The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-05
Also Prominent Officials 0
Western Railroads.
Purpose Is to Try to Adjust
Rate Differences.
GET THE WORST OF 1T.
Independent Operators Think
Trust Is Favored.
Will Ask to Be Treated Like the
Rest.

InSFe Is an important conference Oh
in Topeka this afternoon between rep
resentatives of all the big Kansas salt
companies, the chief traffic officials of
the railroads. and the representatives
of the Michigan salt producers. for the
purpose of fixing up some sort of
compromise schedule of rates for the
Kansas salt fields.
Some time ago the state board OF
railroad commissioners ordered a re-
duction in the Kansas salt rates, after
a long hard fought rate hearing in
which the salt men and the railroad
companies were represented. The
rates applied only as far as the state
boundaries, but the railroad companies
claimed that the effect of the new tar
ifs would be to reduce interstate rates,
and enable Kansas salt to Invade" the
territory which has been partiuoned
off for the Michigan fields. The salt
case, along with all the other rate
cases decided against the railroads.
were appealed to the federal courts,
where they are still pending.
The object of the present confer
and withdraw that portion of the pend
ing suits which relates to the salt situa-
ton.
Among the prominent railroad men
who are expected here to attend the
conference are George 7. Nicholson,
third vice president of the Santa Fe,
and head of the tariff department. J.
E. German. freight traffic manager
w. B. Biddle, third vice president OF
the Rock Island, and head of theft
traffic department. and A. J. Stitt,
freight traffic manager OF the Missouri
Pacific.
The salt men of Kansas are repre-
sented by Ex-Governor Vincent OF
x{~1,s nY-arr
Matthews and Ed Barton also of
Hutchinson, W. L. Moore of Anthony,
E. Brown of Sterling and E. S. Moore
of Ellsworth.
leaders in the fight for better rates for
the independent salt producers OF the
state said today:
This conference has been called by
the railroad officials. and we do not
know exactly what It is proposed to
do. All we know is that the present
rate situation is not satisfactory, and
we are going to try to get a readJust-
ment. We want the coal rates fixed so
that the salt fields can all be treated
alike in the matter. We also want the
rates on salt shipments readjusted- The
railroads are tired Of the continual
disturbance and fight, and so are We
They have sent their head trafficpof
Gals here, so that whatever they may
agree upon will be final. There are
some representatives here of the Mich
igan salt fields, also invited by the rail-
road. companies, I presume, for the
purpose of seeing that the interests of
those fields are protected.
Have the Kansas independent salt
producers any evidence that rebates are
being paid to the JOY Morton salt con-
Germ ?" was asked.
I'VE have no specific evidence" re
piled Mr.. Carey. Nothing new on that
line has developed.
1t is said, however, that the Kansas
Il IL f~r
have been so manipulated that the salt
trust companies are able to secure
large rebate and do business in loeali-
ties which Independents can not reach.
These charges, however, seem to be
founded more on general suspicion
than on evidence, according to the
statement of Mr.. Carey.
The salt producers in Michigan are
said to have demanded that the rates
east of the Missouri river be reduced
into markets which are now supplied
from the Kansas fields. This is just
contrary to the wishes Of the Kansas
producers, who think that the reduc-
ton should be made SO that Kansas
salt can be shipped further east, en-
ablfng it to compete with salt from
carr Taylor. the attorney for the
board of railroad commissioners, will
not participate in the proposed con-
ference. The railroad companies
seem to be the ones who have been
getting the thing up.
A. D. Walker. one of the member
of the board of railroad commission
ers, stated this morning that the con-
ference might be held with the rail-
road commissioners, so that the COM
missioners could assent to whatever
agreement might be made between the
rival salt men and the railroad COM
panies-