Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07
NOTICE TO RAILROADS
PASSAGE OF THE NOW NoToRI-
GUS as-HoUR Law.
Extends Time During Which Animals
May Be Kept In Transit With
out Food or Water.

Notice was served on the railroads by the
Department Of Agriculture today OF the
passage Of the now notorious twenty
hour law This is law relating to the
shipment Of live stock by rail or water In
interstate commerce. The notice Is couched
in involved legal phraseology, but the gist
of the matter IS that 1t extends the time
during which animals may be kept In tram
sit without food or water from twenty-eight
to thirty-six hours. This is bill that was
bitterly fought through both houses of Con-
gress by the humane societies of the coun-7
try, but was finally passed in the interests
of the live stock men and the railroads. and
was signed by the President just as Con-
gress was adjourning.
Under the law railroads, steamships and
all common carriers are prohibited from
shipping stock. horses, cattle. sheep or
swine for more than twenty-eight hours at
a stretch without unloading them for at
least fve-hours of feed rest and watering
This was the period at which the law stood
for years, but it was dead letter and lit
tie attention was paid to 1t till the Secre-
tary of Agriculture, having his attention
called to the abuse, commenced to enforce
the law. Even in that case the shippers
and the railroads were allowed to plead
guilty and escape with the minimum fine of
300 There was general effort made how
ever, to have the time of continuous tram
sit extended to thirty-six hours. and after
long fight the railroads accomplished this
Section Of Law
The way in which it is done is by keeping
the maximum time of shipment at twenty
eight hours, but providing that on applica-
ton to the Secretary of Agriculture, the
time of continuous shipment may be con-
tinued to thirty-six hours. The section of
the notice referring to this provision says:
You may also note that it is provided
that upon the written request of the owner
or person In custody of the shipment the
time of confinement may be extended to
thtrty-six hours. This request however,
must be separate and apart from any
printed bill of lading, or other railroad
form. The manner of estimating the time
or confinement Is the same under the new
law as 1t was under the old. The time dur
ing which the animals have been confined
without rest. food or water on connecting
roads Is included. The new law does not
require that when the twenty-eight- hour
period expires in the night time that sheep
shall be unloaded. but they may be carried
on In continuing transit to suitable
place for unloading until daylight subject
hours.
The exception found in the old law that
when animals are carried in cars boats or
other vessels in which they can and do
nave proper 1000. water, space and oppor
tunity to rest, the provisions in regard to
their being unloaded shall not apply, is
also found in the new law"
The Secretary's Notice.
In conclusion, the Secretary SAYS:
las you are probably aware, there was
considerable opposition to the repeal Of sec
lions 43S6-90, particularly from those per-
sons who have interested themselves In the
humane treatment of animals. have de-
termined to enforce this law strictly and
rigsdly, and give you this notice at this time
the matter of transportation of live stock
on your lines that violations of the new law
need not occur. At the expiration of thirty
days from the date Of this letter the in
spectors of the department will be directed
to report all viola tons of the law and these
will be transmitted to the Department of
Justice for institution of suit and the col
lection of penalties Under the old law the
department pursued the plan Of allowing
pay the minimum penalty of $10O per case
This practice will not be followed in the
enforcement of this law"
An argument that was used In favor Of
the new law extending the time of shipment
without food or water, was that the rail-
roads and stock raiserS said it was more
humane to starve the cattle eight hours
longer than to subject them to the addition
al handling that would be involved in I'M
loading them and loading them again on
the cars and boats.
sible for the shippers of live stock to get
cattle from almost any point where they are
raised to the slaughter houses without feed
ing or watering them. And thus they will
be able to save considerable amount of
money.