Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-07-07

mined TO force the railroads tc con-
form to the so-called twenty-eight-
hour cattle transportation law Mr.
4 wilson, the secretary of agriculture
has had papers in twelve hundred
~Ssuits prepared against those roads
which have been caught d-handed
in violation of the statutes.
y This means practically every road
Nof consequence in the west. The Sec
retary's positive stand Cn the matter
it becomes known here, has caused
d. panic among the roads, whose rep
resentatives. promising strict observ-
eH ance of the law in the future, are be.
seiging the department for comprom-
ises.
lei What proportion CT the twelve hun
lr dred suits will be prosecuted in the
courts is undecided by the secretary
$ of agriculture. His purpose is chief
J ly to force the railroads to recognize
6 and obey the law. which they have
a long investigation. in which | 800
J, inspectors were engaged. 200 cases.
, each proving in the opinion of the de-
partment officials. prima facie guilt
:, are prepared. The maximum penalty
-, in each case would be fine of $500.
The probable policy of the depart
mont will no tn a1lCu ic.,
, at 800 fer each offense to railroads
which have evidenced a disposition to
~, meet the department demands. and tc
force the issue to maximum fine
against the less tractable roads.
The suits to prosecute will be filed
in the United States circuit courts.
The penalties paid will go into the
federal treasury.
elimination Of Old Fight.
y This fight between the railroads AMI
the department of Agriculture is an
old one. The law on which it hinges
was enacted in 1873 The statute pre-
vides that cattle in transportation
shaM Be taken from the cars every
Il twenty Eight hours. fed watared ard
allowed to rest fc.r five hours.
For many years the department un
: dertook to have its INSPECTORS riio
on the cattle trains. It was he'' b1
the law advisers of the deDarrw 3i1t
II that in this way only could a'.idencr
on which to base case be secured
against the roads. Put the practica
y. was awkward and expensive
A few cases were made from time
: to time were prosecuted and fines i'm.
posed. But as the penalty wss s''9'
and the cases few, the roads merely
: paid the fines when assessed and went
ahead to dc business IS it best suited
their convenience The law became
a dead letter.
A year ago Secretary Wilson got a
new law adviser, Georoge McCabe By
knows the cattle business thoroughly.
It was decided that humane consider
ations and the interests of the stock
men demanded an enforcement Of the
twenty-eight- -hour law, anil Mr.. Nc.
CaS4 came forward with the suggest
ion as to how it could be done.
Mccabe's Plan.
His idea was to station cne agent
at the principal points of origin where
the cattle trains are made up and an
other at the slaughtering yards. where
the cattle are unloaded. Their testi-
mony. he argued. by the nature OF
the conditions now governing the cat
tie trade. would be competent to es-
tablish exactly the time the cattle
were en- route without rest or feed.
Secretary Wilson decided to try
the plan. Points Of origin. the known
feeding stations maintained by the
railroads and the principal Slaughter
ing points were watched. The 1.5oo
insnectors. connected with the Bureau
of Animal Industry were used ana a
large amount of information. very
dxarehensive in its scope, was col
lecYed. The number CT each car was
taken at the point Of origin and the
respective cars were carefully fol-
lowed in their travels. There can be
no doubt of the conclusive nature OF
the notes secured.
The data was all sent to Washing,
ton The time cf each train and car
was determined. At the era Of SIX
months time the material for the
twelve hundred cases was Well IN
hand.
Railroads Staggered.
The department was ready then 10
burl it's bolt. The railroads were
staggered. While they were ready
to pay the bills and go ahead, when
only a fine of 500 or SO had to De
met in isolated cases, rney reafzeo
.1,ov ;s was another mater to deal