Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-10
LooKER.oN IN IOWA

Estharyilie. May Members or the
Ian,a state railroad commission held a
conference in Chicago yesterday with
the general managers OF iowa Ioau9
and compelled them to agree to grant
ing return transportation 10 i've stoo"
shippers. 1t is understood tnat lhe
commission told the general managers
that unless they agreed TO issue Tie
TRANSFORMATION the commission Woulu
order a reduction of the live stock rates
within the state of Iowa. The state
legislature recently passed a law re-
curing the railroads to grant return
masses to shippers. but the railroads
had decided to test the law IN the
courts
The above Is a clipping from Chl-
,apo paper. and was the first story
that went the rounds. Then we We're
told that the railroad commissioners
had nothing to do with the re-estab-
lishment of the return pass system,
that the Meat Producers Association
was the factor that brought about the
desired result. And once more we read
that there were no threats or reduced
rates. that our railroad commissioners
inst talked it over with the railroad
men. and that of their own accord the
railroad companies put in force the re-
turn pass privilege. only with greater
restrictions as to number of cars, real
owners. etc. But perhaps the unkind-
est cut of all was the statement made
by lone who knows that the railroad
companies. after deciding TO again
adopt the old system of free return OF
actual owners of stock with certain
number of cars. ETC., gave the commas
sioners permission to give to the press
the statement that heads this article.
In other words. the railroads decided
no harm would come to them II 1t was
understood by the dear people that our
railroad commissioners really had pow.
er and really used it.
There is the other side the railroad
company side, that the press in all of
this discussion has not shown up as 1t
should be. And that is the abuse OF
this return pass system by some not
alD shippers Of live stock to the Chi
cago markets. In some cases the par"
ty accompanying the stock to Chicago
not the owner-only desired to go to
Chicago. In such cases he sold his pass
to return TO the scalpers or any one else
that would buy it, Then it is true that
some shippers (not alD actually sold
the privilege of going in with stock =
thus making very cheap trip to Chi
cago for some one who had business
there. All these things the railroad
companies We're ION to-" and the best
posted shippers say that from the be-
ginning of the agitation in the legis-
lature. and outside of it, the railroad
companies had no intention of perma-
nently cutting out the return pass, but
found it a good time and opportunity
for "a general reform" always intend
ing to gracefully yield before the cer-
tain-to- be storm of Indignation
This is a good place to mention one
or two things. The writer takes" a
Connecticut as we'll as a New York pa
per to keep himself in touch with 1.-THE
effete east" In those papers. every
| little While. he notices a report of "the
proceedings of the railroad commits
sioners.' He notices that the railroad
commissioners went out to Blanktown
on Tuesday to investigate the bridge
over the Rufbicon. That they ordered.
notice the word ordered the X Y. C..
railroad to make certain repairs inside
| of thirty days. Again he has seen
where when d petition of citizens was