Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-17
GRAIN RATE CASE ARGUED
M. L. Learned Appears in Behalf Of
the Omaha Grain Exchange.
ROADS AND OTHER CITIES HEARD
All Oppose the Contention of Kansas
City and Opinion is Expressed
Latter city Cannot Get Fa-
vorable Decision.

WASHINGTON. Feo. l~s.-CSpecisl Tele-
gram.)-The case of the Kansas City
transportation bureau against a dozen or
more railroads. in which the Omaha Grain
exchange interviewed, was argued yester-
day before the Interstate Commerce COM
mission. George Bell of Kansas City ap-
peared for the complainant, Myron l..
Learned Of Omaha for the intervenor.
Judge Helm, on behalf of the Wichita
Board OF Trade, ]. L. Lincoln for the st.
Louis Board Of Trade. w. A. Low of To-
peka for the Rock Island road, Hale Hagen
of Chicago for the Burlington and A. T.
Gratten for the Kansas Railway commits
sion, all appeared In opposition to Kansas
City's contention.
In a brief filed by the complainant,
Kansas City, it prays the commission to
give 1t equal rates with Omaha in the ter
ritory affected because of Its closer proxi-
nifty to st. Louis than Omaha and hence
entitled to lower rates to St. Louis than
Is accorded Omaha. Mr.. Learned, who fol-
lowed Mr.. Bell of Kansas City,, called at
tention to the fact that Kansas City asked
this discrimination, although the proper
elusive, are the same to all Mississippi river
crossings from Omaha to Kansas City, in
elusive, are the same TO all Missouri river
crossings from Dubuque to St Louis.
whether grain be transported east or In a
diagonal direction.
Eject of Proposed Rate.
The 'in rates. to Omaha and Kansas
City are so fixed, said Mr.. Learned that
Kansas City has an absolutely monopoly
in the grain territory south of a zigzag
line starting at Brownsville in Nebraska on
the east and terminating midway in Kansas
on its western boundary. While in the ter
ritory lying Immediately north of the zone
just referred to. Kansas City and Omaha
are on an equality so far as grain rates
are concerned, though the distances from
points in this equal zone are largely in
Omaha's favor. He further said that IL
the prayer of the complainant be granted
that 1t would operate to give Kansas City
a practical monopoly clean UP to Omaha's
backdoor, taking in its monopoly of the
grain trade, the territory south OF a line
commencing at Murray, Neb.. on the east,
and running zigzag west a little south of
Lincoln and thence northwest and taking In
Grand Island. This, he contended, was
never contemplated by the interstate COM
merce act, for II would be depriving a
city or community of it's natural and tribu-
tory territory, thereby treating friction in
n u A0hN1 "NOs
the trainers Of that act.
Secretary Mcvann of the Omaha Grain
exchange. who prepared certain maps
which were used by Mr.. Learned in illus
trating points in the argument said after
the hearing that he did not believe Kansas
City had a leg to stand on. &"From a COM
mercial point of view. and leaving the
legal aspect of the case wholly out of the
question, it would be a hardship, almost q
crime, to deprive the grain raisers in tho
territory involved of access to the Omaha
market, which is most advantageous to
them" r
More Time for Entrymen.
The senate today passed a bill extending
the time for final entry of mineral claims
within the Shoshone or Wind River reser-
walton in Wyoming. This bill passed the
house February 10, and now goes to the
president for approval. The bill provides
that all claimants and locaters of mineral
lands within the coded portion OF said In
dian reservation shall have five years from
the date of location within which to make
entry and payment instead Of three years,
as now provided by law.
Minor Matters at the Capital.
The Boyd drainage bill was signed by the
speaker today and now goes to the presi-
dent for his approval
Senator Brown has gone to Indianapolis
where he will address the tariff commits
sion which meets in that city today. He
will favor a limited commission with power
to recommend rates, but without power TO
fix them.
Congressman Pollard has appointed WAL
ter Johnson. OF Pawnee City. as first al
ternate TO Annapolis.
Bids were opened today at the Treasury
department for the construction of the
public building at Shenandoah, Ia. The
lowest bidder was w, w. Walsh Of Clar-
india, Ia, at 81, $50.