The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-07
Kansas Fighting to Hold Pres
ent Freight Rates in Force.
Carriers Laying Plans TO Boost
Charges, Is Claim.
CONFER BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Chairman Reed Sought Com
promise, According to Report.
p. q. C. May Abandon Effort to
Show Determinations.


Kansas today is seemingly fighting
to hold the freight rates in force
rather than meet a further hike. Ex-
aminer Disque flatly told Chairman
Reed, of the public utilities COM
mission, that the state could not de-
fend claims for competitive distance
rates and apply the yard stick rule
with the competitive rate as basis.
With this visual waving aside of
many of the state exhibits in the
freight rate case it became apparent
today that the carriers were laying
plans for move for even further rate
advances.
Hearing of the rate case started
an hour late today. A conference be-
tween Chairman Reed and attorneys
for the railroads was held behind
closed doors. 1t is reported that Reed
sought compromise in the con-
ference. Apparently his proposals were
rejected. Shortly after the state re-
sumed presentation of it's testimony,
Examiner Disque made clear that the
state could not retain all OF her rate
concessions and use them as a basis
for application of distance hanls.
Wipe Ont Theory of Rate Making.
Surely you don't want to wipe out
competitive distance rates" said the
examiner in addressing the state COM
these exhibits should be applied it
would be necessary to wipe out the
theory of rate making"
DO You want common scale of
rates applied to state and interstate
shipments?" the examiner asked j.
w. Holloway, of Salina, who presented
exhibits at the opening of today's
hearing.
Yes, sir"
Then what would you say If ex-
IL -.
istence of interstate rates higher than
those for intrastate hauls of similar
distance"
Holloway said he thought a uniform
distance rate should be applied
Can't Have Both.
"But you want both the competi-
, tive rate from Kansas City an5 the
lower state rate" said the examiner.
You can't have both.''
Under cross examination Holloway
was questioned at length regarding
exhibits showing commodity rates
from Kansas City TO Topeka and Sa-
lima to Bunker Hill-similar distances.
isn't the rate from Atchlson to
Topeka the same as from Kansas City
to Topeka?' asked Rice Lincoln of
, the Missouri Pacific. The witne IS said
he wasn't certain. Chairman Reed
admitted the same rate existed.
Then if the distance from Atchi-
son to Topeka is IT miles less that
would make a difference in applica-
tion of your Salina- Bunker Hill rate7"
The witness said it would.
Clashes Were Frequent.
Efforts of Lincoln and James A.
Coleman of the Santa Fe were directed
toward establishment of the fact that
exhibits offered by the state were
| based on competitive rates and that
comparisons were made with the
! longer haul Frequently Reed and
/ the railroad lawyers clashed regard
/ ing procedure and Interpretation of
! exhibits.
The cross examination of w. I.
Mathews, of Fredonia. regarding his
exhibits affecting linseed meal and
! lby-products affected the use of long
thaul rate applications in showing dis
Termination against intrastate ship
ments Mathews said Minneapolis was
his competitive point, and that sales
I in Kansas were made on the basis of
rates from st. Joseph. In the course
/ of his examination. rail representa-
tives stated that they would ask for
reclassification of linseed rates to cor
respond with wheat rates. This would
advance linseed rates, it was declared.
/ 1t was the first intimation of a rate
increase demand as a result of the
present hearing.
Glover Called to Testify.
This afternoon the state commission
I
claims of discrimination against intra-
state cement shipments. Coleman pro-
tested against calling Glover on the
theory that it was reopening of the
cement rate case. Examiner Disque,
tho. said he thought the state should
be given ample opportunity to make
it's showing, and permitted the cement
rate expert to go TO the stand He
was the last witness for the state.
/ Shifting of the acton of the state
{ in presenting its case led to a general
feeling that the utilities commission
had practically abandoned its effort
to establish the theory that discrimi-
nations existed against intrastate
slippers. 1t is probable that this feel
ing was given support by virtue OF
frequent conferences held by commits
sion members. These conferences
continue until late Thursday night and
| were resumed this morning in an ef-
fort to work out a settlement of the
case.
ON the theory that the railroads
had rejected Chairman Reeds re-
quests for concessions the rumor
gained force today that the carriers
might themselves ask for a readjust-
n.eT7t o. rates If they were successful
in the present hearing. The petition
OF the roads would be based on state
ments in the present hearing to the
effec. that on a number of commodi-
tics Karsas shippers now have a low
er rate than shippers in Nebraska and
several other states.
Legion Protests Stacker