The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-07
LIKES HIS WORK.
s. S. Ashbaugh Is Back in
Topeka Today.
Has Some Business for Court of
Claims.
THAT RATE DECISION.
OF Great Importance to State
of Kansas.
THAT RATE DECISION.
Means a Material Reduction in
Grain Transportation.

4 S. S. Ashbaugh. attorney for the
| United States court of claims. and for
mer attorney for the Kansas state
board of railroad commissioners. is
/ back in Topeka today on business. Mr..
Ashbaugh will take testimony in %
cases pending before the court of
claims before returning to Washing
ton. One of these cases is a Kansas
case: the others are in Missouri and
Illinois.
IT don't believe the people of Kan
sas appreciate the Importance of the
recent decision of the interstate COM
merce commission on the grain rate
case" said Mr. Ashbaueh. THAT was
the last case I argued of the state of
Kansas, and 1 was greatly pleased at
the outcome.
1.-The decision means a saving to the
farmers of Kansas of two or three
million dollars every year, and I I'M
hesitatingly say that it was the most
important court decision for the state
that has ever been rendered. 1t means
saving of about cents a bushel on
every bushel of wheat raised in the
state. 1t means a similar saving on
corn rates. This is all wheat for ex-
port via Galveston. and the Liverpool
there is a reduction in grain rates to
the gulf, the Kansas farmer gets 1t.
The Liverpool market can't absorb 1t,
and no one else can get it away from
the farmers. 1t means money for the
farmers.
IF 1 was attorney for the state
board of railroad commissioners of
Kansas, 1 would urge the board to
have printed thousands of copies of
that decision of the interstate COM
merce commission SO far as the de-
cision quotes the old and the new
rates from Kansas points to the gulf.
That is what interests the farmers of
Kansas. These printed decisions should
be scattered broadcast over he state,
and the farmers should be given to un-
derstand just what advantages are Of
fered to them by this new rate"
Concerning his new work in Wash
ington Mr. Ashbaugh says: II believe
that this place IS going to be one that
will Just suit me. During the summer
months the attorneys are all employed
in taking testimony. In the winter we
prepare briefs and argue the cases be-
fore the court. That will be what
like.
There are two kinds of cases com
ing before the court. of claims. One
class consist of those al cases where
somebody thinks he has gotten the
worst of it in some transaction with
the government, and wants restitution;
The other class of cases consists or
claims which have come before con-
gress, and congress refers them to the
court for findings of fact. The first
class of cases give the court Original
jurisdiction. and the Judgment of the
court is final. The second class after
being passed upon. are merely referred
back to congress for its action.
I'VE have some very large claims
pending before that court. One of the
claims which 1 am investigating in
wolves $497, 600 There are some single
claims involving millions.
"Since going to Washington 1 have
not seen a single one of the judges on
the court of claims. They all went
away in June and will not be back un-
til october. The only ones who are
at work are the attorneys.
washington is a splendid city, and
I expect to move my family there and
make it my home. / would be a Pc
cuIiar sort of an Individual if did not
enjoy living there at . Washin fgT L
man to get in touch with the activities
of the country; it is the center OF
things political. 1 shall retain my Ie-
gal residence in Wichita. however and
Shall come back to Kansas to vote.