The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-01
Railroad Commissioners to Visit
Kansas City.
Purpose to Secure Station and
Terminal Facilities.
THEY ARE BUSY MEN.
Will Soon Have New Freight
Tariffs Ready.
Reduction Said to he Is to 20
Per Cent.

On Wednesday the members of the
state board of railroad commissioners
will go to Kansas City, Kan, where
they will take the testimony in the
passenger depot case. The people of
Kansas City think that the Kansas
board should order the railroads enter
ing into that town to provide facilities
for handling passenger traffic instead
of compelling all the Kansas City, Kan,
passengers to go to Kansas City, Mo-.
and ride back on the electric cars AS
long as the Kansas City, Mo-, union
depot remained in the bottoms" there
was not much objection to this plan
but since it, is expected that the Kan
sas City, Mo-, depot will be moved to
Grand avenue, the Kansas City, Kan,
people are objecting Strenuously.
The Culver sidetrack case will be re-
sumed at Topeka on Friday at 10 a. N.
The testimony of the Union Pacific rail-
way VIII be taken al that tim.. If the
board orders the sidetrsck to the ele-
Vator constructed, the Union Pacific
may fight the order in the courts This
will be the first time that the sidetrack
law has been tested. in spite of the fact
that suit was filed once before invoIv-
ing the issues. The railroad company
at that time produced evidence to show
that the Farmers' Elevator company,
which was the complaining witness, was
a member of san organiza ton which was
full-f1edged farmers trust. and it was
threatening TO send the plaintiffs to Jail
when the state dropped the case
We will very soon have our new
freight tariffs ready, and will be ready
to begin proceedings to have them put
into effect by the railroad companies"
This is the statement made today by
one of the members of the state board
of raiorlad commissioners.
When asked to state how the COM
mission would proceeG to take action >
secure the adoption of its new schedule.
the member of the commission aid:
THAT Is a matter which is still under
consideration"
1t is certain, however, that the new
rates will not be put in without a hear
ing, and 1t is expected that the conn
plaiut. on existing rFzcs will be made by
G. F.. GrattaD, attorney for the board.
His complaint will not set forth all the
new tariffs, but will give a
summary of the proposed changes. The
railroads will then be called upon to
come before the board and show cause
why the new rates should not be put in.
The commission will proceed to order
the rates IN, and the railroads will
throw the case into the courts. This,
it is expected will be the course of the
new fight which in it's determine tion
promises to exceed any of the other
matters undertaken by the present
board.
The reduction in the present tariff
ates is said to be from Is to 20 per
cent on the average. In some tariffs |
the reduction is smaller. in some much |
larger. In a general way, the new
tariffs are said to be about the same as |
hose in effect in Minnesota and some |
1ther western states. The tariffs have |
been prepared in st. Louis by several |
-reight rate experts who have been |
under the direction of the
BOARD.