The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-03
Make Concessions in Rates on
Coal, Grain and Paper.
NO CUT ON HARDWARE.
A. A. Hurd Says Reductions Are
More Than Required.
will Not Stop Introduction of
Maximum Freight Rate Law.


signed at noon today at the office OF
the state railroad commission, and fl
ed at 2:30 this afternoon with Judge
Pollock of the United States circuit
court, the railroads of Kansas made a
complete surrender of their contention
that the Kansas board has no right TO
exist, and the important lawsuit in
volving this point which has been
pending in the federal court, was dis
missed.
The railroads will pay all costs in
the case, and will make reductions in
the existing rates on lump coal. paper
and grain between Kansas and Mis-
souri, river points.
A. A. Hurd, attorney for the Santa
Fe in the litigation said today: 1.-The
concessions made by the railroads
amount to ten times as much as they
would have amounted to had the rail-
roads complied strictly with the order
of the board, because the order of the
board only could affect shipments be-
tween Kansas points, while the COM
promise includes Missouri river points,
thus including shipments governed by
Interstate commerce laws"
A. E. Helm, the special attorney en-
ployed by the state in the case, said
today: while the compromise in the
suit does not provide for any conces-
sion in the hardware rate or in the
grocery rates, you may state that the
board has an understanding with the
railroad companies by which they
have agreed to take up these rates
with their connections east of the Mis-
souri, river, and try to arrange a re-
duction which will be put into effect
within thirty days. The railroad peo-
pie stated that they could not guar
antee that eastern connections would
not so adjust their rates on hardware
and groceries that the Kansas reduc-
ton would amount to nothing Hence
on reductions no these commodities
was insisted on by the board
why was this compromise made
by the railroads." was asked.
''I think that the proposal for a con-
ference looking toward a settlement
originated with the board, which
wanted to reach definite result in the
matter before going out of office. 1
don't know whether the railroads Were
influenced to their action by politics. >.
The concession in lump coal rates
is the same that the board ordered.
There is no reduction on slack, as that
has already been made by the railroad
companies.
The reduction in grain rates, how
ever, is slight. On a car load of grain
shipped from heavy producing points
in the wheat belt, the freight to Kan
schedule will cut that rate only Sc per
car. This is on a $4,000 pound car. 1t
is still possible to ship two car loads
of cattle for SIS less than one car load
of grain.
There is no reduction made in the
hardware rates or vehicle and imple-
ment rates. The railroads have al
ready made concessions in salt rates.
1t is announced that this cOmpro-
mise of the existing lawsuit will not
prevent the Introduction at the coming
session of a maximum freight rate bill,
which will require still further reduc-
tions in rates. The railroads will or
course fight the enforcement of such
law.
The general opinion is that the rail-
roads compromised this suit for the
purpose of soothing public opinion.
and possibly putting a check to some
of the proposed anti-railroad 1egisla-
ton at the coming session of the legls-
lature.
The following is the stipulation
which was signed a t noon today, after
a conference which lasted most of
Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday |
evening:
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe |
Railway company. complainant, VS.. J. |
w. Robson, A. d. Walker and G. W. |
constituting the board of /!
railroad commissioners of the state of |
the board of railroad commits |
sioners of the state of Kansas, Carr w. |
Taylor attorney for the board of rail- |
road commissioners of the state of |
Kansas and c. c. Coleman, as attorney |
general of the state of Kansas, defend
ants.
For and in consideration of the re-
ductions heretofore made in the rates |
on salt and for the considerations here
matter mentioned, it is hereby stipu- |
lated and agreed between the parties |
in the above entitled cause that all mat
ter in litigation shall be and are here
by compromised. settled and adjusted |
upon the following terms and condi-
tions:
First-A decree shall be entered in
i va no nj
holding for naught all the orders here
tofore made by said board of railroad
complained of in the
complaint filed in said consolidated
cause.
Second-The costs of said cause shall
be taxed to the complainant.
Third-The said complainant and all
other railroad companies interested in
said consolidated cause shall irnmed-
lately, or as soon as it is practicable to
prepare and publish the necessary
tariffs. Put into effect a reduction of
rates on shipments OF coal between
points in the state of Kansas. at least
EQUAL to the reduction ordered to be
made by said board in the order reduc-
ng coal rates complained OF In said bill
IF complaint
Fourth-The said railroad companies
hall also in like manner put into ef-
'ect a tariff reducing the rates on ship
nents of paper from Missouri river
points designated by said board in the
,rfler complained of reducing the
.ates then existing from SO cests per
W.T.. to 40 cents ger cwt. to said points
md to make such adjustment of inter-
-ening rates as may be necessary to
AIRY such reductions into effect
Fffth-The said railroad company
hall also in like manner put into eff
ect a reduction in their rates on grain
rom points in Kansas to. Missouri
liver points so as to reduce the rate