Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-19
Iowa Influence Strong in Demand
for Safety Appliances.
STOCKMEN ASK FORTY HOUR HAUL
Claim Live Stock Reaches Market in
Better Condition After Continuous
Trip Than When Unloaded and Fed
Enroute-Roberts Reapponted.
IBY H. ]. MAHIN.-

Ol lne utmost importance 10 TdllTodu
employees in Iowa and all over the
country, was brought up in the house
today. The bill is one making compul-
sorry safety appliances on all railroad
trains. 1t was through the direct in
fuence of Speaker Henredson that the
bill was brought up today, and it may
become a law this session.
In fact Iowa has fathered the bill
almost from the start, since it was
first referred to Col. Hepburn, who
pushed it as far along as he could.
The bill was first drafted last ses
sion, and was several times changed
to suit the representative Of the rail
road employees. The latter are united
in the matter and have representa-
tive here looking after their interests.
They are receiving little opposition
from the railroad companies, but not
much. The latter only claiming to
guard themselves against unreasona-
BILE demands.
The bill makes it against the law
for any railroad to run trains not
equipped with all reasonable safety
devices. Freight trains must have a
certain per cent of air-brake cars and
engines and passenger equipment
must have stated surplus of steps
and hand catches.
Col. Hepburn and the other Iowa
congressman have received many let
tiers from Iowa railroad men during
the past few weeks urging the pas
sage of the bill. Mr.. Hepburn got
favorable report through his commit
tee promptly and the matter has been
on the calendar for some weeks until
Speaker Henderson caused it to be
brought up today.
The only controversy today was an
amendment which leaves it practically
optional with the Interstate commerce
commission as. regards what per cent
of freight train must be equipped
with air brakes. A compromise was
made some time ago providing for GO
per cent but it is now thought best
to leave the matter in the hands of
the interstate commerce commission
SO that they can regulate it to fit diff
ferent occasions and conditions.
Another thing that Iowa congress
men I'd senators have been hearing
about from their constituents is the
bill recently passed the house extend
ing the time which stock may be kept
in rail- 3ad cars from twenty-four hours
to forty hours. Humane societies and
many good people over the country
have taken this matter up in holy
horror.
The bill making this change went
through Col. Hepburns committee and
those who heard some of the hearing
given its adherents at that time say
that the people are unduly alarmed.
1t is stated that the bill is in reality a
humane feature. In the old days of
unimproved stock cars it was undoubt.
eddy necessary to unload stock and wa
ter and feed them at least once day.
However, in this age of palace stock
cars the animals are said to be in bet
ter shape if left on the cars than if
driven off and on.
Many watering and feeding stations
that used to handle hundreds of head
of stock every day are now practically
deserted. 1t is said that there is one
of this sort at Burlington. OF course
there are many of the old stock cars
in existence, but they are only used
for short runs nowadays.
Stockmen declare that it is as much
to their interest as to the interest of
The humane societies that their cattle
should not be i'll treated on their trip
They must look their best when they
reach the market. Their chief pur
pose, they say, in asking for an extern
sion of time is to provide for contin
uous "trip from the fields to market.
Forty hours is sufficient to get cat
tie from almost any western point to
Chicago or Kansas City without delay
if improved stock cars are used. The
claim is that in the case of the wild
cattle it is less hardship to them tc
make a continuous trip on comfort
able stock car than to be driven on
and off at watering and feed stations
The congressman can do nothing
more about the measure, as it has al
ready passed the house 1t is moi
known Just what the senate will dc
with it, though many think it will pass
Congressman Haugen says he ha!
many letters from Iowa favoring the
passage of the bill admitting higl
grade brood animals free of duty in al
cases. Iowa stockmen will be glad tt
hear that this measure passed the
house with very little trouble las
week The law on this question wa.
rather strangely formed.
Ii said that brood animals entered
for breeding purposes would be adj
mitted free and the courts construed
this to mean that if the animals wer,
brought in to be sold on the marke
they must pay duty 1t was splitting
hairs, while the animals might b.
brought in by one man to be soil
while the very next man who brough
them would use them for breeding
purposes. At least that would be thei
ultimate use.
The law is now changed SO that al
brood animals are admitted fire.
whearer for sale or not The mea
sure was warmly championed by bot
Secretaries Wilson and Shaw and will
undoubtedly bgecome law.
Although many Iowa men have beef
intimate friends of the Presiden,
there are few who have ever been O.
better terms than is George III. Rob
erts, director OF the mint, with Pres
dent Roosevelt. Mr.. Roberts was re
appointed the other day without on