The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-23
MAY WIPE OUTALL
Legality of JObbing Rates Called
in Question.
Clay Center Case Before the
Railroad Board.
NOT TREATED FAIRLY.
If Other Towns Have, Then
Why Not Claya
Only Asked to Be Put on the
Same Basis.
NOT TREATED FAIRLY.

At o'clock this afternoon the Clay
Center jobbing case. which in its ter
mination may have sensational effects
on the jobbing rate situation in Kan
sas, came on for hearing before the
Kansas board of railroad commissions
ers.
In brief t--e case is this: Clay Center
wanted jobbing rates and the railroads
refused to grant them unless ordered to
do so by the board OF railroad commits
sioners. The railroad commissioners in
timated that jobbing rates are a viola
tion of the anti discrimination provis-
ions of the railroad law. and that they
could not order a Jobbing rate estab-
lished at one town without making the
same rates to all towns.
The only other alternative is to en-
tirely wipe out the jObbing rates en-
joyed by Kansas towns, and some think
this may be the result of the suit 1t
would be a most radical move, and
would practically kill the jobbing in
terests of the entire state.
The case was originally filed against
the Rock Island and Union Pacific rail-
ways by the city of Clay Center on July
u, 1906. AS set forth in the petition,
the contention of Clay Center is as fol-
lows:
You will note by an examination of
the tariffs on file in your office that
Abilene Enterprise, Coneordia, Manhat-
tan, Junction City, Solomon, Blue Rap
ids and Salina have for a long time been
enjoying the benefits Of what is COM
monty known as jobbers' rates, and that
these rates are very much lower than
the distance tariffs effective in Clay
Center.
Clay Center has at this time, against
these adverse rates, established itself as
a extensive G1fTaTinu r,Oinf if
having a broom factory, Touring mills,
brick yards, bottling works and foun-
dry, the latter shipping windmills and
iron field rollers extensively, the ship
ments from all which industries would
aggregate approximately 10 cars per
annum.
IN view of these conditions, therefore
we make application for the establish-
ment Of jobbers' rates to Clay Center,
such as are enjoyed Ly the above named
cities. If you conclude that relief can
not be afforded US in that manner, we
ask in lieu thereof the removal of the
discrimination in freight rates now ex-
listing against the city Of Clay Center"
1t Is the last paragraph Of this petit
ton that contains the poison for the
other jobbing points in the state Clay
Center asks that unless it can have
what it wants, that the jobbing rates
be taken away from all other cities
There seems to be a belief on the
pStfL OF the clay center people lQai
they are running into some sort of ar
ambuscade in this case. but they dc
not know what it is. They think
apparently. that the railroad com
panies have been entirely too willing
to bring the issues before the COM
missioners, and apparently fear that
the result will be a compIete abolition
of all jobbing rates for all parts OF
Kansas. Such move as this would
greatly please the railroads, for II
would bring them vast additional rev
enue and might also have the effect
of still further Gripping interior job
bers, to the benefit of Kansas City.
D A Valentine, editor of the Clay
Center Times, and one who has been
active in the fight for lower freight
rates for Clay Center jobbers, said to-
I'VE don't have the slightest idea
how this suit is going to come out, but
of this I feel sure; that if we had rea-
son to believe that it would result in
the com p1ete elimination of jobbing
rates, enjoyed by other towns in the
state, we would withdraw our suit at
once. We are unable to secure any in
formation which convinces US that
such will be the result, and so we pro-
pose to carry on the case We are en-
titled to the jobbing rates, and ]
would not be surprised to see some
e+o rfff,,oy deva1OnTn erfS' -