The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-18
Hold Grain as Demurrage Until
Prices Are 'Right."
TESTIFY BEFORE STATE BODY
Representatives as witnesses
Before Utilities Commission.
Fight for Higher Demurrage
Charges Has Been Requested.

Gambling of grain men, tie up of
traffic in the east and the smallness
of demurrage charges are responsible
for the shortage of freight cars in
Kansas, according to testimony pre-
sented to the public utilities commits
sion this morning. The only testi-
mony presented at the morning session
of the car shortage hearing, came
from c. B. Strohm of Chicago, super
intendent of transportation for the
Santa Fe.
A long, stormy hearing is promised.
The utilities court room was filled
and standing room was at a premium
Representatives of grain dealers, rail-
roads, produce men, commission men,
grocerymen and all classes of business
men who ship goods were gathered
before the commission from all parts
of the state.
Want Increase in Rates.
Only one method of relief was sug-
gested by the railroad man. He pro-
posed that the demurrage rates on
cars standing on tracks more than
two days, the free time allowed, be
increased. The amount of the in
crease was not stipulated but it is
generally understood that the rail-
roads desire that demurrage charges
be increased from 81 a day day to
$5 day.
Further it was suggested that the
public utilities commission take the
matter before the interstate COM
merce commission and that fight FOR
permanent increase in demurrage
rates thruout the courty be inaugu-
rated.
Present Rates a Joke.
~ tho n
price of grain increasing from L to
| " cents a bushed daily, the present
demurrage charges were laughed at
by grain gamblers. 1t was declared
that they were only too glad to meet
the demurrage in order to use the
freight cars for storage purposes until
the market had reached proportions
to satisfy them financially.
Figures presented by Mr.. Strohm
showed that on october IA, there were
17,549 Santa Fe box, or grain cars,
on eastern lines and 1920 eastern
line cars on the Santa Fe line. The
approximate detention of cars on the
eastern line is three months while the
detention of eastern cars on the Santa
Fe line is much less, according to Mr..
Strohm's estimates. This, because the
class of cars, open for the most part,
and loaded with piping for the oil
fields are more quickly unloaded.
Hold Cars a Month.
In testifying to local conditions, Mr..
Strohm declared that in many in
stances grain cars had been tied up
at Hutchinson and Wichita for more
than a month and he read figures
showing that a large number of cars
on the side tracks in those cities on
Saturday were subject to demurrage
charges. In Kansas City the number
of cars on the tracks Saturday subject
to demurrage charges was much less
There a public storage house is avail
able and the railroads have an oppor-
tunity to avail themselves of a rule on
the bill of lading permitting them to
dump grain, at the shippers expense
into the public warehouse after they
| have kept the cars on the track a GER
| tain length of time.
Announcement was made that a
representative of the National Demur-
! rage association was present to testify
| to freight car shortages thruout the
| country. 1t was intimated that such
| testimony would be of benefit to the
| commission if it decides to go before
| the interstate commerce commission
| and plead for nationwide relief
against the car shortage. The chair
/ man of the commission stated that the
! commission is dealing with local con-
| ditions altho it might be possible thai
! testimony from the representative OF
| the national association would be
| accepted.