Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-06
ARE AFTER KOCH.
IOWA SHIPPERS DO NOT AGREE
WITH HIS ATTACK ON IOWA
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
Write Letters to HIm-RecalI Leglsla-
tive Investigation Of Rates and Cite
Replies OF John MorrelI e. Co., Ltd,
And Other Packing Companies.

The sensational testimony of E. r.
Koch before the senate committee of
interstate commerce recently in which
he savagely assailed the Iowa State
Railroad commission has caused Geo.
D. Henry of Fairfield to take up the
cudgel in defense of the board. Last
winter the Iowa legislature had up the
question of discrimination in Iowa rates
and in reply to inquiries from the
board John Morrell & Co.,
Ltd, and other packing COM
panies stated that they did not be-
lieve that there was any discrimina-
tons against their interests.
Mr.. Henry, one Of the shippers who
has profited by the Iowa rates main
tanned by the commission has written
a letter to Mr.. Koch in regard to the
latter's testimony in Washington ex-
pressing the belief that the things
stated by Mr.. Koch appear to him to
be bad Misrepresentation, for, he
said, II can hardly give man in your
position credit for being so ignorant of
his business and subject as this state
ment appears"
Mr.. Koch told the senate committee,
according to the printed proceedings
Of that body, that Iowa manufacturers
suffered from inequitable state rates
and that the railroad commission was
responsible for the disadvantage under
which the Iowa industries labored. He
represented the Sinclair Packing COM
pany Of Cedar Rapids In the hearing.
These statements are the ones to
which Mr.. Henry referred to in his
letter.
Henry Is CaustIc.
Mr.. Henry writing to Mr.. Koch,
says:
In the first place, can't conceive
how our Iowa state rates can possibly
affect the interstate rates, and If 1T
would in the least, 1t would be in the
same direction as the rates now stand,
and If you will take the trouble to look
the distant rates up on hogs, car lots.
you will find the following table to be
true Except recent changes, which
are made by the state commissioners
viz:
Iowa gives you a haul Of 210 miles
for Is cent rate.
Illinois gives you haul Of $50 miles
for a Is cent rate.
miles for a Is cent rate.
The following rates are made by the
railroad company, they are out of the
state laws, and not within the power
of the interstate commissioners-viz
Between Iowa and Missouri, gives
YOU q haul of 10 miles for a IL cent
rate.
Between Iowa and Illionis, gives you
| .
rate.
Between Missouri and Illinois, gives
you haul Of As miles for Is cent
rate.
Of course these rates are principally
used at non-competition points. And
the long distant rates, which you talk
of are competition points. In closing
will venture the assertion, that II the
railroad company could make these in
terstate rates effective in this state, the
Sinclair Packing company would close
down IN less than a week.
Legislature Had 1t Up.
In this connection it is interesting
to recall the fact that last year the
Iowa legislature had up this question
of determinations in Iowa rates.
On March II, 1904, Representative
E. w. Weeks of Guthrie Center wrote
to the railroad commission asking
| whether there was any manipulation
of freight rates by railway companies
doing business in Iowa whereby pack
ing houses in Iowa and in territory ad.
! jace:. thereto are Disseminated
against. He said: Are the rates such
that they force the farmers to ship
their live stock to Chicago rather than
to nearby packing houses or mar
kets?" And he asked for a reply in de-
tail indicating the discrimination, If
any.
Thereupon the board which had
heard of no complaints along this line
sent letters of inquiry based on the
request OF Representative Weeks to
the independent packing establish
ments Of the state including his ques.
tons therein, as follows:
"This board has been asked whether
or not the railway companies have
manipulated the freight rates in such
a way as to discriminate against Iowa
packing houses, so that stock shippers
are compelled to send their stock to
Chicago rather than to packing houses
in Iowa. The commissioners would be
pleased to hear from you by return
mail whether or not you are being dis.
eliminated against in this manner"
| Packers Answer.
The commissioners received replies
from T.. NJ Sinclair G. Co., of Cedar
Rapids, from John, Morrell & Co., Ltd.