The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-22
LET'S DOWN BARS
Santa Fe Gives All Towns
Jobbing Rates.
Freight of All Kinds Put on
Same Basis.
NO TOWN IS FAVORED
All viii Stand Exactly Alike
With Railroads.
Action VIII Be Revolutionary in
It's Effect.
NO TOWN IS FAVORED

An important and far-reaching decis-
ion has been made by the traffic Off
Gals of the Atehison, Topeka & Santa
Fe railroad. in their Interpretation Of
the application of the new rate regula-
ZION laws recently enacted by congress
and the railroad laws of Kansas. The
announcements in regard to the decision
are made public today by J. R. Koontz,
general freight agent of the road.
The decision is in regard to the matter
of protecting the jobbers' freight rates
in effect at thirty-three points, called
jobbing centers. in Kansas.
Effective at once, the Santa Fe has
decided to throw down the bars on job
bing rates, and the rates which have
heretofore been applicable only On bust
ness moving from jobbing and manufae-
turing houses at the respective jobbing
centers, are now open to all shippers.
This decision it is said will affect
practically all less than cal. load bust
ness moving from jos~-ng centers and
Intermediates, where the jobbing rate
viii prove the minimum.
The rule is effective at once SO far as
it affects shipments wholly within the
state of Kansas and notice will at once
be filed with the Interstate Commerce
commission and the rule viii be effective
in thirty days on all business which is
interstate in its character. but when
originates with this state.
This ruling also applies in regard 20
the iobbing centers on the line of the
Santa F'e railroad in Oklahoma, Colo
RADIO and New Mexico, in the same man
ner that It applies in Kansas, and will
cost the railroad large sum annually
in loss of revenue
The decision was reached after Ions
consideration and discussion in regard
to the fnterpretati ton of the law, and be
cause it was decided that to protect
established business at the Jobhlng cen
ters it would be necessary to do So
The law clearly states that it is illega
| to authorize a rate which is applicable
to one class of shippers and IS not .opeI
1 to all other shippers Ofhcials OF tne
1 Santa Fe decided that II the matter was
/ ever tested in court it would result II
an order cancelling all jobbing rate;
granted to all jobbing centeFs-
Such d decision would prove dlsas'
trous not only to jobbers and manu-
| facturers in the respective jobbing cen,
ters, but would also prove disastrous e
the revenues of the railways; that l.
would work hardship on jobbers anc
/ ma nl1fa cturers who. have spent time ane
means In building up their business
and would result IN large losses to many
and to protect these persons, the santa
Fe has made this order.
Recently the Kansas board of rail
road commissioners declined to order
the railways to place in effect jobbers
rates at Clay Center, upon the requesl
of shippers at that point The board
| took the position that under existing
4 laws 5obbers rates were illegel, be
cause the law conteInplates, and in fac
makes Il fmpera TIVE that all shipper:
be given the same rates. Heretofore
jobbers' rates have been granted only
| to regular jobbers and manufacturers
The board Of railway commissioned
did not feel disposed to make an orde
| placing in effect rates which they fel
were clearly unauthorized by law, an6
at the same time did not want to take
any action which might have the effec
/ OF upsetting the existing conditions a
other points in the state.
Jobbing rates have been in effec
in Kansas for from II to 15 years
Most of the iobbing eenters have haC
/ the rates placed in effect through or
/ ders made by the board of railroad
II commissioners dating back to Georgl
p. Anthony's time
The iobbing centers IN Kansas are:
Abilene. Anthony. Arkansas City
! Caney, Chanute, Cherryvale, Coffey.
i vile, Concordia. Eldorado, Ellinwood
Emporia, Enterprise, Fredonia, Gil
rard, Great Bend, Humboldt. Hutchin
son. Independence, lola, Larned, Law
renee, Lyons, Mcpherson. Mulvane
/ Newton, Ottawa, Peabody, Pittsburg