Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-05
Official Statement of Railroad
Commissions Share In Stock
Pass Controversy
HOG SHIPPERS ARE BENEFITED
Railroads Tried Hard, However, to
Exclude Shippers of Swine From
Recent Railroad Pass Agreement
Commissioners Will See That Trou-
Sic at the Stock Yards Is Adjusted.

Des Moines, May 5.-Members OF
the state railroad commission nave
declined to discuss the statement re-
Gently made by Mr.. Hepry wallace
relative to their part in the adjustment
of the stock pass controversy OIL the
railroads and the Iowa shippers.
Yesterday, however. the official
statement Of the commission relative
Go it's share in the settlement OF the
question in favor OF the shippers was
made public. Practically, this is the
pfffciai record Of the work OF the com
mission in the stock pass matter. IA
1t thescommission states that it haa tue
r1atter under consideration prior 20
the time that the legislature TOOK II UP
that It resumed negotiations with the
railroads after the legislature had ao
iourned, that it secured the adjustment
OF the differences which nad arisen
over the protest of the raifoaos
against issuing return passes outsiae
OF the state, and that 1t succeeded IN
gaining for the shippers that which the
railroads especially objected to grant
ing. namely, return passes for shippers
AZ hogs. a not ineonsiderable product
OF the state.
No mention of Mr.. Wallace is made
in the commissions report of the mat
Ter. President Ames of the Livestock
Shippers, Association is referred to,
however, being the officer of the asso-
Sl,ra ..ntl furnished
notification of their concession TO tn,
commission.
Hog Shippers Benefited.
The statement OF the commission IN
dicates that the chief objection to the
railroads to issuing the return passes
more affected the shippers of swine
than the shippers OF cattle. The indus
try Is of large Importance in the west.
1t is said that even after the commits
sion had secured the agreement thai
return passes outside the state would
be restored, the Western Freight Assoc
citation, which took the matter up, was
stili inclined to exclude the hog ship
pers from the benefits of the agree
ment But the Iowa railroad agents in
sisted that they be included. saying
that their word had been given the
railroad commission.
The statement Of the commission
ofows:
when the matter OF delay in rum
ming time OF stock trains into Chicago
from Iowa and the abolition of return
passes to livestock shippers was first
announced, the commission took up
the same with the railway companies
interested. Then the legislature con-
vened, and when 1t began to investi-
gate the whole matter and propose
legislation, the railroad commissioners
took no further action At no time did
any stock shipper or association appeal
to the railroad commissioners possibly
from the fact that 1t was Well known
that the trouble was with interstate,
commerce, over which the Iowa rail-
road commission would have no legal
jurisdiction whatever
The commissioners had taken the
case up with the railway companies,
as they do many others. with the idea
of making an adjustment of apparent
differences to the reasonable satisfac-
ton OF all parties. When 1t was an
nounced in the papers that the railway
companies had agreed TO comply with
W
that is. give return passes to shippers
of livestock, when shipping between
points in Iowa and the livestock
shippers protested on the ground that
1t was the understanding that the re-
turn passes would be given also on
Iowa shipments to Chicago, the COM
missioners, again Of their own motion,
appointed date about the middle of
April for conference with the presi-
dents of Iowa railway, companies in
Chicago.
Met in Chicago.
The date was of necessity changed
to later one April 26th, and on that
day the entire board with the secretary
went into Chicago. had meetings and
conferences with the presidents, gem
eral managers and general traffic man
ayers. at which conferences the whole
subject of running time of stock trains
and return passes was gone over. The
railroad commissioners at these con-
ferances made some suggestions along
the line of adjusting the whole matter
to prevent friction, but contrary to the
Associated Press dispatches made no
threats of amy character.
"A meeting of the presidents and
general mana gers of the railway COM
panies was called by President Earring
: of the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul
Railway Company to consider the prop
osition, made by the railroad commits
sioners. On Wednesday the railroad
commissioners met with committee
appointed by the presidents of Che
road to perfect the terms and condi-
tons upon which all might agree.
AT. this meeting it developed that the
companies We're willing to accede TO
the request of the railroad commission
ers that return passes be given to
shippers of cattle, but did not want to
restore the privilageto shippers of hogs
and sheep.
The commissioners insisted that all
stock shippers should be placed upon
the same basis, and the result was that
the companies agreed to restore the
privilege TO all shippers. This COM
mittee was composed of Messrs. j. w.
Blythe of the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy. E. S. Kelley and kenna of
the Chicago. Milwaukee & St Paul;
&c. Davis of the Chicago & North
western W. NJ. Hobbs. w. T. Rankin
and II. cover of the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific, and T. j. Hudson OF
the Illinois CENTRAL. A little later in
the same day Mr.. w. A. Gardner. gem
eral manager of the Chicago & North
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