, and also every news
paper which uses white paper. The
wichita Eagle is one of the newspapers
chlehy interested in the case, but l do
not doubt that every newspaper in the
state would sign the papers if necessary.
The petition is not long, because it
IS not necessary. 1 do not set forth any
OF the arguments and evidence; simply
statement of the general cause of ac-
tlon. we will produce the evidence
when the time comes
we will take the position that the
railroads are charging too much for
handling paper There are no specific
instances of discrimination; one town
or locality is not getting the worst of it,
1t was simply a case where the whole
schedule is too high. We have coupled
this with the general commodity case
because this rate investigation is going
to bring up the whole question of
freight rates in this state The whole
thing will have to be thrashed over.''
II. L. Reising, the Wichita man, is
said TO be one of the most expert rate
men in the west. He devotes most of
his time to the handling of rate propo-
s1tions, anc has had years of experience
in the tariff department of railroads.
Sends Mysterious Letters.
Mysterious letters concerning some
phase of the rate question are being
sent out by Mr. Taylor. These letters
are going to the mayors of different
towns, and to prominent men gem
orally. They are printed on
mimeograph, and are signed by Mr..
Mr.. Taylor refused to give out
copy of the letter. He said: 'It
wouldn't be good policy to say what
sort of information I am after. If I
should do this, the railroads would
Immediately take steps to block the
investigation. If l get few days
start | can get this investigation go
ing in good shape, and then 1 don't
care how much publicity is given to
the matter.
1t is altogether probable that the
object of Mr.. Taylor's investigations
will be made public within a few days
through the recipients of the letters,
which have been scattered broadcast
over the state
1t is understood that the object of
the letters is to secure information
right from the consumers and ship
pers about the flour, coal and COM
modify rates.
The hearing of the rate cases is set
for the 10Th, goth and 21st of Sep
tember, but it is altogether probable
that on these dates the railroad COM
missioners will do nothing but set the
cases for full hearing at some future
date. A large amount of evidence will
doubtless be presented on both sides.
There is not much doubt that the
railroads will carry the cases up TO
the supreme court, for to accept a
ruling of the board would probably
mean a complete revision of all the
existing freight rates in the state, and
a material reduction in most of the
rates now in effect.
The elaborate tabulations now being
completed under the Stone resolutions
show that on many commodities Kan
sas is paying higher rates than neigh
boring states, while on a few it is get
ting exceptionally low rates.