Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-31
ARE KEEPING CLOSE IAB
Cattle Growers Interstate Ex-
ecutive Committee Suspects
Opposition From Iowa
CAN AID OR HINDER THEIR FIGHT
Representative w. P. Hepburn and
Senator J. P. DolIiver Are in a Way
Charged With Being Opposed to the
Interstate Commerce Law Amend
ments-Iowa's Influence Powerful.

| Des Moines, Aug. 81. - The Cattle
Growers Interstate executive commits
tee is keeping close tab on two promi-
nent Iowa congressman who are in a
| position to do much in aiding or In
hinderirg the fight of the western cat.
tie growers for amendments TO the in
terstate commerce laws that will give
| the Interstate commission some OF the
real power that it is sorely in need OF
for the proper protection of shipping
| interests.
| Representative w. P. Hepburn Of the
Eighth district Is one of the men whose
attitude toward the amendment is be-
+ ing carefully observed, and Senator J.
p. Deliver is the other. AS chairman
of the house committee on Interstate
and foreign commerce, the attitude or
Mr.. Hepburn is Of especial Importance
to the vast cattle growing interests; In
that position his influence for the
amendments would be a powerful fac
tor in favor of it's recommendation foc
passage, Senator Dolliver is one OF the
leading members of the senate commits
tee to which the amendments were re-
ferred at the last session OF congress.
and because of his prestige ana stand
ing in congress, his influence for or
against them would be very potent.
The Cattle Growers Interstate exec
utive committee. which Is an organiza>
ton uniting the cattle growers OF
twelve western states, is disposed to
being opposed to the interstate com-
merce law amendments; its agents are
busy in Iowa now to secure their sup
port and avoid their opposition, and Il
is likely that within the next few
weeks the rapidly growing Iowa Meat
Producers Association will memoralize
both men upon the matter. The Cattle
Growers Interstate Executive COM
mittee has Just issued pamphlet In
which it sets forth in black and white
that it believes both Hepburn and Dol
liver are against the amendments. In
discussing the status of the movement
in congress, the pamphlet lists both
iowa men as opposed, and of Repre-
sentative Hepburn 1t says further:
chairman Hepburn, as the record
OF the hearings before his committee
upon similar measures clearly proves,
is an enemy to the principle of govern
mental regulation OF Interstate trans
portation rates. He persists In viewing
the railroads as upon a plane with all
co, porations or business individuals
1T Is absolutely essential to the in
terests OF cattle growers in the west
and to shippers of every class that the
proposed amendments to the interstate
commerce laws be passed. declared
Frank Barry of Washington, D. c..
who was in the city yesterday for
conference with prominent cattle
growers. shippers and other men prom
inent In the business and public life of
the state.
Constantly Raising Rates.
THE railroads are making more and
more unreasonable exactions in the
way of freight charges every year he
continued, land there is now no salts
factory way to check or investigate the
Justice of their tariffs. The interstate
commerce commission is virtually
powerless to do anything, altho 1t is
supposed to regulate Interstate freight
traffic. All that the commission can do
now is to say merely that this or that
rate complained of is unjust and that
the railways desist from making the
unreasonable charges. 1t can go no
further. If the shipper wants relief he
must appeal to the United States
courts, and relief there is practically
out of the question. Suits have been
brought, but they have dragged along
for wears without result. Even then
the railway company can cut a frac-
ton of cent of the rate complained OF
and nullify the whole proceedings.
What the shippers of the country
want and must have Is such amend
ments as will give the interstate COM
merce commission power to say to rail-
ways that unjust rates are unjust and
that they must not charge more than
q, maximum to be fixed in the course of
the commissions investigations or
The commission must be
given power to enforce its findings
which it now has not even In the
slightest degree. If the railways are
dissatisfied with the findings or the
they should have the right
of appeal, of course, and the proposed
give them that right.
Railway freight rates are now posi-
lively unjust, not merely in the west,
Int eyerywhere They have gone up
tremendously in the past few years;
they are on the average SIS per cent
higher than they were seven years ago.
in 1897. Every possible sort OF rate
inegling has been used to bring about
these results; sometimes rates are
directly raised, sometimes they are
raised by changing from lower TO q
higher class, and sometimes by chang
ing from commodity TO class rate. The
average rate per ton was, IN April
1904. nearly l2a cents greater than the
average for the year ending June 80, !
1s9e and this increase meant All IN
crease of revenue of Si55,4 500, all OF |
which came from the pockets OF ship
ners. who had no means of protecting |
themselves. At the same time the cost |
of moving traffic has been greatly di-
There is measure now pending,
which is being promoted by the cattie /
growers aud other shippers. 1t is the I
Cooper Quarles BILL being introduced I
In the house by Representatives ii. "A.
cooper and in the senate by Senator .
T. V. Ouares both of Wisconsin. 1T Is
moderate in its terms and is intended /
merely to extend the powers of the /
to enforce its rulings when |
ii finds that Interstate rates are un- |
lust and excessive: 1t safeguards the |
railway interests by giving them the /