The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-17
introduced Into the
Legislature.
Providing for an Investigation
and Revision OF
THROUGH FREIGHTS.
Asks That Kansas Be Accorded
the Same
Relative Through Freight Tar
ifs as Missouri Now Gets.

Topeka and Kansas have main
tanned for years that in the matter
of freight rates they have been dis
eliminated against in the through
rates into the state as compared with
the through part of the rates charged
through Missouri, maintaining with
apparent justice that the rate should
be no higher in Kansas than it was
in Missouri.
Here is an important resolution that
is intended to seek a remedy
1t involves the freight charges of
all merchandise shipped into Kansas
from points east of the Missouri
river. The legislature will doubtless
see quickly that the resolution is cal
culated to be of material benefit to
the entire state.
The house concurrent resolution in
troduced late Tuesday evening in the
house by White of Ottawa to investi-
gate and demand a revision and re-
adjustment of through freight rates
for Kansas is regarded by Attorney
General Jackson as one of the most
important measures before the 1909
session of the legislature. The text of
the resolution is as follows:
Whereas. under the laws of 1907
the board of railroad commissioners
Is authorized to Investigate all through
freight rates, where discriminative to
take before the interstate commission
for adjustment insofar as they affect
adversely the commercial interests of
this state.
Now be it resolved that hereafter
the board of railway commissioners is
hereafter directed to make a thorough
investigation of the rates on all COM
modities that enter this state in any
quantities and make up a tabulation
of the rates
After completing such investigation
the board shall commence an action be-
fore the Interstate commerce commits
sion to secure just rates for Kansas
and to prevent unjust discrimination
and the tabulation of rates so made
based upon tariffs in effect shall be
presented as evidence. And the state
board is directed to demand of the in
terState commission that commodity
rates found existing between the Mis-
sissippi and Missouri rivers be extended
through into Kansas upon a like basis
of distance Travelled and cost of service
as applied to the Missouri and Missis-
sippi river points.
Further demand shall be made that
commercial and industrial interests of
Kansas shall have accorded them the
same relative difference between car
load rates and less than carload rates
into their respective locations as IS ac-
corded to Missouri river distributing
centers.
The state board shall tabulate rates
between New Orleans and Galveston
and other southern seaboard cities and
Kansas City, Mo, and demand the
same scale Of rates for Kansas. They
shall demand better rates upon coal and
lumber from Texas and Arkansas to
and through this state and upon the
same basis as given southern seaboard
cities.
They shall demand a better freight
rate for every county seat town In
Kansas located upon a railway.
The board shall tabulate rates to
Galveston. New Orleans. Mississippi
and Missouri river points. Savannah,
Ga. Chicago, Buffalo, Pittsburg, Gin
cinnati, Louisville, Philadelphia. Bos-
ton and New York and demand an
adjustment of these rates for the bet
ter for all farm products raised IN
Kansas for export to these cities
Said board of railway commission
ers is instructed to have these tabuIa-
tions and demands ready and present
them to the Interstate Commerce
commission within four months from
the passage of this resolution.
The governor and attorney general
of the state are requested to use the
full power of the state and OF their
Offices to assist in the investigation
required to be made by this resolution
and in prosecuting all proceedings
commenced as result of such in
vestigations before the Interstate
commission.