The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-04

lAC6 Is WOEkeQ TO the manufacturers
and jobbers in the various cities here
fnbefore mentioned
After giving the schedules of the
present tariffs on freight between st.
Louis and Kansas points and those to
Missouri river points and also giving a
schedule of what he thinks is a fair
and just tariff to Kansas points, Mr..
Dawson concludes his brief as fol-
lows:
Discrimination Against Kansas.
THAT said rates violate the principle
of rate making maintained generally by
the railroads, in that said railroads in
in making such rates charge much less
per ton mile for the short haul than
for the long haul.
THE complaint further alleges and
says that the rates herein complained
of are arrived at by the railroads as
the result of an agreement between the
railroads herein named to keep the
rates herein complained of at an I'M
just, unreasonable and excessive figure,
and said railroads have SO combined to
establish and maintain said rates for
the purpose of discriminating against
the cities in Kansas herein named, and
other Kansas points, in favor of Kan
SaS City, Mo-, and Missouri points;
that by reason of said excessive, I'M
Just, unreasonable and unlawful rates
the manufacturing, wholesale and job
bling interests located at the cities
herein named and at other Kans9s
points are subject to unjust discrimi-
nation and undue and unreasonable
prejudice and disadvantage
Wherefore, the complaint prays that
SAID defendants, and each of them. may
be required to answer the charges
herein and that after due hearing and
investigation an order be made COM
handing the defendants to cease and
desist from putting in force and charg
ing the rates hereinbefore set out to
be charged by said defendants for
hauling the different class and COM
T-odlty freight to the points in Kansas
herein named. and after full hearing
and investigation upon this complaint
that an order be made by this com
mission ordering and directing the said
defendants to put in such tariff and
Irelgnt rates for the classes and com
INQUIRIES hereinbefore set out as will be
just and reasonable, and ordering and
directing said defendants to put into
force and effect a freight tariff and
scneduIe or charges which shall not ex-
coed the charges per ton mile now
charged by said defendants for haul
ing lhe same class and commodity
freight from the city of ST. I,ouis 70
Kansas City, Mo, and that such other
ana further orders may be had as th,,
commission may deem necessary in the
premises and as complainant's cause
may appear to require
History of Mo. River Basine Point.
mat Mr.. Dawson has no desire to
demand the abolishment Missouri river
passing points entirely is shown nv the
following extract from a speech he do
ilVered a short time ago before a meet
ing OF the board of agriculture held in
Topeka: -N 80
another evil which grew up with the
groWth and DEVELOPMENT of the rail-
roads ana which never can be fuIIy cor
rected-an injustice that must be toler-
ated forever to prevent a still greater
illJustlce-WaS Determinations In rates
IN IaNor OF certain localities over the
rest OF the country. Some of the great
cities or the country have natural adj
vantages of water, of soil. of minerals.
or geographical situation, which have
favored their growth and produced their
wealth and population; but with a few
such exceptions, the growth of the av-
erase American inland town has de-
pended upon its comparative railroad
| rates, and the faster it has grown the
| more sure the proof of the unfairness
| of the railroad rates to and from that
| toWn, Before. the civil war there were
| hundreds OF steamboats, plying up and
| DOWN the Missouri river. There is none
there now; but on account of the fic-
ton OF water competition, ST. Louis
| Kansas City, st. Joseph and Omaha en-.
| JOY schedule of rates which give them
| a tenfoid advantage over Fort Scott
| "A
ment of goods from ST. Louis to Coffey.
vile, Sedan, Winfield or Wellingtor
bears rate which is computed upor
| the rate from st. Louis to Kansas CITY
plus Kansas City to these points. re.
| CARELESS of the fact that the shipment
| may never come within a hundred miles
| of Kansas City. "A shipment of goods
from New York by sea to Galveston ant
thence by rail through Texas and Ok
! lahoma to Newton Kan, bears exactly
| the rate from New York to ST. Louis
plus st. Louis to Kansas City, plus
Kansas City to Newton, although the
| carriage by sea is much less costly thar
| an all-rail carriage across the land.
'On the other hand, shipment from
New York by sea to Galveston anc
| thence north through Newton to Kan
sas City would bear a rate at least q
per cent less than it would be if the
goods were sent only to Newton in
stead of being carried on through New.
| ton to Kansas City. Now, that arbI
trary system of rate making never car
be wholly corrected. Tens of thousand.
! of honest men have invested millions o.
| dollars in Kansas City, st. Joseph ant
| Omaha. to engage in commerce at thess
| cities on account of this artificial sys