The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-23

ductfon in freight rates from New
York and Atlantic seaboard territory
by way of the steamship lines to Cal
weston and thence by rail to Oklahoma
and Kansas. The interstate commerce
commission has no authority over the
steamship lines but it has over the
through rates and joint sea-and-rail
rates to which the railroads are a party
and there are such rates from Atlantic
seaboard via Galveston to Oklahoma and
Kansas. In cooperation with Judge A
E. Helm, of Wichita, attorney for the
Southwestern Shippers Traffic associa-
tion, Attorney General West of Okla
homa, the Galveston Chamber of Com
merce and others, commenced suit
against some hundred or more of the
railroads, steamship lines. ferry COM
panies. belt line companies, etc, whicn
participated in that traffic in one shape
or another and which might be affected
by the result Promptly thereafter
some of the joint sea-and-rail rates
were cancelled, thus limiting the scope
of the proceeding. In due time the case
was tried before Judge Prouty of the
interstate commerce commission at
Kansas City and argued before the
full commission on November 5, 1910, at
washington, D. G..
Colorado Coal Rates.
During the latter part of 1909 I pro-
cured authority from the board of rail-
road commissioner to attack the coal
rates from the RockyMountains to Kan
sas points upon the Rock Island lines
and the case was tried in Denver in
January of this year and briefed and
argued before the interstate commerce
commission in May. The same rates
had been attacked a year before by a
number Of the coal operators in the
Walsenburg district of Colorado and de-
cided in favor of the railway company
but as the rates were so exorbitant I
did not hesitate to attack them again
and hoped for some reductions by rails
ing a question which had not been rails
ed before, toWit: the violation of the
long and short haul clause. Within few
weeks after the case was submitted the
new act of congress was passed.
strengthening the long and short haul
clause and providing that after F'ebru-
ary IL, 1911, 1t would be unlawful for any
carrier to exact or receive a greater
charge for a short haul than for long
haul in the same general direction. The
commission decided that as the rates
which 1 have complained of will soon
become absolutely illegal it would be
best to leave the PRONUNCIATION of new
and just rates to the carriers them
selves, and some substantial reduction
of these coal rates from Colorado may
confidently be expected"
Did His Best.
Mr.. Dawson concludes his report in
the following language:
II must not close without acknow1-
edging my appreciation of the compIi-
ment which you conferred upon me
when you appointed me to this posi-
ton; that I undertook its duties and
responsibilities with reluctance and
misgivings you we'll know; that you
will consider that I have been emf
nently successful I can not hope; but
l have given the state the very best
service of which / am capable and I
have the feeling of satisfaction which
comes to every public official who can
truthfully say that neither hope of
commentator nor fear of censure has
prompted nor stayed any official act. -