The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-08
Kansas Utilities Commission
One of Many Pr0testants.
Also Oklahoma, Texas and Ar
kansas Boards Oppose.
CANCEL SUSPENDED RATES
Case Grows Out of Proposed
Advance Affecting 4 States.
Unjust and Unreasonable Is
Decision of Commission.

Washington. Aug S-GeneraI re-
adjustment of class rates between
points in Texas and points in Okla
homa and between points in Kansas
and northwest Texas and Oklahoma
is proposed in tentative findings of
the interstate commerce commission
in the southwestern class case. an out
growth of the Shreveport rate cases.
made public today by the Interstate
commerce commission.
A revised schedule of rates. based
on mileage scale and varying from
2S cents per hundred pounds for the
first five miles up to Sill for a 500
mile haul is proposed.
To Argue Case Later.
The tentative report of the commits
sion's examiner which will be made
the subject of argument before the
commission later, holds.
THAT the tariffs proposed and un-
der the suspension are unduly preju-
dicial to the protestant and the local.
tiles represented by them in the fol-
lowing particulars:
Insofar as the proposed method of
determining distances which fix the
rates differs from the method used in
the Shreveport scale insofar as the
application of the additions made for
hauls in differential territory makes
the proposed rates to that territory
higher. mileage considered than rates
now in force under the Shreveport
scale; and where increases are pro-
posed in class rates applicable on
commodities that in the territory to
which the Shreveport scale applies
move under lower commodity rates.
THAT the suspended rates are I'M
| just and unreasonable to the extent
they exceed rates herein found rea-
spnable.
That The tariff under suspension
should be cancelled"
| Protests against the establishment
of the rates proposed we're made by
the Oklahoma Traffic association. the
| Texas Industrial Traffic league the
| Corporation commission of Oklahoma
| the Fort Smith, Ark. Traffic bureau,
| the railroad commission of Arkansas
the Public Utilities commission of
Kansas, the Fort Worth Freight
bureau, the Dallas Chamber of Com
| merce and large number of other
| municipal and sectional traffic and
civic association.
The territory involved includes
Kansas City. Wichita. all of Okla
homa and points in northwestern
Texas. The case has been pending for
| some time and the rates proposed
| by the carriers as its solution were
suspended by the commission until
December / next. These rates were
| based largely on the scale prevailing
between Shreveport, La, and points IN
Texas.
Lower Rates Elsewhere.
From st. Louis and from Kansas
City rate territory to Texas" the ex-
aminer reports, rates may reasonably
be somewhat lower for equal dis
tances than for the territory to which
the suspended rates are sought to be
applied. From points like Coffeyvf1le
and Fort Smith there appears of rec
ord no reason why similar rates should
not be accorded as are published from
nearby points in Oklahoma to Texas
| destinations"
The report proposes that in placing
the proposed scale into effect the
shortest workable route should be
used. Railroads having roundabout
routes it is proposed, may meet the
short line rates at common points.
while carrying higher rates to inter-
mediate points. provided the lowest
combination is not exceeded.
A date for argument on the reoorx
will be set later.