The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-24
Rate to Kansas City Cause Of
Great Protest.
Chicago Commercial Interests
Perturbed by Cut.
GREAT WESTERNS ACT
will Enable Western Houses to
Undersell Others.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

Chicago, Jan. 24.-Chicago commercial
association members and Chicago rail-
way men are puzzled to know the atti-
tude of the officials of the Great West
ern in regard to the charges made
against them by the commercial associ-
alton. A meeting of railway men and
members of the commercial association
with the officers of the Great Western
was scheduled for yesterday at the rooms
Of the Western Trunk line committee.
But the Great Western did not appear.
and the meeting was adjourned until
today
The charges were brought against the
freight traffic men of the Great Western
BY the members of the Chicago CONNER
clal association about a week ago. It
is asserted by the Chicago business men
that the city's trade is endangered by
the reduced rates on dry goods offered
to Kansas City merchants by the Great
Western The Wabash was also in
VOWED in the charges at first, but seems
to have cleared itself successfully.
Specifically the road is accused of
making rate of 80 cents per hundred
pounds on dry goods of the first class
and 2272 cents on goods of the second
class from the Mississippi river to Kan
sas City, which would make the rate on
first class goods from the east to Kan
sas City $1.26 a hundred, while Chicago
merchants pay $1.55. According to the
report which reached the commercial as
ISOLATION the accused road was endeav-
oring to complete contract with sew
eral of the merchants of Kansas lily
to deliver goods on the tariff for five
years. 1t said that the contracts had
progressed so far that the merchants
had signed them, and to complete that
agreement only the signatures of the
officers of the road were needed.
Immediately upon the receipt of this
-
mercial association steps were taken to
prevent the completion of the contracts.
A letter of inquiry was also sent to St
Paul the headquarters of the road. Sat
urday a delegate for the association fol-
lowed the letter and had a long confer
ence with the freight officials The re-
suit was statement by the Great West
eIn officers that 1--WE viii investigate
these charges NO denial or cOnfrma-
ton of the report oN--7-7 - obtained.
A meeting of the railway men of Chi
cago and representatives of the Com
merciaI association was set for yester-
day in the Western Trunk line COM
mittee rooms. The Great western was
to have had a representative there. but
at the last moment excuses were sent
and adjournment was asked until to-
day.
All Chicago merchants and railway
men who have been conneeted with the
affair say thai if any such action has
! De6n taken DE the NTIeetI w eSltIl IL " III
mean a staggering blow to Chicago
commercial interests. Representatives
of the freight departments of most Of
the Western roads are of the opinion
that the report is correct:
H. C. Barlow of the Commercial asso-
citation said last night
Chicago dry goods merchants directly
and other business men indifferently
would lose many thousands by such an
arrangement. Kansas City would be in
a position to take away a very large
/ proportion of the trade with reduced
prices on the commodities. AS things
now stand. the rates to the two points
are equalized, and neither city suffers;
! but if Kansas City could sell the same
goods as the Chicago merchants, at a
much reduced figure. all the trade west
of the river would at once go to them.
Just what steps would be taken in case
! the Great Western should put the rates
into effect was not stated 1t is init
mated that the railroad cannot afford tC
/ incur the enmity of The Chicago mer-
chants and that at today's session tbs
matter will be thoroughly Strengthened
| out