The Washington times., 1905-01-24
CATTLE RA|SERS
ON RATE BURDEN
S. III. COWan Voices Their
Protest Today.
NO HOPE FROM RAILROADS
Absurd to Think Traffic Men Will Fix
Rates More Reasonable Than
a Commission.
NO HOPE FROM RAILROADS

The protest of the cattle men OF the
West and Southwest against existing
traffic conditions in their sections was
voiced this morning by S. H. Cowan, of
Fort Worth, Tex, representing the Cat
tie Raisers' Association of Texas, before
the House Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce.
My people want u chance TO live and
prosper exclaimed Mr.. Cowan They
see no reason why they should pay $40
more a car for the novemeEr OF ot1 lie
than they did in 1898, or for ten years
before that time
The business is in a serious condi-
ton. The railroads are fond of saying
they have right TO share in the pros
perity of the country; il that be true. /
say they should share also in the adver-
sity of the people from whom they
make their profits.
Demand Remedy.
These things demand remedy-and
we cannot expect it from the railroads
Railroad rates are fixed for the purpose
of making money-and for no other pur-
pose Railroad traffic men adopt those
measures that will make for their com
panies the largest dividends in the long
run 1t is absurd to think any body of
traffic men can or will fix rates more
just or reasonable than a commission
representing the whole people
Mr. Cowan discussed with much
earnestness the question of the in
sonable. That unfortunate person. he
said is exceedingly hard to find. for
the reason that in most cases the
burden falls upon the small consumer.
Whoever is able to fix the price OF
his commodity is able to add the
freight" he said. ut makes no differ
ence TO the steel trust, or the beef
trust. or the sugar trust, whether
freight charges are increased or low
cred They simply fix the price and
add the freight. The producer of cattle,
lege; he cannot fix prices, and therefore
must bear the burden Of increased
rates But he is impotent."
NJ Competition Among Railroads.
People of this country do not realize
to what extent the railroads of this
country have combined for their own
profit and their own advantage The
law prohibits 1t, 1t is true, but the thing
is done The railroads may work in
mysterious ways their wonders TO per
form. but they usually perform their
wonders. There is not one particle of
competition today between the railroads
of the Southwest. in shipments Of cattle
to Kansas City and Chicago.
Il warn the committee against the
provision in some of the proposed bills
giving the court of commerce power
10 pass in review upon the reasonable
ness of the rates fixed by the Inter
state Commerce Commission. 1t is a
dangerous power-a power destructive
OF all the good the bills are designed TO
accomplish.
.sThe court. unauthorized itself TO fix
a rate will. in the exercise OF this pow
er be destructive merely OF the con,
r{x-.z ~
rot constructive OF anything for the
future"
What Everybody Wants.
Mr.. Cowan said there could be no dis
pute about the fact that everybody
wanted rebates abolished The railroads
and the people generally are a unit on
this proposition. the railroads because
they decrease profits, and the people
because they interfere with the ordin-
ary mans chance for square deal.
Robinson Gives Illustration.
| C. w. Robinson, representing the New
| Orleans board of trade. gave the com
mittee an illustration of the manner
| III which the railroads were accustomed
| to fix rates.
IAN instance in point said Mr. Robin
| son, lis afforCed by the action of the
| southern roads in raising the tariff on
yellow pine lumber. | Will quote on this
| subject the words of j. NJ. Culp, traffic
manager of the Southern Railway AS
near as ] can remember ne said that the
railroads, desiring to share in the gen
a"al prosperity of the country, looked
| bout To see what industry could best
bear an increase in freight rates. TIE
| lumber manufacturers looked prosper
| Gus, and thcy were chosen for the IN
crease.
That Dry. Rasping Cough is not neces
sary. Piso's Cure Will relieve and cIIre II