The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-31
FREIGHT BOOK OUT
Reasonable Maximum Rates Is
Title of Publication.
Includes Distance Tariff Of
Railroad Board.
FOR INTERIOR POINTS.
They Are Principal Towns Al
fected by Schedule.
Special Ones Made for Topeka
FOR INTERIOR POINTS.
Special Ones Made for Topeka
and Lawrence.

Reasonable Maximum Freight
Rates on Glasses and Comm odities" is
the title of an eight-page pamphlet is
sued Wednesday by the state printer
and distributed from the office of the
state board of railroad commissioners.
This pamphlet is the proposed new
distance tariff, on which the board has
: been laboring for the past six months.
Section 1 of this document, which
occupies the whole of the first page, is
the new distance tariff. 1t quotes
rates on all distances from to 500
miles, on all classes of freight. This
is followed by number of explanatory
items, setting forth the application or
rates, the exceptions to rates, the ap-
plicatiOn of rates on live stock, ana the
rules on grain shipments. which are
substantially the same as the rules
provided in the maximum grain rate
law enacted at the last session of the
legislature. There is also given a
table showing minimum weights to be
placed in cars, and the minimum
charge to be made for any consign-
ment. which is % cents.
Section 2 of the rate sheet is de-
voted to the new class and commodity
rates, which is also arranged on
straight distance tariff basis, but is
somewhat lower than the regular tar
iff. The rates apply only on shipments
made by jobbers and manufacturers
located at the point where shipment
originates. These rates are also limit
ed to local shipments, and are not to
be used in making or quoting through
rates.
1t is expected that this schedule of
rates will operate greatly for the bene-
fit of the interior jobbing points: II
will protect them from considerable OF
the Miss ouri river competition, 1t is
claimed, though it is likely that the
railroad companies will find some way
to enable Kansas City, Mo, and St
Joseph wholesalers to get into the
state on basis which VIII restore the
advantages which those concerns nave
enjoyed in the past.
Because of the location of Topeka
and Lawrence midway between the
Missouri river points and the so-cal1ed
interior" points, a special schedule OF
rates is provided for the jobbers of
these two cities. This special regula-
ton in favor of Topeka and Lawrence
is supposed to put these points on an
equal footing with the other jobbers-
of the state.
This printed schedule of rates is at
tached as Exhibit A. to the complaint
filed yesterday afternoon before the
board of railroad eQnm1sSl by q.
F. Grattan, attorney for the, board.
This complaint is directed against the
thirteen railroads doing business IN
Kansas. Under the rules of the board.
these railroads have ten days in which
to answer to the complaint. After the
expiration of ten days, the board sets
the case down Tor nearing. ana taxes
whatever testimony the railroads and
the attorney for the board may have to
offer concerning the reasona bleness or
unreasona bleness of the proposed
rates.
If the board orders the new rates put
in by the railroad companies, it is like
" that from 80 to 80 days will be al
lowed for the roads to adjust them
selves to the new order of things. Dur
ing that time they can, if they desire,
appeal to the state courts for an order
to restrain the enforcement of the
boards order.
The following is part of Mr.. Grattan's
complaint:
And complainant does allege and
state that the railroad freight sche-
dulles, rates, tariffs, charges and class
ifications and rules and regula tions af-
fecting and concerning the same es-
tablished and put into effect within
the state of Kansas by the defendants
and each of them are not reasonable
and just, but are within the state of
Kansas unreasonable and unjust and
discriminative and violative of the laws
of the state of Kansas; and that each
and all of said schedules, rates, tariffs,
charges and classif1cations and rules
and regulations affecting and concern
ing the same should by the board Of
railroad commissioners of the state of
Kansas be altered, amended, and
changed and investigated by the board
in the manner prescribed by the stat
utes; and that such said railroad