Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-07
Agricultural Committee Has
Important Hearing on the
Proposed Law
RAILWAY ATTORNEYS SPEAK
Strong Showing Was Made Against the
Measure-companies Claim They
Have No Control Over Cars and
Cannot Know In Advance Whether
1t is Possible to Secure Thorn.
IRy Ora Williams.l
cial TO Times-Republican.

most important OIL tne many hearings
by the agricultural committees of the
senate and house occurred yesterday
demurrage bill. Representatives OF
elevators, shippers and business men
generally had been given opportunity
ten days ago to present the reasons for
desiring this bill which was prepared
at the instance of shippers who have
complained that under the present sys-
tenn it is impossible to secure suffi-
cient number of cars. Today the trans
portatlon interests appeared. They
We're under the guidance of James c.
Davis, attorney for the Chicago and
Northwestern. and among those who
spoke We're w. ID. Eaton, attorney in
Iowa for the Burlington; Mr.. Gardner,
general superintendent of the North
western; Mr.. Foster. superintendent of
the Milwaukee; Mr.. Hubble, of the
Rock Island and Mr.. Elliott also of
the Rock Island Even the staunch adj
vocates of the demurrage bill admit
that a very strong showing was made
against the bill.
Mr.. Gardner made the especial point
against the bill that 1t is impossible for
any railroad company to always supply
cars as they are needed or demanded,
because the company has no control
whatever over the source of this traf-
fic, and cannot know in advance of the
needs of the business at particular
time or place; and further that If any
railroad company was able to supply
the maximum demand for cars for
shippers at any time it would simply
overload the discharge facilities at the
other end to the great detriment OF
traffic He pointed out that the prac-
teal operation of this law would be
that the railroad companies would be
furnishing warehouse facilities for
shippers, and that those who were thus
favored would shut out others equally
deserving from the chance to obtain
cars. IF this bill becomes law" he
declared, every railroad would be
forced out of protection for itself to
make it rule not to accept any ship
ment for any point beyond its own
lines. for 1t could have no control over
it's cars that go into the control of 9TH
er systems"
Mr.. Hubble took up briefly the COM
plants made by elevator men along the
line of the Rock Island at Bode, OXon
Rake and other points in northern
Iowa. and gave from the records or the
company statistics showing that the
statements made to the committee as
to the small number of cars shipped
from these points were all wrong, put
that a much larger number of cars had
actually been loaded at the points nam
ed than was represented by the ele-
vator men who had claimed heaVy
losses.
Mr.. Eaton discussed the legal phases
of the bill and declared that inasmuch
&C the chief complaint was that Of
discrimination as between towns the
statutes now provide more drastlc
punishment for the railroads ohan is
proposed in this bill.
Mr. Elliott who has charge OF the
demunrage department, showed tnat
the present demurrage system operates
for the benefit Of the shipper ana the
merchant quite as much as Tor the
railroads. The charge of 81 a day is
not compensatory for the rental OF the
car. If you want to bankrupt rail-
road lust fill all it's cars and pay de-
murrage at 81 day on them, and IL
will do so. He contended that the eff
feet of this law would be to make II
more difficult to fill orders for cars.
Mr. Davis called attention to the fact
that the bill would operate to still
further limit the supply of the cars
thus shutting out many who want cars.
In general the law would be as bad Tor
shippers as for the railroads.
The attorney for the shippers also
smoke. and opened up general discus
sion, which lasted until late.
The judiciary committee of the house
today reported favorably to that boay
the Cummings bill to forbid discflm-
ination in the sale OF commefclal
products as between different places IN
Iowa. where such discrimination lis for
the purpose of destroying the business
of a. competitor. 1t is what is known
as the Standard Oil bill, and is aimed
to prevent the peculiar style OF gain
ing business by destroying competl-
tion which has made that company no.
torious everywhere. The bill met with
the favor of the influential Judiciary
committee and will probably be passed.
The house is expected to act today
on the bill to remove the wage exemp-
tion in the matter of attachments for
debt. It is the bill by Mr.. Greene, in
somewhat different form from that IN
which it appeared two and four years
ago but would accomplish the same
purpose of eliminating the exemption
now enjoyed by wage earners. The
bill is being hard fought and the rep
resentatives of the Iowa Trades and
Labor Assembly have been making
GOOD use of the compact which was
signed between the retail merchants
and the trades assembly which was
snnnosed to end this agitation.
The shot firers bill is on the house
calendar for today. The bill has been
sought for a number Of years by the
miners. In Illinois a similar bill was
nlaced on the statute books and after
all agreed to abide by it controversy
arose as to who should pay for the
shot-firers and a big lockout followed
COURT GRANTS NEW TRIAL.