Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-16
Union Pacific Freight Manager
Witness Before Interstate
Commerce Commission
TEXAS cATTLEMEN's FIGHT
Commissioner Prouty Closely Cues
tons Railroad Managers and Some
of His Questions Are Difficult to An
swer Without Admitting Inequality
of Rates.

Chicago, Nov. 16.-At the interstate
commerce commission investigation of
the fight between the Texas Cattle
Raisers' Association and the southwest
ern railroads, John A. Monroe, freight
railroad gave interesting testimony. He
said:
"a heavy drain is expected where
the railroads have to compete with
themselves on different lires of traf-
fic."
Either corn in the corr belt must
be carried to the cattle on the western
ranges, or the cattle carried to the
corn. OF course we try to do the for
mer as much as possible, for it cuts
the empty mileage of our cars, mas
much as the cattle must be brought
eastward sooner or later, but the low
rates that have been forced by COM
petition make it SO much more profit
able for the cattlemen to bring the cat
tie to the corn, that we find 1t practl-
cally impossible to carry much corn
east. In this way we are competing
with our own low rate on cattle"
Mr. Monroe was questioned closely
regarding the existing rates and the
profits to the company by Commission
err Prouty during the afternoon ses-
sion.
"The complaint is extorionate and
excessive rates have been charged and
all sorts of abuse practiced, but the
fact that men are at this cattle raising
and shipping business year In and
wear out and still seem to have money
for the purpose Of carrying it on, is
some Indication that condi Ions are not
unbearable. AS far as these rates be-
ing extortionate are concerned. can
saw that in most cases they are not
even compensatory"
Further questioning brought out the
statement that the rate on live stock
from Cheyenne to Omaha Is ~ Genus
per 100 pounds and that on soild
train of forty cars the company would
receive $1,000. Mr.. Monroe further sta
ted that live stock was handled at
lower profit to tie railroad company
than nearly any other kind Of freight.
"Do you consider $1,000 too little Tor
one train, operated by one engine crew.
from Cheyenne to Omaha" asked
Commissioner Prouty.
eve never have solid train Of that
size, but if we did we might afford
to handle them at that rs te.'
But" objected Mr.. Prouty, what
difference does it make whether the
train is composed Of ten cars of cat
tie and the remainder some other kind
of freight, which you state yourself is
more profltable?"
Mr.. Monroe then went into tech
meal explanation of the problems IN
volved in the handling of live stock.
but the commission was not satisfied
and he was kept on the stand the
greater part Of the day.
Joseph w. Maxwell. assistant general
Superintendent Of the Missouri. Kan
sas & Texas railway, testified regard
ing the equipment required on his road
and the expense of handling the live
stock traffic.
"a great deal of our traffic in this
line is stock we receive from our con-
nections, the short lines in Texas said
the witness.
eve have to furnish the equipment
for this traffic ourselves, and are at
great loss in many ways it Is always
returned empty and thes, cars are Of
ten delayed at connecting points for
days at time"
Commissioner Prouty said that he
had no hope of closing up the case at
this session Of the commission. Inc
investigation will be continued.