The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-14
General Freight Agent of the
Santa Fe Testifles
In the Oil Rate Investigation at
Kansas City.
ROADS RIGHT OF WAY.
Is Occupied by the Standards
Pipe Line.
Traffic Managers Meeting Kept
No Records of Proceedings.
lOAD'S RIGHT OF WAY.

Kansas City. No. March 14-Half a
dozen witnesses were still to be examin-
ed when the interstate commerce COM
mission resumed its hearing here today
in the charges of rate discrimination
made by the Kansas OIL Producers as
sociation.
]. R. Koontz, general freight agent
Of the Atchfson. Topeka & Santa Fe
railway, the first witness, was asked by
Mr. Marchand, attorney for the com
mission:
"Are the pipe lines of the Standard
Oil company upon the right of way Of
the Santa Fe railway?'
Yes sir, they are for a distance east
of Sugar Creek (<ansas City, to a point
somewhere in Illinois, where they
branch on. West of Sugar Creek the
pipe line is upon the right of WaV of
the Southern Kansas division of the
Santa Fe for a considerable distance
How did the Standard OIL company
get this right of way?''
I do not know. That is a matter with
which [ do not come in contact"
MIR. KoOntz was questioned about the
meeting of traffic managers OF different
railroads in st. Louis in June, 1904 at
which the oil rate east from Kansas
points was raised from 10 cents TO IT
cents hundred pounds. He said that
he was at that meeting. He did not
know who called it.
Il was notified by Mr. German, our
traffic manager" said Mr.. Koontz, TO
represent the Santa Fe at that meet
ing"
did he give you any Instructions
None at all
Mr.. Koontz said that Mr.. Bogardus
traffic manager of the Standard Oil com
pany, was at the meeting.
who invited Mr.. Bogardus.' - was ask
ed
4r 71 rot l~,,,,,, -
"Was record kept Of the proceedings
Of that meeting? ?"
mo, sir"
Cross Examined.
Mr.. Koontz, crossed examined by
Thomas R. Morrow. attorney for the
Santa Fe railway, was asked:
Are the oil freight rates established
by the Kansas legislature eompensa-
I do net so consider them
How do the railroads look upon
them?"
LAS arbitrarily established without
the railroads having been given q chance
to be heard. It was an effort on the
part of 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 it is much lower than the Texas
rate upon all the products of petroleum
such as kerosene and gasoline.
''WhY has there been no assault by
the railroads on the Kansas rate? Mr.
Koontz was asked.
Largely in Difference to public
men 2'' replied the witness. 1.-The Off
cials of the Santa Fe and I think of
other Kansas roads,. think that the
Kansas rates would have been contest
ed long before this, but owing to the
agitation and infiamed condition Of the
public mind the policy Of the railroads
has been to submit quietly to the un-
reasonable rates forced upon them by
the legislature of Kansas"
There has. has there not" asked
Mr.. Morrow, been a great deal Of agi-
/ tation both in the press, at political
meetings and in one way and an
/ other?''
( eyes. and because of this the rail-
/ roads decided to submit for the pres
T ent."
/ Mr. Koontz said that the raising Of
I the rate at the St. Louis meeting was
/ made necessary by trade conditions
and the action was not taken to
harass anyone or at the behest of any
one interest or another or to benefit
one interest to the detriment Of any
other.
Low Asks Questions.
Marcus A. Low. general solicitor OF
the Rock Island railway, asked Mr.,
/ Koontz:
''Was it to the advantage Of the
Standard Oil company that you raised
the rates as you did in the St. Louis
meeting2"
mo, it was to their disadvantage.