Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-15
BIDDLE GIVES ROAD SIDE
Vice President Of Rock Island Declares
EoyOots is Unvsrrantsd.
INSISTS OMAHA IS NOT HURT BY HIS LINE
Asserts Statement that Rock leland
Meant 60 Discriminate Further
Against This city is Abso-
lately False.


lately False.
Vice President Biddle OF the Rock Island,
who was in Omaha Tuesday with Traflc
Manager Cover, declares his road has done
nothing to inJure Omaha or merit q boy
colt which the grain and commercial inter-
ests have placed upon Il. He insists both
sides OF the long-drawn out controversy
have not been fairly stated, the railroad
getting the short end OF the argument
That the public may understand the Rock
Islands side Of the case. Mr.. Blddle made
this statement. r'.
In the matter OF the controversy
between the grain interests OF Omaha and
the Rock island railroad. we cannot
believe that the business men OF Omaha
have been informed as 70 the true facts,
as II does not \seen1 possible that they
would become parties TO q so-called boy
colt II they understood the situation.
We believe that the entire business
interests OF a city should stand together
for the purpose OF securing fair treatment.
but we do not believe that the merchants
of Omaha will lend themselves to an
attempt to maintain by unfair and un-
American methods, a rate adjustment that
I'm previous conroversies with the rail-
roads the Omaha people have expressed
themselves as. wanting only an even break
with their neighbors and we do not believe
that they wnnt more now.
How it Came About. -,
The facts are as followsi
Whom about two years ago grain rates
from Nebraska points were made on the
III, ~. a.
and southeastern points from 1 to 8 cents
per hundred pounds less than could be
made via Kansas City to the same points.
When you consider that the route via
Omaha is in practically all cases much
longer than the route through Kansas City
In that II represents the haul via two sides
of a triangle as compared with the hypoth-
enuse; that when the grain was moved via
Omaha II was in many cases taken out by
lines who had no rails west Of the Missouri
river, that the people OF Kansas City were
complaining and as we believed were able
to show that the rate adjustment was
unfair, II seems to US that there can be no
question as to the Justice Of our position.
Why's and wherefore.
"u)-Because we have in no single
instance made lower rates through Kansas
City than prevailed through Omaha
''Q)-Because In many instances the rates
through Omaha are still less than through
Kansas City '''f
"(3)-Because In no case is the haul
through Kansas City longer than through
Omaha and in many cases much less.
"4)-Because Omaha should be and we
believe lie able to hold It's own on an even
basis of rates.
The situation was fully explained to Com
missioner Mcvann and while he did not
express himself We had a right to feel
that he accepted the situation. Following
this and without any further advice 70 US
the boycott was inaugurated and the press
became filled With articles accusing the
Rock island road Of attemptins to destroy
the commerce OF Omaha.
II wrote, Commissioner j.. M. Guild ex-
planning the situation End asking for q, sps;-
pension Of Judgment. He Replied that Mr.:
Mcvann would reply to my letter as he
had been authorized to act for the Com!
mercial club.
Now for Elevator Allowance. ,.,,
80 much for the rate adjustment. As to
the question OF elevator allowance, we, have
always believed that this was an unneces-
sary expense and, one that. the carrier
should not be called, on to pay. but that II
allowed at all 1t. must be- accorded to all.
including country elevators, II this were
done no grain dealer would gain by It and
the roads alone would suffeF. -
In the attempt to get. away from this
and because of peculiar conditions existing
at Kansas City. the allowance was discon-
tinued at Omaha before IL was at Kansas
City. While this may be considered un-
fair it should be borne I'M mind that the
Tai L.
and that other lines discontinued the pay
ments at Omaha and continued them at
Kansas City during the same time exactly
that this company did, We are. willing
to take our full measure OF responsibility
for this. but no more, This elevator al
lowance was discontinued at all points and
by all lines except the Union Pacific on
July 80. E't
"The statements that have appeared In
the press to the effect that the Rock Island
contemplated further changes In it's rates TO
the detriment OF Omaha are absolutely
false. All that we have done or expect to
do is 20 establish and exact equality.
sure of Justice of His side.
IT am so sure of the Justice Of our posi-
ton that even r. we were not interested In
the business should hold that II was a
fair proposition.
"our statement is that we have endeav-
ored to create an exact parity; II IL can be
shown that we have done. more we will
correct 1t, II IL can be shown that omaha
is at a disadvantage in this or other re.
spects we viii do our part towards cor
recting II. .
THE secretary OF the Omaha Grain ex-
change states that It is not claimed that
we have placed Omaha at disadvantage
but that we have taken away an advantas sc
that they have previously enjoyed and 10
which they were entitled, and that whether
they were right or wrong, every business
man In Omaha would boycott the Rock
Island road until we restored previoos con-
dItions. II this is true OF course there 10
nothing further TO be said
1T is not altosether the question Of loss
OF business TO our company, although, OF
course. that is Of importance, but we feel
that Omaha believes IN the spirit OF fair
play and wants to know the facts. We
have no night with Omaha OF anyone IN
Omaha and regardless OF the outcome OF
this controversy or how much business we