The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-04
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion Makes an Explanation.
Not Responsible for the Harvest
Hand Order.
DO AS THEY PLEASE.
Railways Can Haul Many or Few
as Like.
Order to Establish Freight
Terminals Is Issued.
DO AS THEY PLEASE.

In long telegram to Governor E. W.
Hoch, E. E. Clark. one of the members
of the interstate commerce commission.
declares that the commission is not re-
sponsible for the refusal of the rail-
roads to haul parties of less than 10
men to the Kansas harvest fields from
Chicago and Mississippi river points.
Commissioner Clark lays the blame
squarely on the railroad companies, and
says that the railroads can haul as
many or as few as they desire.
The difficulty in getting harvest hands
into the state is therefore due, accord
ing to Mr.. Clark, to the voluntary act
of the railroad companies Commission
er Clark says that the interstate COM
merce commission merely suggested to
the railroads that the rate be given to
parties of ten, and the railroads raised
the bid to Is, and put in the rate.
The Santa Fe, Rock Island and Union
Pacific have now agreed TO make the
cent mile rate from Kansas City and
other Missouri river points for parties
of five, but according to Governor HOch,
this does not help much. There are not
enough men to be had at these Missouri
river points to fill the needs of the state.
Meantime the various localities where
hands are needed are finding that about
the only way they can get help is to
send a representative to Kansas City.
or some other distributing point, and
gather up a bunch of men for the spec
ial locality where needed. The reason
the state free employment agency seems
to be unable to supply the demands is
that it can't see to it that men are sent
to the locality where most needed. Har-
vest hands prefer to patronize the pri-
Vate employment agents, who seem to
have facilities to assuring the men of
specific employment at some definite
point.
The state board of railroad commis-
sioners on Wednesday afternoon issued
the freight terminal order to the
roll maj n
company to esta blish terminal factl1-
ties at kansas City. Kan. This order
is issued in accordance with the law
enacted at the last session of the leg
islature.
This law said: Authority is here
by given to the board of railroad. COM
missioners of the state of Kansas. and
it is hereby made the duty of said
board Immediately upon the taking ef-
feet of this act, to order and designate
such cities or places in Kansas as
freight terminal points as may, in the
Judgment of the board, be proper ana
convenient therefor.
The law took effect on publication
in the official state paper on March z
The order of the board was Issued on
July 8, Just four months after. The
board of railroad commissioners, how
ever consider that this compiled with
the requirement that the order be IS
sued Immediately.
The order of the board is as follows,
insofar as it relates to the establish
ment of rate schedules and terminal
facilities: .,..
traffic conditions prevailing in the state
of. Kansas warrant the establishment
of Kansas City, Kan, and Argentine,
Kan, as freight terminal points wlthln
the meaning of the above entitled acS
and the publication of freight terminal
rates on classes and commodities NOV
ing between stations in Kansas ana
Kansas City, Kan, and Argentine
TT is therefore ordered by the board
that Kansas City, Kan, and Argen-
tine, Kan, be and they are hereby de-
as freight terminal points
within the meaning OF the above en-
titled act.
''It is further ordered by the board
that the respondents, the Atchlsoh'
Topeka & Santa Fe Railway company.
the Missouri Pacific Railway company,
the Chicago, Rock Island Paclf1c
Railway company and the Union Pa
cific Railroad company, within thirty
days from the date hereof publish
and make effective freight terminal
rates between stations in Kansas on
the lines of such respective companies
to Kansas City, Kan, or Argentine,
Kan, as their respective lines may
run.
at is further ordered by the board
that the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Railway company, the Missouri Pacinc
Railway company, the Chicago ROCK
Island & Pacific Railroad company.
within 80 days from the date hereof
and maintain proper freight
depots and freight terminal facilities
upon their respective lines within
Kansas City, Kan, and Argentine.
Kan, as their lines may run. sufficient
to accommodate the needs of the ship
pers on their respective lines and that
they accept consignments and bill any
freight offered by shippers on their re-
spective lines to such freight terminals
at Kansas City, Kan, or Argentine,
Kan"
,u-.asAp ruEr NErRnn