The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-03
RAISE IN RATES.
r. r. Board Attempts to Justify
Action i'm Creamery Case.
Makes Personal Attack on At
tOrney For Company.
AVOIDS THE ISSUE.
Why Tariff Fixed by Interstate
Commission Was Raised.
Statements of Creamery Men
Called in Question.

hCSpS IL the railroad DOarQ through
their secretary. wished to make reply
to the accusation that they had raised
the Kansas express rate on cream
| shipments above the interstate rate
fixed by the Interstate Commerce
commission, that was their privilege
but it seemed a foolish thing to do
after all Through the morning
Topeka paper they have appeared as
special pleaders for the express COM
panies as against the big creameries
of Kansas including the Topeka con-
Germ. Now as between Tom Platt's
New York Express company and Tom
ago Topekan would naturally side
with The Kansas brand. The reply of
the board to the accusation that they
had hoisted the rates beyond any
point they could defend was full of
figures and technicalitieS and would
have made good reading had they
stopped in their rate raising mania
before they passed the interstate rate,
but it Is at this point that their argu-
ment falls to the ground. They pro-
tected the little fellows, they say. Well
and good. But why not have stopped
there? Why take the part of the ex-
press companies as against the big
ones?
A man is known by the company he
keeps. If the railroad board stand
with the express companies and the
creameries of adjoining states. who
shall stand for the big creameries of
Kansas?
This reply of the board in defend
ing it's action brings to mind the de-
Tense of ex-senator Chester I. Long to
the accusation By William Allen
White that he voted with roll call
that begun with Aldrich of Rhode
Island and ended with Wetmore of
Rhode Island The railroad board
started out with the letter A in max
ing their decision and now in their
defense they have covered the ground
The course of the railroad board in
this cream rate case is somewhat
similar to that Of the sheep dog that
turned on the flock of sheep he was
supposed to protect from the wolves
The dog afterwards made an Ella
borate explanation of how he was try
ing to protect the lambs from the on
slaught Of the rams. but the master,
when he viewed results, did not accept
the explanation in good part and
everybody knows what happened to
the dog
The reply Of the board is as fol-
Iowss
while do not think it is ordinarily
wise to answer articles printed by ag-
grieved htigants before the board, yet
the article recently appearing in To-
peka evening paper headed "A Slap at
Kansas, New Creamery Rates are Con-
sid cred Unjust is so replete with mis-
statements of facts and figures as to
make an answer thereto almost impera-
tive. I know the writer of the article
ard believe him to have been honest In
the writing thereof, but he secured his
statement of facts and figures from
Mr.. T. +. Doran, general attorney Tor
what is generally known as The Cream
cry Combine consisting of large cen
tralizing creameries located at Kansas
City, Topeka, Beatrice and Denver, be-
tween whom and those of the smaller
of the state there is no com
making Of the order by the board in
the cream rate case Mr.. Doran submit
ted to the board, through it's secretary,
the third degree in the form OF threat
to break into print and thus take the
cream rate PROPOSE ion into politics IL
the board did not grant his demands,
since which time he has seen fit to-
change his mind and not await the de-
cision of the board before administer
ing the work of said degree.
ssThe article charges that the board
has put in cream rates which will re-
turn revenue to the express com
oanies beyond that asked for by them
This statement is absolutely false, as
M. Doran himself admitted in argu-
rent Before the board that practically
all of the creaIneries. with the excep-
ion of the Continental. haul their cream
Tor an average distance OF less than 6O
niles and that the Continental Cream
,ry company handled but % per cent OF
he cream shipped between stations in
Kansas. On the cream haul Of 90 miles
)r less the rates of the board provide
l reduction of % per cent under the
I terstate commerce commission sche-
iule; this reduction applying to all of
he cream handled by the Continental
within that distance and to practically
he entire tonnage of the remaining
reameries in the state.
ssKuft1 rafare0ce TO the appicatiOn of
he schedule to business of the Cont |
rental for the year 1908; that company
.hipped fer distance of 10 miles and
ess IA SOP cans the rates for which the
abroad commissioners schedule would
operate as a reduction of per cent
1der the interstate commerce commits |
sion rates.
For distances over 10 miles and |
Creamery company shipped 1851 |
cans the rates for which, under the |
commissioners schedule, will |
be an advance of but I per cent, or a |
traction of cent per pound Of butter /
lat, too small to mention. For the !
year 1908 the Continental Creamery /
shipped less than 1000 cans |
ior distances over 800 miles, so that
rs a whole, based upon the business
or the YEAR, 1903 the express COM
oanies will receive very little, if any
advance in revenue from this concern,
,ver that accorded by the interstate
schedule, while from all of the other
,reamery industries in Kansas the re-
iuction of revenues from those which
would be received under the inter
tate commerce schedule viii be very /
material.
For the purpose of making his
newspaper argument Mr. Doran uses
hypothetical rate into Topeka, arrived
Il by charging the sums of the locals
N a two line service, plus a transfer
.harge, which action on his part is L
-bsoIutely unwarranted under any
possible construction of the order of
he board as in such cases where the
ums of the locals for a two line haul
S provided. there is no provision in