Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-01
PRINTED RATES GOVERN
Iowa Railway Commission Rules
That Local Agents Are lire
sponsible
SOME PROBLEMS FOR SHIPPERS
Companies Not Responsible for Agents
Quotations Of Rates When They
Vary From Published Tariffs-No
Rules Governing Car shortase-Des
Mones Wants State Aid.
Special 70 T,mes-Repuhl,oan.

Special 70 Times-Reputlican.
Des Moines, Dec Railroads are
not responsible for errors of their
agents in quoting freight rates and
delays in transit while vexatious are
sometimes unavoidable and therefore
no rule can be issued to prevent them
by the interstate commerce commits
sion, according to information received
by George A. Wells, secretary of the
Iowa Grain Dealers Association.
Mr.. Wells wrote to the commission
to ask it some questions. He asked
if the commission had promulgated
any rules as to delays in transit
which would touch the car shortage
matter. The answer to his question
was: Delays in transit are always
vexatious, but are frequently justified
by conditions of traffic and operation,
and it would be impracticable to lay
down rules to govern all cases"
To the question if the railroads could
insist on the original bill of lading or
freight receipts in cases of
claims Of overcharges the an
swer was that naturally the
railroads would desire such but their
loss would not be fatal to claim from
a legal point of view.
Another question was is the railroad
responsible for rates quoted in error
by it's agents The commission an
swered that the published tariff rates
in all cases must govern and this is
not altered by an agent in error quot
ing a lower rate.
The Iowa Grain Dealers Association
is asking all its members to save sam
pies of the corn that is shipped. A
circular letter has been sent to every
member of the association advising
them to buy fruit jars and save jar
Of corn from every car shipped and
keep the jar properly labeled. 1t is
argued that this will be an education
to the dealer and also to the farmer
for some Of them who think their corn
should grade high will be surprised
when it is graded low or given no grade
at all and when it is compared with
the corn shipped that does grade high
the reason may become at once APP
parent
John R. Sage, director of the state
crop service has nearly all the figures
for making up his annual estimate of
the size of the crops of the state. The
report will be out perhaps some time
next week. 1t will at least be out by
the time the farmers state institute is
held here week after next. The in
formation has been gathered very
carefully from a number Of different
farmers in each county located in diff
ferent sections of the county.
Adjutant General w. H, Thrift takes
the position that the people of Iowa
should disregard the sentiment now
existing against Des Moines and all
join to make it city of which all the
state will be proud just as Indiana is
proud Of Indianapolis.
ct is too bad there exists this feel
ing against Des Moines. But the peo-
pie of the state ought to become inter-
ested in making Des Mones better
city" said General Thrift today. THE
legislature should pass laws that will
assist in the work. The people of the
state ought to take the matter up and
make Des Moines a city of which the
entire state will be proud. The legisla-
ture ought to consider the matter in
the, light of its statewide Importance
and without necessarily waiting for
Des Moines to decide what she wants
should, If possible, enact laws that will
clean up the town.
'Des Moines will always be the capt.
tai Of the state and it therefore be-
comes of state Importance, and the
people of the state and the legislature
ought not to wait for the people of Des
Moines to make an ideal city,"
Whether or not the rest Of the peo-
pie of Iowa who do not claim Des
Moines as their residence share the
thoughts of Gen. Thrift on the subject
it is becoming every day more appar-
ent that Des Moines is facing a serious
problem in its governmental matters.
The city by act Of the legislature has
been given an area of "a square miles
which is as much as the territory Of
st. Louis. 1t has $4,000 population
while ST. Louis has a population of
ofo,VVV. Inc assessor Value OF lts
property is $14,000,000 while the as.
sessed value Of the property Of st.
Louis is s394,000,000.
With probably no exception accord
ing to popular belief at least, the en-
tire question Of making Des Moines an
ideal city depends upon purifying the
city politically and this phase of the
matter is to be brought to the atten-
ton of the legislature next January
The Galveston bill will be presented
again and there will again be opposi-
ton to the passage of the bill.