Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-08
STOCK SHIPPER J
~OoA
ARE N POl||CS
They Have Begun a Movement
to Secure State and Ma
tional Legislation
HAVE STRONG ORGANIZATIONS
Demand Modification Of the Interstate
Commerce Law to Give Commission
More Power-PoliticaI Parties Have
New Element With Which to Reckon
In the Future.
.cial to s-Repuplican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Sept. 8.--Indications are
not wanting that the live stock ship
pers of the west are preparing for the
favorable legislation that has ever been
attempted in this country, and that in
the near future politicians and political
parties will have to reckon with the
demands of the shippers before con-
gress and the legislatures. The visit
of Frank Barry, of Washington, to this
city a few days ago revealed something
of the plans of the shippers. A meet
ing is to be held in Denver soon for
further consideration of some of the
matters. The Western Cattle Growers
Association is a very strong organiza-
ton, composed of wealthy cattle grow
ers and shippers, practical business
men, and they are prepared to furnish
all the funds needed to make known
their purposes. The demand just now is
for modification of the interstate
commerce law, SO that the commission
,, will be clothed with power to enforce
its own DEGREES, and so that it may put
Into force railroad rates after the man
ner of the Iowa state commission.
"The fact of the matter is" said
Henry Wallace, who has given the sub
,, ject some study, "the cattle and live
stock dealers of the far west are suf-i
fering from conditions that have be-
come absolutely intolerable, and there
appears to be no relief unless 1t comes
thru modification Of the law. These
conditions have grown up thru the
years and there Is no power or at- \
(thority to change them.
While in Des Moines Mr.. Barry made
lit plain that the cattle growers of the
west are watching very closely the con-
duct of some of the more influential of
the Iowa delegation in congress. The
one man in the country who is in the
most conspicuous position of all is Col
Hepburn, of the Eighth district. As
chairman of the interstate commerce
committee he is In a position to further
legislation or kill it off, The cattle
growers believe he has shown hostility
to their measures and they desire that
pressure be brought on him to induce
him to get on their side of the case
1t is understood, however, that they
have no thought of attempting to de-
feat his election now or in the future
and do not purpose going before the
people with complaint against the
colonel. Their attitude toward Senator
Dolliver is similar, only that he has not
had any opportunity to show his hand
and is not known to be positively ad-
verse to them.
The Corn Belt Meat Producers As
sociation is closely allied with the
western cattle growers, and will Coop
crate fully with that association. 1t is
organized by counties in more than
two thirds of Iowa and the members
are generally men of prominence and
influence. In general the members of
the association feel that the progress
made last winter during the legislature
was quite satisfactory. Some legisla-
ton was asked for and some was got,
but the most Of the success lay in the
fact that the legislators were given a
clearer insight into the entire situation
as to railroad business than ever be-
fore, and when the legislators get to-
gether again they will be prepared to
meet the problems more intelligently.
Then much was accomplished by COM
promises and agreements But the as
sociation will continue to be active in
state affairs.
It is interesting to note that the leg
islation which was proposed requiring
free transportation for shippers Is re-
ceiving some attention in other states.
the railroad companies to give free
pass to shipper with each carload Of
stock, or to one shipper with his con-
signment even if it was only a single
carload. The railroad companies have
refused to do so. In Kansas the SUI
prene court held a similar law uncon-
stitutional. The railroad companies are
arranging a test case to go to the SUI
preme court. The traffic association
had provided that where shipper had
more than one carload he was entitled
to a return pass. but drew the line on
giving a pass for each carload.
Aa#
During the state fair in Des Moines
no less a parsonage than the Belgian
minister of agriculture, M. Zeerieuwe.
visited the state fair in Des Moines.
and got away without any newspaper
of the city making the discovery. He
was out quietly looking over the coun-
try and studying American agriculture
without making any splurge about it.
$50
State superintendent Riggs is dis
posed to decide school appeal questions
coming before him on broad grounds
and common sense where that is possi-
BILE He has just decided a case from
Clearfield where school house site
was in controversy in growing town.
A north side and a south side both
wanted it. The superintendent showed
that it was a question of convenience
now and in the future for different
sections of the town. THE clair1s Of tse
child one half mile from school," wrote,