The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-07
TRAFFIC Man HERE
Topeka JObbers Decide to Estah-
lish a Bureau.
Freight Rates Discussed at
Dinner Last Night.
NOT TREATED; FAIRLY
Topeka at Disadvantage, Says
the Committee.
Instances Cited to Show Discrim-
inati0n in Rates.

cial club at a meeting attended by so
members of the Jobbers and Manufac-
| turers' association and other business
men, An expert will be employed to
represent Tope. at the meeting of the
| interstate commerce commission which
will be held in this city October %. A
committee with George P McEntire as
chairman will have charge of the ar
rangements relative to putting the bu-
reau into operation. 1t is probable that
| Carr Taylor. formerly attorney for the
! state railroad board, will be employed
/ to represent Topeka at the rate hear
| ing.
At previous meeting George P. Nc
| Entire, George F'leischman, and Harry
| Whiting were appointed as a commit
! tee to investigate the rate situation in
| special committee which was read by
George r. McEntire, chairman. was the
principal feature of the meeting. The
committee had previously decorated the
walls with placards giving instances of
alleged freight rate determinations
| 1t was the sentiment of the meeting
that while the jobbers and manufac-
| turers do not wish to injure the rail
| ways in any particular, they do want
an equitable adjustment OF rates.
John Marshall Promises Aid.
John Marshall, attorney for the state
utility commission, offered his assist
ance in the campaign for fair rates.
saying that he has a contingent fund
to spend in effort to get a readjust-
ment Of rates in Kansas, if it is neces-
sary.
No Delay in Hearing.
I'VE will be ready October 25,'' said
| Mr.. Marshall. and no delay will be
asked. Hutchinson. Salina. Fort Scott,
and Topeka will present information be-
fore the commission.
Every time an old hen lays an egg
] in Kansas rooster in Kansas City
crows. Kansas City has been built
| through the enterprise of Kansans and
the prevailing freight rates. We may
/ get everlastingly licked, but if we do
we will at least have an intelligent ex-
| PLANTATION to make concerning railway
rates in the state"
Ever since I've been in Topeka"
said J. VIII Kelley, president of the
Commercial club, I've heard that dis
| ordinations in freight rates were pre-
venting Topeka from becoming a great
manufacturing city. There is undoubt-
eddy something radically wrong with
the manufacturing situation in Topeka.
Small institutions have a hard time to
live.
1--WE have an ambition to make To-
peka more than a beautiful city. In
order to do that we must furnish hon
est employment and that will not be
possible until the rate problem is
solved. We would not wish to strike
against the biggest industry in the city
-railroa ding-but we want our
rights
Frederick w. Freeman of the Mer-
chants National bank cited a case of
a Topeka man who has the contracts
for building steel and concrete bridges
between Kansas City and Excelsior
Springs as an instance of where rate
discrimination did not prevent a To-
peka firm from doing business east of
Resolutions Adopted.
The following is the resolution in
troduced by c. P. Adams and was
Whereas, There is a strong prob
ability that the interstate commerce
commission following the hearing
which is to take place in Topeka on
October 2 will order some important
changes in freight rates that will af-
feet all points in Kansas; and.
Whereas, The cities of Hutchinson,
Salina, Wichita and other centers in
the west will have representatives be-
fore the commission at the hearing in
| Topeka; and,
"Whereas. Topeka's jobbing, manu-
featuring and shipping interests will
not be represented unless some organ
| lied body collects data and presents
the cause of the business interests in
the city, be it
solved-First. That the shippers
of Topeka represented at this meeting
recommend the immediate organiza-
ton of The Topeka Traffic Bureau as
a separate institution to be incorpOr-
ated. but not to be in any manner af-
f1liated with the Commercial club or
the Topeka Jobbers' and Manufactur-
ers' association.
s'second-That said Traffic bureau
shall solicit and accept membership
from Topeka jobbers and maEufactur-
ers.
''Third-That membership fees shall
be graduated according to the impor
tance of the interest affiliating-
'Fourth-That the functions of
said bureau shall be (a) to see that
Topeka'e shipping. jobbing and manu-
4 featuring interests are at all times
fairly dealt with in any readjustment
of existing freight rates by the rail
roads the interstate commerce COM
mission or the Kansas public utilities
commission; OBJ, to study the present
! freight rate situation here and work
| for the alization of any existing un-
| just or unfair schedules or classical
/ tons if there be such: (c), to main
tain central Office in charge of an ex-
pert rate man who shall keep on file
! tariffs and information of value to the
members and who shall audit such
freight bills as the members may place
/ in his charge.
| 'Fifth-That the organization of
the traffic bureau shall not have for
its purpose the antagonizing of the
railroads: on the other hand. we re-
cognize the important railroad inter
ests here and it shall not be the pur-
! pose of this bureau to cripple the rail-
roads but rather to see that both the
railroads and Topeka each get fair
and square deal
Resolved, That II snail De the
| function of said traffic bureau to en-
| pIoy counsel and appear before any
| freight rate hearings that may affect
the tariffs of Topeka's trade territory.
i Resolved. That the chairman of
/ this meeting be directed to appoint a
/ committee of five. of which the chair
1 man shall be one member. to carry
/ out the plan as herein outlined
Mr.. NTcEntire's Report.
i Geo F. MeEntire said in part:
IN E~a4 inn
lfeel that the real trouble IN Topeka lie