The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-22
KANSAS SAVED
(Continued from Paae one.l

Continued from Page One.l
custom of the federal commission to
hear no cases during August. The
hearing and argument lasted three full
weeks, making the case the longest of
its kind in recent years.
In all, twenty states in the western
territory Joined with Kansas in the APP
plication for reduced rates. As chair
man of the managing committee on
behalf of the twenty-one states, Reed
made the closing argument in which
he declared that agricultural interests
of the west were in a chaotic condition
bordering on bankruptcy, which could
not be relieved without a substantial
cut in freight rates.
R.lR. Chiefs Pesslmistic.
Local railroad officials said today
they had not yet received notification
of the rate reduction on grain, grain
products and hay ordered by the in
terstate commerce commission.
Neither J. r. Koontz, assistant
freight traffic manager of the Santa
Fe, nor r. G. Merrick, were in the
city and no official expression with
reference to the rate reduction could
be obtained from them. However, in
a pseech at Dodge City few days age
Koontz said that $500 freight rate
adjustments already had been made,
and that doubtless others would fol-
low. He observed that the reduction
on grain rates made a month or SO
ago applicable to wheat for export
had not resulted in an increase in
prices paid to farmers. He expressed
the opinion that any further decreases
made would not be reflected generally
in prices.
Application of the sentiments of
this speech to the reduction ordered
today would mean that farmers will
not receive any of the benefits of the
rate reduction, the surmise heing that
VIZ n n
producers will reap the benefits of the
lowered tariffs.
The rate reduction today puts the
coarse grains-rye, wheat, barley.
which was 10 per cent lower than
the rate OF wheat. Application for the
lowered rate was made some four
months ago by Chairman Clyde M.
Reed, of the Kansas public utilities
commission. and representatives of
other grain producing states. The ap-
plication had been before the inter-
state commerce commission for some
time, and the rate reduction ordered is
the answer made after the hearing
about a month ago.
Allen Well Pleased.
Gov. Henry j. Allen expressed great
satisfaction today when told of the
action of the interstate commerce
commission in lowering rates on grain
and hay in compliance with the re-
quest of sixteen states headed by Kan
sas which led the fight in bringing
relief to the agricultural interests Of
this section of the country. The gov
ernor at once directed Rate Expert
Conway, of the public utilities com
mission, to make an estimate of the
saving that will be made to he agri-
cultural shippers of the state.
at is a great thing for the agricui-
turaI industry" the governor said
land it is hard to estimate at this time
the enormous benefit it will be, not
only to the farmers but to all who are
seeking to put business again on a
sound basis and to open up the ave-
nues of commerce and industry in a
profitable way"
Asked what effect the rate reduc-
ton would have on the strike, the
governor said:
This action on the part of the in
terstate commerce commission in re-
ducing rates answers in very large
measure one of the main arguments
the railroad workers have used to
justify their strike plans"