The Topeka state journal., 1913-11-10
The Stockyards and Railway
Proposition Don't Go.
But REHEARIN6 IS GRANTED
Wilson Talks Vital Facts ON
Freight Rates.
Car Lot Shipments Kansas &5.16
Higher Than Missouri.


OF the Kansas City Stock Yards COM
pany-were today denied permission to
sell a million dollars worth of stock
by the public utilities commission,
which later took recess and granted
time for further argument by the rail-
way company promoters. Representa-
tives Of the stock yards line declined
to state what action they would take
II their action was finally denied. al
though they declared that their fight
had only begun.
The hearing before the utilities COM
mission was resumed today after a re-
cess from the hearing Of three weeks
ago. when the stock yards representa-
tives urged the commission not only to
grant them permission to build their
line Of connecting railways at the stock
yards. to sell a million dollars worth
OF stock. but also to order the railway
companies hauling stock to the Kansas
City yards to absorb the charges for
the increased facilities. Today, though,
the attorneys for the stock yards road
took a brand new shoot in their cam
paign for permit and suddenly dropped
the questions of rates, terminal facili-
ties. absorbed charges and general con-
troversies and demanded an immediate
opinion on their right to sell stock.
Borders Pursues New Course.
1t was w. A. Borders, the Chicago
interests, who suddenly and unexpect-
edly asked that the issues in the case
before the utilities commission be.nar-
rowed to the issuance of a permit to
sell stock on the showing made by the
stock yards in it's petition and
through oral evidence. This move by
Borders came as q surprise both to
members of the commission and rep
resentatives of the railways which
have fought the stock yards applica-
f10n Tor order tn NnFnno1 the rail-
roads to absorb terminal charges at
the Kansas City yards.
In the recent hearing Borders had
opened the gates and brought about a
every question which could possibly
enter into the controversy affecting
the proposed terminal charges. It was
this fight which brought stock ship
pers to Topeka from fifty Of the coun-
ties OF the state and caused the rail-
roads to issue declarations that they
would build their own stock yards
and provide their own terminal faciif-
ties rather than pay the charges pro-
posed to be made by the connecting
But today Borders had a brand new
plan. He told the commission that it
had wandered away from the real is
sue and demanded an opinion merely
on the question OF the issuance Of the
million dollars worth of stock. Any
other question, Borders contended
could be disposed of later.
Permit Is Denied.
Then the utilities commission took a
recess and talked matters over. When
they returned to the court room. the
court reporter read the opinion deny
quest for permission to issue the mil
lion dollars worth of stock. 1t was
held by the commission that two sep
arate requests were asked by the
stockyards in their application and
that evidence submitted up to this
time did not warrant a favorable opin-
ion on the million dollars stock ques-
ton. The connecting railway COM
pany. the commission pointed out, had
asked permission to do business and
sell stock and also to build q railway
line. And the commission was not In
clined to grant the request to sell
stock and do business unless some
thing was done about building the ex-
ira trackage.
Borders Immediately renewed his
arguments for the stock issue.
DO you contend that the commits
sion can issue one of these orders and
not the other 0ne?" asked Henderson
Martin, chairman of the commission.
"I do replied the stock-yards
lawyer.
given until 2 o'clock this afternoon
to prepare new argument and a recess
was taken until that time.
Most of the morning session of the
commission was consumed by HI. g.
Wilson, representing the Kansas City
transportation bureau. Wilson ar
gued that the proposed terminal inn
provements were needed and that the
railroads ought to stand the extra
expense.
Compares Freight Rates.
Wilson went rather deeply into q
comparison of freight rates. He
| charged that the car lot stock rates
from Kansas points to the Kansas
City market are higher than in Mis-
souri, and generally higher than for
| a haul Of the same distance in Ne
| braska, Arkansas or Iowa.
"A car Of stock shipped from Dodge
City, a distance of 339 miles, costs
| $44," said Wilson, while a haul for
| the same distance in Missouri is but
$3.50. From Mound City. a distance
| of 100 miles, the cost is $23.10. while
a 100 mile haul in Missouri is but
$3.50"
| Wilson contended that car load ship
ments from Kansas points were $5.16
| higher than from Missouri points. He
also argued that the same rate IL made
either to Kansas City or St Joe mar
kets from many of the Kansas towns
although the ST. Joe haul IL much
longer. Many of the Iowa, Nebraska
and Arkansas rates ON live stock are
much lower than the Kansas rates
Wilson contended, in support Of hia
theory that the railroads should moi
object to the absorption charges Al
Kansas City.
| They WIN Fight
Il Attorney Borders declined to stafs
the probable action to be taken by thu
stock yards company II their request,
are finally denied.