Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-14
RATE DISCRIMIN ALTON
OIL HEARING BEFORE CONNIE
SION RESUMED AT KANSAS CITY.

KANSAS CITY. March f4.-Haif a dozen
witnesses were still to be examined when
the Interstate commerce commission re-
sumed its hearings here today into the
charges of rate discrimination made by the
Kansas OIL Producers Association.
j. r. Koontz general freight agent OF the
Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fee railway the
first witness, was asked by Mr.. Marchand.
attorney for the commission: Are tne
pipe lines of the Standard on Company
upon the right of way Of the Santa re
railwayr'
Eyes. sir: they are for a distance east of
Sugar creek (Kansas City, to point soH'e-
where In Illinois where they branch OH
West of Sugar creek the pipe line is upon
the right of way OF the Southern Kansas
division of the Santa Fe for considerable
distance"
this right of way? -.
'T do not know. That Is matter Win
which I do not come in contact. "a.
Mr. Koonsz was questioned about tns
meeting OF the traffic managers or diaefeii.
railroads in st. Louis in June, 1904. at
which the oil rate east from Kansas points
was raised from 10 cents TO IL cents
hundred pounds. He said that e was as
the meeting. He did not know who calico
IT,
At Meeting Without Instructions
81 Was notified Ivy Mr.. German, our frefsat
traffic manager" continued Mr. koontz TO
represent the Santa Fe at that meeting
Ibid he give YOU any Instructions?
None at all"
Mr. Koontz said that Mr.. Bogardus, trauic
manager of the Standard OIL Company, was
at the meeting. u,,,.
WHO invited Mr.. BnGardus?' was asked
II do not know.
WAS any record kept OF the pto'eeuhe'
of that meeting?'
mo, sir"
Mr.. Koontz cross-examned by Thomas X
Morrow. attorney for the Santa Fe railway
was asked:
Are the oil freight rates established oy
the Kansas legislature compensatory?
II do not consider them
How do the railroads look upon them
"As arbitrarily established. without the
railroads having been given chance TO De
heard. 1t an effort on the part or the
legislature to meet the scale IN force IN
Texas with this difference, that, while the
Kansas rate Is the same as the Texas rate
upon crude and fuel oil, 1t Is much lower
than the Texas rate upon all products or
petroleum. such as kerosene and gasoline
Deferred to Public Sentiment.
why has there been no assault by the
railroads upon the Kansas rate Mr.
Koontz was asked.
Largely in Difference to public sentl-
ment," replied the witness. The officials of
the Santa Fe and, | think. of other Kansas
roads think that the Kansas rates would
have been contested long before this but
In view of the agitation and infiamed con
dition of the public mind the policy OF the
railroads has been to submit quietly to the
unreasonable rates forced upon them by the
legislature of Kansas"
There has, has there not?' asked Mr.
Morrow, been a great deal of agitation
both in the press at political meetings and
Ia one way and another?
Yes, and because of this the railroads
decided to submit for the present"
Mr.. Koontz said that the raising of the
rate at the st. Louis meeting was made
necessary by trade conditions, The action
was not taken to harass any one or at the
behest of any one interest or another or to
benefit one interest to the detriment OF any
other.