The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-18
Secretary of Wichita Chamber
of Commerce Testifies.
INJURIES KANSAS TOWNS
Can Not Compete With the
River JObberS.
Examiner MackIey Is Conduct
ing the Hearing.

Before Special Examiner E r. Mack
ley. testimony was introduced IN the
rate hearing today to show that freight
rates from Mississippi river points 10
kansas manufacturers and jobbers are
neither fair nor just and that the Deiie
fits were all enjoyed by the Mlssoui1
river towns Martin Castro secretary
of the wichita Chamber OF CONNER C.
was on the stand all morning anu t oiu
of troubles that confront the sA1pPe-~
of the Peerless Princess
Details of the Kansas troubles Wei (
dragged before the special examiner anu
he was advised as to the DISCRIMINATION
against Topeka, Wichita, Hutchlhsoli
and other Kansas towns. CaslrO pr
duced great piles OF RECORDS 20 t slIor
that the Kansas City manufacture
could ship goods to Newton cheaper
than the Wichita jobber could snip
them to the same point and that SINH
lar difficulty was experienced oy oed'-
ers in other towns of the state
Castro told Mackley that II Is I'M
possible for a Kansas jobber or manu-
facturer to ship his wares east De
cause of the regulation of freight scheo-
uIes and rates. These rates, the VII
ness said caused the Kansas manu1ac-
turer to suffer a loss OF prohts or leu
the territory to Kansas City, St
Joseph I.eavenWorth and Atchison, the
four towns sharing the DEMENT'S OF the
Missouri river rates. Rates from MIS-
siSsippi river points, 1t was uecldI eu'
favored the Missouri river towns IN d
manner that made it necessary Tor
Kansas shippers to confine their opera
lions to local territories
Because of these rates, Topeka is de-
clared to have been limited to a trace
district in which live 100000 people,
while Kansas City's territory is IN
habited by 1000 900 people. This cond1-
ton is due alone, Castro said, to the
rates that penalize Topeka and Wichita
shippers when they attempt to extend
beyond certain point
Hurts Kansas Towns.
Not only has the manufacturer and
jobber suffered, Castro testified, but
the discrimination in freight rates has
injured the growth and prosperity OF
the Kansas towns. Manufacturers re
fuse TO locate their plants in Kansas
because of the special commodity
rates afforded shippers in the Missouri
river cities. With the 100000 peo-
pie to be reached by a St Joe or kan
saS City manufacturer, Castro said II
would be useless to try to bring big
industries to Wichita, Topeka or
Hutchinson, where only 5000 peo-
pie live in the territory to which rea-
sonable shipping rates are given by
the railroads
The prohibitory liquor law also en-
tered into Castro's discussion of the
freight rate question. He assured the
exa miner that the Kansas prohlbltory
law was an inducement to the manu-
facturer who desired to keep his la
borers from the open saloon Yet they
were denied the choice of dry terri
tory because of the penalties imposed
by unjust freight rates.
In the federal court room, where
the hearing is in progress. forty
lawyers made notes on Castro's tes-
tirnony. He was one of the last wit
nesses called on behalf of the state
in a hearing begun several weeks
ago, but adjourned until today. The
Wichita man was loaded with facts
and figures and spent the entire
morning explaining the difficulty of
Wichita jobbers in efforts to broad
en- their trade district.
The state will complete its evidence
late this afternoon. Then the p de-
PENDANT railroad companies will be-
gin the introduction of testimony in
defense of the present rate sched-
ules. Probably two days will be con-
sumed in the taking of this evidence.
BY lawyers interested in the hear
ing, the present rate case is consid-
cred one of the most important rate