The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-25
STUBS MAKES REPLY.
Stands by His Resolution Concerning
Grain Rates.

There is a report today that If the
legislature enacts a direct primary law,
there will be opposition to the renom1-
nation of some of the members Of the
state railroad commission.
Carr w. Taylor, formerly attorney OF
the board who was refused a second
term by Governor Hoch because the
new members of the board didn't want
him, will probably be candidate for
a place on the board, and 1t is said that
several other candidates are being talk
ed of.
That w. r. Stubs is not in harmony
with the present board Of railroad COM
missioners is indicated by the quarrel
which he has stirred up by the intro
duction in the house of his resolution
calling upon the board to secure better
grain rates on shipments to the gulf
ports. The board came back with
statement alleging that the interstate
commerce commission had just passed
upon that case, and that it would be
useless to again bring the matter up
for their consideration. Mr.. Stubs to-
day gave out another statement. rear
flrming his contention that the Kansas
grain growers are not receiving their
due. In this statement MI. StuDDs
says:
Replying to the article in your paper
yesterday in which the resolution which
1 introduced in the house last Wednes-
day was severely criticised by the rail-
in the case more than justify the reso-
luton. The board Of railroad commits
sfoners are either ignorant of the facts,
or they are unwilling to state them to
the public.
my resolution instructed the rail-
road commissioners to investigate ana
employ such measures as Will compel
the railroads operating from the wheat
belt of Kansas to the Gulf OF Mexico
to give that section of the country as
force from any other section OF the
country, based on the tonnage of bust
ness and the actual cost OF transporla-
ton. The resolution sets forth that the
rates from the wheat belt or Kansas
to the Gulf of Mexico are 100 per cent
higher per ton per mile than the rates
from points on the Missouri river to
the Gulf. The rates from W1chlta,
Kan. on grain to the Gulf OF Mexico
are rs cents per hundred. The ROCK Is
land carries this grain about half the
distance from Wichita to the Gulf and
receives as compensation rate OF
about 10 cents per hundred as compar-
| ed with about cents which the lines
south of FIT. Worth or Denn1son re-
ceive for carrying it from these points
| to the Gulf If cents is reasonable
| compensation to the lines in Texas for
| carrying this grain $40 miles, from ri.
| Worth or 1896 miles from Denn1son, II
seems 10 cents is an exerbitant rate 10
!
| Worth 1853 miles) which is approx
| mately the same distance.
| THE supreme court has decided and
! held that rates from competitive points
must be compensatory. 1t has also held
| that carries in meeting competitive
| rates are not justified for carrying traf-
| fic for less than cost since they would
| thereby impose on noncompetitive traff1c
| the burden of loss. We must, there
fore assume that rates which have
prevailed from Kansas City to the Gulf
and from the junction points in Texas
| to the Gulf have paid the carriers some
thing over and above the cost of move
ment, and If this be true the present
rates from the wheat belt of Kansas to
Galveston are beyond any question or
doubt or 10 cents hundred pounds
higher than they should be. L have
maintained for years that there should
| be a basing point in central Kansas
| from which grain rates to the Gulf
should be made as low as they are from
| Kansas City to the Gulf. It is unfair
| to Kansas to compel our grain to pay
| a rate to Galveston higher than a rate
from Kansas City to the Gulf. This is
| an unnatural condition and should not
be tolerated by Kansas people and our
| board of railroad commissioners ought
| to look this question up from a Kansas
| point of view and have in mind the es-
| Establishment of mills and the building
UP of cities in this great wheat belt
| of which We are so proud.
| wv. R. STUBBS."