The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-18
Hutchinson Fails to Keep Up
JObbers Fight.
Case Will Probably Be Dismiss
ed by Board.
AFTER THE SANTA FE.
Claimed Company Had Violated
Its Promise.
Complaint Of Independent Oil
Refiner Is Adjusted.

Hutchinson has failed to follow up
its fight on the city of Wichita for a
readjustment of jobbing rates between
those points, and the proba ability Is
that the state board of railroad COM
missfoners, will, at their meeting next
week. dismiss the complaint, ana
throw the proceeding out of court
The complaint of Hutchinson was
filed March 26, 1907, by the Hutchin-
son Commercial club, of which c N
Sentney is president. 1t was claimed
that Frank Wood, Wichita Whole-
saler and c. w. Cooks. former gener-
al freight agent of the Santa Fe, had
violated their promise to Hutchinson,
and put in a new schedule of jobbing
rates which enabled Wichita Jobbers
to reach Pratt and Kingman, and
points on the Englewood branch of
the Santa Fe, at the same rate paid
by Hutchinson jobbers. in spite of the
fact that Hutchinson is closer to these
points than Wichita.
When Wood and Cook notified the
Hutchinson jobbers that the Santa Fe
was going to absorb this differen-
tiaI instead of making the Wichita
jobbers absorb it, the Hutchinson job
bers objected. and in order to bring
about the change. Hutchinson claims
that Wood and Cook agreed that
Hutchinson jobbers should be allowed
to get into the socalled Wichita ter
ritory as far south as Blackwell on
the same basis as Wichita.
The Hutchinson people claimed that
the proposed compromise had been
put into effect so far as the Wichita
reductions were concerned, but that no
reductions were ever made to Black
we'll for the benefit of Hutchinson. and
that Cook refused to make the reduc-
lions on the ground that it was in
terstate proposition. beyond his con-
troll
In answer to this complaint, the
Santa Fe railway said that there is no
discrimination in the existing rates:
that no one has acted in bad faith, and
that Hutchinson and Wichita jobbers
are on an absolute parity. both in the
matter of car load lot shipments in.
and less than car load lot shipments
out. This answer was filed on April
-. by W. r. smith. general attorney
for Kansas for the Santa Fe.
Hutchinson filed reply to this. re-
iterating its former position, and the
case was set down for hearing on May
Is. No one appeared on behalf of
Hutchinson or Wichita on May 16, and
the understanding is that the two
towns have settled their controversy
out of court, and that the case is end
ed.
Independent Refiner Complains
The Superior refinery. located In
Longton, Elk county. one of the small
Independent oil refineries, started in
the state about two years ago. has filed
a complaint with the railroad commits
sistance of the commissioners, succeed
ed in reaching a settlement of some
shipping difficulties with the Santa Fe.
The Superior refinery contended that
the Santa Fe refused to ship its re
fined oil in barrels except in stock cars.
and that 1t failed to furnish cars, and
also consumed an unreasonable time in
delivering the shipment at destination.
It was claimed that it was usually
from to Is days before barrels of oil
could be placed on cars, after being
hauled to the railroad, and that three
months time was required to transport
oil to points a few hundred miles dis
tant. To the town of Buston, IA miles
away, IA days was required for ship
ment after the oil was loaded on cars.
1--WE have letters from parties says
F. S. Bennett. president of the Superior
company, who have patronized US to
the exclusion of the Standard, but ow-
ing to the delayed shipments, being I'M
able to get their oil, were compelled to
have their tanks filed by the Standard
OIL company. OF course We can see
but one cause for such trea tment, and
that is that influence must be brought
to bear upon the railroad to compel
them to delay our shipments so that
the trusts can secure the business, by
the merchant becoming Disguised at
his attempts to secure goods from the
independent ref1neries.'
1t was also claimed by the company