Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-10
TART ANSWER TO Mr.. BIDDLE
Local Bodies Inform Rock Island or
oial Where They Stand.
NOT DECEIVED BY THAT ROAD
Assert that Equalization" Has Been
In omaha Territory Withouf
Any Attempt st Fairness
to Omaha.

Replying to published statements OF vice
President Biddle Of the Rock Island Rail-
road company. In which he states that the
controversy between Omaha shippers and
the railroad are largely due to the road re-
moving discrimination against Kansas CITY
without Injuring Omaha. the Commercial
club and Omaha Grain exchange In letters
to members. say that the equalization has
been in omaha's territory and that there
has been no attempt by the Rock Island
Frisco system to treat Omaha fairly or set
tie the trouble.
When a former letter toSmembers Of the
Commercial club and Grain exchange was
issued to give a clear idea OF the exact
status OF the controversy between the ROCK
Island-Frisco, Vice President Biddle replied
at once in an interview published in a Chi
cago newspaper. Some of his statements
would make 1t appear that the Commercial
club and Grain exchange OF Omaha would
ont listen to reason nor fairness. The four
statements which Mr.. Biddle made are
taken up by the organizations and an
swered. One OF the important statements
is declared to be untrue.
Four Ridale Statements.
four statements credited to Mr., Bid
die in an authorized interview and the
answers Of the Omaha business organiza-
tons follow:
1. That the adjustment worked out by
Mr., Biddle was agreed to by the other lines
Nearly. every line competitive with the
Rock 1sland-Frisco opposed Mr.. Biddle,s
In this territory characterized II as a wrong
application of the gateway principle,
.fs,otais =. ps,seightsn a,,t tbe troubls -
The files of the transportation committees
fail to disclose any record of these re
peated efforts except the one referred to
In No. g. We have knowledge, however, OF
repeated efforts" made to convince individ-
ual members. Of these organizations that
the position of the organizations wa wrong.
g That Mr.. Biddle offered to leave the
decision as to our differences to a board
Mr.. Wilson OF Kansas City and Mr.. Boyd
No such offer was ever made by Mr.. Bid
die. He did sussest to Mr.; McVann and to
to Mr.. Boyd. The Grain exchange sent MIR.
McVann to Kansas City twice in an effort
10 q basis Tor snbmittins Che question Of
our differences to some disinterested party,
but Kansas City absolutely refused to do
a decision under which Kansas City would
retain all II had gained, and obtain more.
T. That the only settlement which the
unconditional surrender By the Rock Is
This is untrue. The commercial inter
ests OF Omaha made an offer, in writing,
70 Mr.. Blddle on June 3, 1907. 10 the effect
that II he would equalize for Omaha
the disadvantages under which the
certain southern territory, Omaha would
feel that the market had been compensated
fully for what Kansas City had gained In
the Memphis equalization. Mr.. Biddle never
acknowledged this compromise offer, and
never discussed It with our people.
Accurate I~nfornnafion Wanted.
In the letter sent members and signed
by f j. McVann, secretary of the Grain
exchange n ]. M. Guild. commissioner
Of the Commercial club. II is explained that
the transportation comittees OF the organi-
nations are anxious that member be fully
advised as to what had actually trans
PRED. as the Rock Island people are pre-
senting arguments and making statements
which might make it appear that the road
is now friendly TO Omaha.
The letter further says in speaking OF
Mr.. Biddle's reply;
In this statement Mr.. Biddle talks spec
iously about removing discrimination
against Kansas City" and about doing
Omaha no injury because no ADVANTAGE
was given to Kansas City. 1t is impossible,
within the limits of this circular. to re-
state fully the basis OF the eontroversy
and the grain interests. but we beg, leave
to assure our members that their repre-
Biddle and other officials of the Rock
Island road that we have never objected
to the application of any principle of equal
ization as between competitive markets
what they feel Is unjust, Is the fact thai
all OF the Equalization" so called. has beer
done in Omaha's territory, for the bene.
iii of Kansas City, while every discrimi.
nation and every inequality that have
worked against the interests OF Omaha
and in favor of Kansas City, have been al
lowed To stand without equalization"