The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-17
KANSAS TO FIGHT
Henderson Martin Aroused
Over New Freight Schedules.
Declares Kansas Commission
Will Fight the Order.
COST KANSAS MILLION DOLLARS
New Eastern Rate Would Hit
This State Hard.
Conference to Be Held i'm Wash
ingtOn i'm November.

Kansas public utilities commission
members will fight the proposed in
crease of 5 per cent in freight rates
| to and from points in the eastern dis
| trict from New York west to the Mis-
sfssippi river and south to the Ohio
river, according to announcement
made today by Henderson S. Martin,
| chairman of the Kansas commission,
when the chairman returned from d
| trip to Washington The approval OF
| the proposed increase in rates will
mean a million dollars year to Kan
saS wholesalers, jObbers, merchants
| made by experts in the offices of the
| Kansas commissioner.
Application has been made with the
| interstate commerce commission for
the approval of a horizontal per
cent. increase in freight rates of all
| classes in the territory from New
York to the Mississippi and south to
| the Ohio river. Already many of the
| states are preparing to fight the pro-
posed boost in freight rate schedules,
but Kansas is the first state to take a
definite stand in opposition to the new
schedules.
Cost Kansas a Million Dollars.
THE adoption of these rates would
cost Kansas shippers million dollars
year." declared Martin, land would
be a direct hardship on every line of
business and industry in the state, as
well as to the Kansas farmers. Prac-
tically all of merchandise such as iron
and iron products, furniture, clothing
and general supplies comes from the
territory affected by the proposed in
crease in rates and the Kansas mer-
chants and farmers would be compell-
ed to meet the per cent increase in
freight rates. 1t would mean an added
cost of a million dollars a year to this
state, according to figures compiled by
our experts and based on shipments
10 territory
years..
That the application of the railroads
for an arbitrary increase of five per
cent in the eastern freight rates is but
the first step in fight for a general
increase in all freight rates, Is the be-
lief of many people in touch with the
situation. The country is divided into
three sections, according to the class
ificatfons of the railroads and affect
ing freight rates. The eastern section
is north of the Ohio river and east of
the Mississippi, the western section is
all territory west of the Mississippi
and the southern territory is the states
south of the Ohio river and east of the
Mississippi. That the railroads expect
to ask for corresponding increases in
the southern and western rates in
event their application for an eastern
increase is approved is the belief of
men familiar with conditionsa
Conference in November
In November Martin will go to
Washington for conference with
representatives from other states rela-
tive to the fight on the proposed in
crease in freight schedules. The Kan
sas commission will take an active
hand in the fight and is among the
first states to declare war on the new
rates. Date for the hearing of the
application for an increase in freight
rates has not been set by the inter- |
state commerce commission. 1t is not
probable, however, that the commits !
sion will take up the case until early |
next year.
While in Washington on his present |
trip, Martin was in conference with the |
commerce commission relative to the |
new Mississippi river rates for Kan |
sas as ordered by the commerce COM |
Martin was accompanied by |
Judge A. E. Helm. Traffic men from |
Topeka, Wichita, Hutchinson and Sa- |
lina-the four Kansas towns most di-
rectly affected by the order-were in
Washington to attend the meeting. No |
direct announcement was made by the |
relative to these new rates.