The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-20
The Attack on Kansas Shippers
by Railway Board.
Story of Mr.. White of Depart.
ment of Agriculture.
EXPRESS co. WITNESS
Another Chapter in Bitter Fight
ON Continental Creamery.
r. r. Board IN Bad Light in
Cream Rate Fight.

What is it that turks behind the bit
ter and persistent fight that the Kan
sas state railway board is making on
the Continental Creamery of this
city, one of the great industries of
Kansas? There must be some inspir-
alton, some mainsprings, at the back
of all this effort of a state board
against a private corporation
The railway board last summer
hoisted express rates on cream ship
ments higher than the interstate rates,
higher than the express companies de-
manded, and then gave as an excuse
that they wanted to protect the small
creameries of the state-and the
farmers. But a study of the new rates
declared by the board shows that the
express companies got more protec-
ton than anybody else. The new
rate on the short haul (aIleged to pro-
tect the little fellows) was not low
cred to speak of. while the rate on
the long haul was hoisted, when the
sum of the locals is considered. to
= point higher than the interstate rate
and is calculated to put the big cen
traliZed creamerieS of Kansas out of
business entirely by enabling competi-
tors in other states to ship Kansas
cream to their plants under the in
terstate rate at a lower rate than the
Kansas concerns have to pay
Kanavel, Ryker and Ryan and their
secretary, Mr.. Sinner. have never sat-
isfactorily answered this question.
Not Elected to Fight for Express Co.'S.
The members of the state railway
board were elected by the people of
the state and are paid by the people
to protect the people from excessive
charges and i'll treatment at the hands
of the big transportation companies.
Yet this board seeks to put a Topeka
concern doing business, running into
millions of dollars year and employ
ing $50 people, out of business while
lining the pockets of eastern express
companies at the same time.
If express company officials held
the reins of authority of the state
board of railway commissioners Of
flee thew could have done no worse
from the shippers standpoint, than
the board have already done in the
matter of making higher rates. They
would not have dared to have gone so
far.
The big creameries fought the rate.
but to no avail. After the formality
of a hearing the board promptly pro-
mulgated the new rates.
Then the creameries secured a tenn
porary injunction from Judge Dana
in the Shawnee district court and the
case will be tried there in the near
future.
The creamery company attorneys
make serious charges of discrimina-
ton against the board in this mat
ter.
Boards Bitter Fight.
The board, through their secretary
in the antime, have not been idle
They have, it is alleged, had an agent
busy organizing the small creameries
and they have written to B. d. White
of the dairy division of the national
department of agriculture for am
~, frv, 20 f17l
A Strange Spectacle.
Thus is witnessed the unusual spec
tacle of state railway board fighting
tooth and toe nail for the express
companies to impose higher rates on
Kansas shippers.
The board were elected to work for
lower rates.
The board are like the Scottish
guards of Charles l., which, instead
Of fighting Cromwell delivered Charles
over to the great Puritan.
short time since the board caused
to be published in a Topeka news
paper some red hot stuff for the ex-
press companies and against one of
the big concerns of Topeka. This red
hot stuff was furnished by the same
B. D. White, federal employee.
Whom the gods would destroy
they first make mad,' and this whole
outfit. railway board, newspaper and
federal employe act like people pos
sessed. In trying to make sentiment
for the express companies and the
exorbitant rates they have promul-
gated for these companies they at
tackled the Continental Creamery com
pany of this city in savage fashion.
In this attack they made the nat
ural mistakes of not examining their
authorities and of passing over the
border line of safety.
The Fact About Mr.. White.
To quote a federal authority, head
of the dairy department of Uncle
Sans board of agriculture, sounded
pretty big and convincing, but let US
see who this man White is and look
I'D his record. He has testified for
the express companies in cream rate
cases In Nebraska, Iowa. Oklahoma.
and before the national interstate
at Chicago. He appears
TO be a professional witness. More