Omaha daily bee., 1907-07-23
JOBBERS TO GET HEARING
Missouri River Cities Fighting for
Fair Freight Rates.
CASE OPENS IN OMAHA IN RAIL-
John l.. webster chief Attorney 20
Present Interests of Wholesalers
TO Interstate Commerce
Commission era.

Preparation has been completed for the
hearing before the Interstate Commerce
commission in the case of the Missouri
river jobbers against the railroads, In
which the jobbers ask reduction OF freight
rates. which will allow Kansas City, Omaha
and St. Joseph to compete on equal basis
with Chicago st. Louis and Minneapolis.
At a meeting In Omaha few days ago
Of jobbers from the three Missouri river
jobbing centers and their attorneys,
John L. Webster Of Omaha was chosen to
take charge Of the case of the complain
ants. He will be assisted by Attorney John
H. Atwood OF Kansas City and f. ]. Mo
Vann OF Omaha, Fecretary OF the Omaha
Grain exchange. "a railroad rate expert.
Mr. Webster left Monday afternoon for
Europe. He will return to Omaha the first
week in September, for he expects the
hearing 20 begin about the middle Of that
month. when the Interstate Commerce COM
mission will have finished its summer va
cation.
First Hearing VIII BE In Omaha.
1t is considered certain the first hearing
will be held in Omaha and II may be of
several days duration. Another will be
held at Kansas City and a third at Chi
cRgo. It probably will be necessary 70 hold
session in New York City, for the con-
venience of eastern railroad offlcials, who
ore expected to appear. Though originally
only FIVE defendants were named In the
petition of the jobbers, namely the Rock
/ Island, the Burlington. the Milwaukee, the
Northwestern and the Great Western, all
! the big eastern trunk lines connecting with
these have been made defendants by order
| of the commission and officials will be
| present at the New York hearing, from the
| New York Central, the Pennsylvania, the
Delaware and Lackawanna, Baltimore and
Ohio, Erie, Lake Shore, Hooking Valley
! Michigan Central and other roads The
answers of these roads to the petition Of
the jobbers makes a bundle as big as
library dictionary.
Eighteen Omaha Jobbers, thirty three
Kansas City jobbers and four St. Joseph
took the action against the railroads.
Want an Equal SHOW.
1--WE want q reduction" said John l.
Webster, "for the reason that Chicago,
st. Louis and st. Paul and Minneapolis
have an advantage in rates which puts
Omaha, Kansas City and st. Joseph in a
pocket They take the trade on the south
and north Of US and reach around west
OF us and get a large share of 1t there.
We ask the reduction not for the purpose
OF cutting down freight rates, but to put
! us on an equality with these other cities.
"The matter is OF great moment to the
entire west; 1t is one of the most important
cases yet brought before the commission.
The plaintiffs In this case do an annual
business of S125,OooOOO and they pay an
plaiiyA 50, $4,000 in freight charges. Their
merchandise Is used from the Missouri
river to the Pacific coast,
THE proposed reduction would save the
tobbers in freight charges between 5000.
900 and 100000 annually"
Mr.. Webster will spend a week IN Lon
don and week in Paris, returning TO
New York August 81 to attend the meeting
OF the American Bar association At Port
land, Me,