The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-19
DAWSON IS READY.
r. r. Board Attorney Completes Case
for New Interstate Rates.

John Dawson, attorney for the
board Of railroad commissioners, has
completed the preparation Of his
case to be brought before the inter
state commerce commission seeking
an adjustment of interstate rates
via the deep water ports of the Gulf
of Mexico.
Seventy-five railroads, terminals
companies, steamship and other
transportation companies are made
defendants. The suit was ordered by
the board of railroad commissioners,
in obedience to a resolution of the
legislature which directed the board
to make an investigation of all inter-
state rates affecting Kansas, and re-
quiring the board to commence such
suits as might be necessary to correct
any determinations in interstate rates
that injuriously affect this state.
Prompted by a desire to cooperate
in such proceedings, a large number
of cities and boards of trade in Kan
sas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas
organized the Southwestern Traffic
Shippers association to assist in col
lecting evidence, compiling and COM
pairing rates and schedules, and the
Kansas commissioners advised their
attorney to act in conjunction with
this traffic association.
Judge A. E. Helm of Wichita is at
torney for the traffic association, and
prosecute the case Jointly for the as
sociation and for the state
To Make Basing Point Rate General.
The petition goes extensively into
the existing rate situation as it affects
Kansas, showing that in the develop
ment of the American railroads, they
were first built to the Mississippi river
and cities on that river became the
basing points for shipments into
western territory.
Later the railroads were extended to
the Missouri river and other cities on
that alter course became in turn bas-
ing points for western shipments; and
that rates are made into all Kansas
points by taking the rate from the At
lantic to ST. Louis, and adding thereto
the rate from ST. Louis to Kansas
points, always preserving a "differen-
tiaP' in favor of the Missouri river
charging Of three local rates to final
destination except in such isolated
cases as have been already modified by
the interstate commerce commission.
It is further alleged that this unjust
advantage of st. Louis and Missouri
river points is preserved by "differen-
tlals,'' although the freight may never
pass through st. Louis or cross the
Missouri river, but instead they may
be shipped by steamer from New York
sas.
Conditions Demand New Rates.
1t is stated also that freight passing
through gulf points to Kansas City
bears the same rate as the New York,
ST. Louis, Kansas City combination,
which is about one-third less than the
rates to each of the cities in Oklahoma
and Kansas through which this freight
passes on its way to Kansas City.
1t is also alleged that water carriage
is much cheaper than all-rail carriage
and that new and different system of
rates should prevail in Kansas Colo
RADIO, Oklahoma and Texas by reason
of their proximity to the gulf ports
through which this large and increas-
ing share of their intercommerce
passes.
Comparisons are made in the petit
ton to show that the present system
of rate making builds up large cities on
the Missouri river to conduct the trade
and commerce of Kansas, and that a
just and equitable system of interstate
rates would permit the establishment
of great interior cities in Kansas.
The Prudential Stafa Rank CanaPal