The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-30
MERCHANTS AROUSED.
BY Decision of Railroads to Abandon
Oriental Export Traffic.

Chicago, July so.-The Record.
Herald says: s-se.
The decision of the transcon-
tinental railroads to abandon the ex-
port Oriental trade and a large pro-
portion of the import trade has
aroused the Chicago. Association /. of
Commerce to. make. an inyestigat ida-
of the subject. -
The management Of the association
has secured all Of the papers on file
before the Interstate Commerce COM
mission, and Is making careful
examination of the arguments adj
vanced by the railroads in support
of their action. 1t Is possible that
the investigation of the association
may result in an appeal to the COM
mission for re-hearing in the case,
or an appeal for aid in preventing the
railroads from going out of that bust
ness. If the association officers de-
eide that the railroads were justified
it is possible that the commission will
be asked to change its ruling in the
case.
On all sides inquiry has poured into
the association with respect to the
matter and great surprise was ex-
pressed that the railroads should have
taken such radical action. Some of
the inquiries came from the Pacific
coast cities, where the shippers will
undoubtedly appeal to the commission
against the unreasonableness Of the
new export and import rates, which
will be In effect November l. Such
action. it is stated, would not be al
together Objectionable to the railroads
because 1t might result in the COM
missions ruling that the carriers
were Justified In charging between 40
and SO per cent less on exports than
on the same articles for domestic
consumption at the coast cities If
this should be the result, the carriers
would be only too glad to continue in
the business as their revenues on
domestic business would not then be
threatened. F -
Has All Been Threshed Out.
Washington July 30.-The report
that the transcontinental railroads
controlled by j. J. Hill, Edward H
Hartman, the Berwynd syndicate and
the Canadian government have de-
termined to surrender their export
trade to China, Japan, New Zealand
and Australia on November /, has
created great deal of interest at the
offices of the. Interstate Commerce
commission in this city. If this ac-
ton Is taken, 1t will merely fulfill the
prediction that has been made by
railroad officials who have resisted
commission by which they are Obliged
to publish the portion of their ex-
port rate which goes to the railroads.
for hauling shipments to seaports
ehd 10 give notice of any increase or
decrease in these rates. The purpose
or the transcontinental roads to take
this action has not been brought to-
the attention of the Commission
which has full power to modify its
rulings in order to meet the obtec-
tions OF the carriers should they care
70 do SO. But as this matter has
been very fully considered by the
commission, it is not regarded as like
~ that their rulings in this respect
will be changed.
me railroads have claimed ever
since this rule became effective tbe+
they could not comply with 1t and
conduct their export trade James I.
Hill gave an example of the difficuIty
that confronted him in matter of