The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-30
Will File Formal Complaint in
Freight Controversy.
Will Ask for Reductions in the
Present Schedule.
EXPECT TO STAND.
Tariffs Arranged for a Test i'm
the Courts.
Believed the Railroads Will Ac.
cept Proposed Reductions.

| G. b. Grattan, attorney for the state
board Of railroad commissioners, will
this afternoon file with the state board
formal complaint against the exist
ing freight rates in the state, and ask
for reductions to the schedule drafted
by the freight rate experts in the en-
ploy Of the board.
The railroads will then have an on
portunity to come before the board and
try to show that the proposed reduo-
tions are too much
A complete schedule of the new
tariffs. from to 500 miles, is now in
the hands of the state printer and viii
be issued in pamphlet form. 1t will
show reductions which, considering tho
amount Of commodities shipped at the
various classifications. will amount to
about Is per cent, 1t is claimed.
Thus far the shippers of the state
have had no opportunity to examine the.
proposed reductions in the tariffs, and
it can not be said that the new rates
will meet the needs of the state. The
rate experts who have been in charge
of the work have labored to prepare q.
tariff which could be defended in the
courts" and which would not be open
to the charge of confiscation.
1t is not unlikely that the new tariffs
will be accepted by the railroads with
out serious fight. Similar rates
adopted by the railroad commissioners
of Minnesota were accepted by the rail-
roads.
The proposed tariff is what is known
as a straight distance tariff" Every
thing pays according to the distance
shipped. There is no fiat rate" no
''jobbing rate" no BLANKETS" Starting
in with a distance of miles, the tariff
quotes rates for five, ten fifteen miles,
ETC., up to 500 miles. This rate is quot
ed on all the different classes of COM
modities, and the current western
classification is used as the basis. This
Western Classification is a book in
which almost every article of merchan-
disc or article of any kind is listed, and
given a class"
The general rule is that things of
greater value, or more liable to DAM
classes, and take a higher rate. But
the manner in which a shipment is
packed also makes great deal of diff
ference. Machinery shipped Knocked
down" goes at a lower rate than ma
chinery set up. Certain goods packed
in headed barrels go at lower rate than
if packed in barrels with the heads
covered with sackfng. There are many
to ascertain the class of any given ar
tfcle, it is necessary to refer to the
Western Classification. 1t is the freight
rate mans lexicon.
The following are a few of the thou
sands Of articles included under the
freight rate classification; 1t being re-
membered that classes 1 to are gem
orally for shipments in less than car
load lots, while classes A to E are for
shipments in carload lots:
First class-Agricultura implements
(set up), photographers supplies, boots
and shoes, clothing, candy, butter (dou-
ble), crockery, dry goods, apples, poul-
try, groceries, machinery, ammunition,
paper. sporting goods, automobiles
(doublel.
Second dclass-AgriculturaI implements,
canned goods, cheese, apples, groceries.
harness.
Third class-Canned goods, beer QA
G. L.), print paper O. c. L., coffee.
Fourth class-Brick, groceries &C. L
L.), iron and steel articles, paper.
Fifth class-Canned goods in G. l. L,
drugs, groceries &c. L. L., beer, print
paper &C. L. L., zinc pigs, sheet metal,
coffee &C. L. L.).
Glass A-Boiler compound, drugs.
chemicals, furniture. vehicles.
Class B-Cement block, oat hulls,
beer barrels, butter tubs, household
goods, furniture.
Glass C-Cement flooring, cocoanut
shells, furniture, marble, zinc concen-
trates.
Glass D-Chemicals, shoddy dust,
silos, grit. mica, pottery refuse.
Class E-Brewers' refuse. corn cobs,
starch refuse. sand. sod, broken
marble.
The following is table showing
the present Kansas freight rates. the
rate proposed under the new distance
tariff, the distance selected for COM
parison being 100 miles; the first col
tariff, the second the present terminal
tariff and the third the proposed dis
tance tariff:
First class ............... 80 At 30