Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-14
Missouri Executive Writes
Governor Cummins Relative
to Freight Rate Bill
LAW PASSED IN THAT STATE
Effect of Maximum Freight Law
Which Was at One Time in Opera
ton in This State May Lead Mis-
souri, Governor to Veto Bill Now
Before Him.

Des Mones, April IA. Governor
| Cummins is In receipt of letter noti-
flying him that the Missouri house ana
senate have passed a maximum rail-
road freight rate bill, which now is in
the hands of Governor Folk and ask
ing the governor to write to Governor
Folk TO inform him as to the truth
or falsity of the claim made by oppo-
nents of the measure in Missouri to
the effect that similar legislation in
Iowa seventeen years ago resulted in
driving out Iowa manufactures and in
dustries.
The letter was written by A. A..
Speer of Usage county, Missouri, who
offered the measure referred to in the
Missouri legislature. He has been
watching it closely since it's passa ge
and has been informed that powerful
Influences have been enlisted In be-
half Of the railroads in that state to
prove that the measure will be detri-
mental to the state and they use The
claim that that was the result In Iowa.
Governor Folk has until Monday,
April IL, to sign or to veto the meas
ure, and Mr.. Speer says that he re-
CARDS it as very important that the
facts as to the situation in Iowa be
known by Governor Folk before he
makes UP his mind with respect to the
measure.
Governor Cummins was not in the
city yesterday but will return today at
which time he will take UP the con-
sideration of the matter. His views
with respect to the determinations
which the railroads practice and which
have had victims in Iowa he outlined
clearly his Dubuque address last No
vember just prior to the time that he
went to Washington to urge the pres
ident to make recommendation to
congress to vitalize the interstate com
merce commission.
Two Opinions in Iowa.
AS to the question of the effect of the
rates established by the Iowa railroad
commission on authority of the legisla-
ture fourteen years ago. two opinions
are held among men of business. One
is that the rates have been helpful
to the smaller communities of the state
and prevented large jobbing centers
from being built UP at the cost of the
smaller and less favored towns; an
other is that the system has been
harmful in that the railroads have
sought to punish the state for estab-
fishing the principle in Iowa Of public
power to fix as well as regulate rail-
road rates. In this sense there are
those who think the system has been
detrimental to many of the industries
of the state
On the other hand, prominent men
believe that the railroads are in the
business Of getting trade, and not of
Furnishing people, and that if Iowa has
lost packing industries, distilleries,
starch factories, barb wire industries,
etc. in the last fifteen years, it has
come about thru the policy of the rail-
roads, framed without reference to
what the roads have declared the hos
tile policy of the state of Iowa.
During the recent LaFollette CAM
paign in Wisconsin the governor was
solicited for an expression Of opinion
as to the effect of the railroad sys-
tenn in this state on the industries Of
Iowa, but the inquiry was not anthem
ticated in time to permit an answer.
In Missouri the legislature has en-
acted maximum tariff into the stat
utes, as Nebraska did few years ago.
In Iowa the railroad commission was
given power to fix a tariff, and it did.
The Nebraska minimum tariff was de-
clared by the courts not to be COM
pensatory and in the legislature, which
has lust adjourned at Lincoln, :tn eff
fort to establish the Iowa system was
defeated.
Mr.. speer of Missouri stated in his
letter that the chief influence working
against the Missouri bill comprises the
big jobbers and shippers OF the large
cities. He does not believe that the
Iowa low rates have driven industries
out Of this state. He wishes confirm
alton Of this view from high sources,
and hopes that Governor Cummins will
so say in communication to Govern
or Folk. The understanding, of course,
is that Mr.. Speer acts for Governor