The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-15

shall be regarded Is those Of other
commodities, ana moved in the cheap
est m7nner possible to the carriers,
Notwithstanding the feet that rates
are ssessed on basis OF extra
risk, periehable, with the Implied
promise q fast service In
der this doctrine mex locomotives Of
flereased drawing power are replacing
engines constructed for speed; and the
aim Of operating departments is being
more and more directed toward getting
the maximum tonnage out Of the min
iInum cost Tor fuel, oil ana crew serV-
ice, in each haul, regardless Of the
time made. The result is long trains.
breaking draw bars, bad meeting
points and delays at short sidings 20
saw By, with the attendant tossing and
tumbling Of whatever livestock is sand
wiehed in with the coal iron, railroad
ties and other dead freight that go to
make up the ordinary forty-c car train of
western roads ia these days.
Claims for Damages.
"Our remedy for these aflictions now
viii be found in claims for damages,
promptly made, with q complete and
verified statement of details Of abuses,
and the same vigorously pressed for
collection.
1VlttE rev UbiAEaAtDflS 10 the StliftEalAz
public remain upon statute books for
the control Of common carriers which
can be employed to advantage. The
law provides that common carriers
shall furnish special equipment for our
product with reasonable diligence and
of suitable quality 10 move business
without damage or unnecessary loss OF
time. From this date on stockmen
should keep q record Of every ship
ment they make. dating from the time
the cars are ordered, enclosing with
the time Of delivery at its destination.
If delay occurs. or damage accTues,
from any cause for which the carrier is
responsible, claim for loss should be
made and collection enforced TO the
last cent of damage inflicted in every
instance.
Scarcely d shipment of livestock is
made over any line or road for a long
distance in these days whose owner
has not just cause for the collection of
damages because or the service rem
dered in its movement, and for years
railway companies have escaped their
plain liability under the law for de-
fects of equipment, lack Of diligence in
supplying It, poor service and other
damaging neglects and abuse because
stockmen have not pressed for their
rights. Free rides for themselves and
return transportation TO the attend
ants in charge of their shipments have
been responsible for much of this
leniency on the part of shippers; and
the corporations have escaped being
mUlcted for damages yearly to an ag-
gregate Of hundreds of thousands Of
dollars because Of this cheap liberality.
One Good Change.
THE pass privileges of every de-
scriDeiOn are, happily for the stock
man, Withdrawn. Hereafter senti-
mental settlements for loss, damage,
neglect and other abuse Of livestock
while in transit, must give way to res
titutiOn in dollars and cents; and I,
for one, am satisfied that the change
will result in great saving TO shippers.
The collection Of money damages
for abuses sustained is an immediate
available recourse which stockmen
must adopt to Offset poor service and
the paucity Of privileges the railways
propose to move our business under
hereafter; and the matter of fair rates
for the service rendered and fair rates
as between points and people can also
be reached If this associations support
ed by stockmen generally, undertakes
its regulation We have reached q
point in our affairs, as previously stat
ed, where the railway people can fig
ure on collecting a tax of s. on every
calf, and 80 cents on every lamb born
each year. The packers have been
trimming US up for probably twice that
tribute ever since their combination
got to working effectively. And then
there are our state, county and school
taxes Insignificant by comparison
Whenever the latter levies have ex-
Ceedcd our ideas of what they should
fairly be, we have taken hand in
local government to the extent OF COM
Polling desirable changes, and we must
compel such changes IN railway rates
by the same sort of interference II we
would prevent the complete destruction
Of the business in which we are en-
gagged.
Railway Commissions.
I'VE need an elective railway COM
mission in every western state; bear in
mind, an elective body, not appointiye
/ should have the same powers that
the Texas law gives to its commission,
and the same requirements for the
maintenance OF headquarters and
complete roster Of officials by all rail
lines operated III a state should be in
Guided IN the legislation which We set
=
IS the only effectively useful enc Of its
kind, as far as rates and service are
concerned TO shippers, ia the United
States today. Through the provisions
Of the law requiring the maintenance
Of headquarters within the state, it is
enabled to reach responsible officials.
review the business Of the corporation
and 20 an extent determine Whethf r
fair or unfair earnings are being ex-
acted in the way Of rates. And it Is
also in shape 10 compel restitution and
redress.
No Relief from Congress.
Texas has 10 copyright and desires
none on the control she exerts through
this law upon her railways within her
own borders; and since we cannot ex-
pect early relief from congress on in
teTstate rates why should we not be-
sin the regulation Of local ones to make