Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-03-08
POSSIBLE CHANGE ON SALT RATE
Foraker Has a Bill to Grant Travel
Pay to Discharged Volunteers.
JUDGE FIELD Is OUT FOR TAF7
After Interview with President Says
He is COnviRced Roosevelt Under
No Circumstances Would
Run Again.
CFrom a staff Correspondent

|
and other railway corporations engaged
in the southern business, alleging dis
eliminating differental rates against the
city of Lincoln and in favor of Omaha
and Sioux City, was heard before the In
terstate Commerce commission today.
There were four members of the cominis
sion on the bench to hear the arguments
presented by Judge Field and A. G.
Ricketts,, attorneys, representing the
Commercial club, namely, Clements,
Prouty. Cockrell and Harlan Mr. Ricketts,
occupied nearly an hour with his argu-
ment He pointed out that upon good
many commodities, mostly food stuffs,
the same rates prevailed to Omaha as
those charged cities to the south, and
particularly on commodities shipped from
southern points northward. The chief
items upon which Lincoln people think
themselves unjustly Disseminated against
in the matter of rates are the charges
upon coal, lumber, cement, glass, brick
and salt. Mr. Ricketts, said that the
greater per cent of coal of all kinds con-
sumed by the city of Lincoln came from
the Kansas mines and the balance, prob
ably 10 per cent, from Iowa mines and
the remaining 5 per cent from the Penn
sylvania coal fields The freight rates
on coal consigned to Lincoln is, he said,
| Is cents per ton greater than the per
ton charge to Omaha and adjacent points
AS to shipments Of coal from the east, he
| laid no particular stress, but was EN-
phatic in his contention that in all just
ness and fairness Lincoln should have
the same rates on Kansas coal as was
accorded Omaha.
Taking up the question of rates on lum-
ber, Mr.. Ricketts, said that 80 per cent
Lac oil NI,,
from the south and that a discriminating
rate was laid on consignees at Lincoln
He estimated that in this item alone the
city of Lincoln yearly paid $4,000 in
extra freight charges Salt, rice and egg
filters came in for consideration Nearly
all the salt used in Lincoln comes from
Kansas. And it may be said here that
1t was really only upon the rates on salt
that the representatives of the railroads
confessed that there might be an over
charge in rates against Lincoln.
PrOuty Takes Hand.
Mr.. Ricketts, was followed by Hale
Holden, representing the Chicago & Great
Western, and here Commissioner Prouty
! took hand and put series of searching
questions to the railroad representative,
who upheld the present tariffs to Lincoln,
(which are 8 cents higher than an equal
shipment would cost consigned at Omaha
Mr.. Holden said that this rate was based
upon conditions which prevailed twenty
years ago, when practically all the salt
used in the territory under dispute was
shipped from Michigan.
Commissioner Prouty at this point in
! jected a number of questions on the rate
on salt. when source of supply changes
why should you retain the old rates?'
| n gxad fha efp
road man gave an evasive answer. During
his questioning of the railroad representa-
| tive it was quite clearly brought out how
ever, that Commissioner Proutys personal
! opinions were that far as the rates on
coal, brick and cement were con-
cerned the Lincoln people had not
much to complain of, but he did
/ appear to think that upon salt and glass
the rates charged could we'll be revised and
the cities of Omaha and Lincoln be placed
upon equal footing
F. C, billiard, representing Union Pacific
interests. followed Mr.. Holden.
Judge Field concluded the argument for
! the Commercial club. He said that ten
years ago Lincoln had a large jobbing
| trade, but discriminating rates forced mer-
chants to seek new fields, until now Lin
coin had no particular commercial stand
ing, being almost solely a residential sec
ton. Lincoln however, he said was grow
ing rapidly, but through no aid from the
railroads. He stated that upon the three
commodities of coal, lumber and cement.
Lincoln was forced to pay $4,000 a year
on these items alone in excess of what its
sister city, Omaha, was charged on a like
quantity of these materials.
Travel Pay for Volunteers.
directing the secretary of the treasury to
pay to all commissioned and warrant Off
GERS Of the volunteer organ zat'ons, re-
duced on authority of the act Of March
2, 1890. for special service in the Philip
| pine islands, the rate of travel pay al
lowed upon discharge from the service by
the provisions OF the law which was in
force at the time of their muster. In the
bill as introduced the following Officers of
the Nebraska volunteer regiments are men,
toned: Jacob H. Culver, captain Thir y
second regiment, Lincoln; John 2. Grim
stead captain Thirty-second regiment
Salem; Orville s. Perry, first lieut. nant
Forty-fourth regiment, Grand Island; John
L. Thorburn, captain II irty-rin h regi nent
Norfolk. The following from Iowa: Frank
W. Eckers, deceased, captain Thirty second
regiment, sister. Caroline Eckers Ottumwa;
Ross A. Nichols, captain Thirty-eighth
regiment, Waukon. Wyoming: John Ruff
second lieutenant Thirty-fourth regiment
Ishawawood.
Indians May Get Cash.
Representative Parker Of South Dakota
today introduced a bill providing for the
restoration OF annuities 10 the Medawakan-
ton and Wahpakoota (Santee) Sioux In
dians, declared forfeited by the act Of Feb
ruary 16 1868. Mr.. Parker's bin confers
jurisdiction upon the court of claims to
hear determine and render final judgment
for any amount found due the santee
Sioux Indians and directs the secretary OF
the interior to expend $3.50 under direction
OF the Indians attorneys in taking testi-
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