Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-06
Some Divergence of Opinion
Among Legislators as to Eff
feet of the Measure
SMALLER LINES ARE oBJEcTlNe
Claim is Made That 1t Will Work to
the Advantage of the Larger sys-
toms - Weldon of Hardin Made
Strong Speech Against the Measure
Some of the Arguments.
to Tlmes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Mones, April 6.-Fears are be-
ing expressed by some that the rail-
road long and short haul bill is still
not exactly right, tho Smith, OF
Mitchell, chairman of the senate rail-
roads committee and author of the bill.
declares that the bill accomplishes eX-
actly what 1t was intended it should
accomplish and no more and that 1t is
all right. The fears that are being ex-
pressed are to the effect that on the
long line Of railroad which is allowed
to make the same rate as a shorter
line between competing points, the
long line of road will charge for each
one of it's intermediate points the
full rate between the competing points
on the short line. Senator Smith says
this is impossible and that the provis-
ions of the bill as it has passed both
houses is such that between the COM
peting points the rate over the long
line will be the same as over the short
line and that to the intermediate
points on the long line the rate cam
not be more than for the full distance,
but that this full distance rate cannot
be charged to an intermediate point
where the maximum rate as fixed by
the railroad commission is less.
The bill adds the following to section
2126 of the code: Provided that be-
tween the competing points. as be-
tween railroads operated by steam, the
long line may charge the short line
rate without being required to make
a like rate on other parts of it's line.
And provided, further, that no charge
than the charge for a longer haul in
which the short haul is included"
The debate in the house developed
the fact that there is wide divergence
of opinion among the railroad men
themselves, for the strongest argu-
ment against the bill was made by
Mr.. Weldon, of Hardin county in be-
half of the shorter lines of railroads
as against the larger systems He
pointed out that the effect of the bill
might be to place the short lines at
such disadvantage in relation both to
freight and passenger traffic that they
would be almost driven out of busi-
ness. Mr. Chassell opposed the bill be-
cause as he said. it had it's principle
affect upon freight business instead of
upon passenger. as was intended orig
inally by the persons interested in the
movement. He characterized the bill
as one which might be properly en-
titled "a bill to permit the big fish 10
eat up the little ones" Mr.. Jepson
read from the message Of Gov. Cum
Minis what he said about the long and
short haul to show that he confined his
recommendations to passenger bust
ness at competitive points and made
it clear that he did not desire any
thing that would affect business at in
termediate points While there was a
difference of opinion among the house
members the view prevailed that the
bill would be beneficial to the inter-
ests of the public.
Senator Smith, of Mitchell, points
out that the long line of railroad is
not under the bill forced to make the
lower rate but can do so If it wishes
and therefore cannot be injured by
the bill, and that the only possible in
jury to the short line is the loss of
business that. the long line may take
by being allowed to make the lower
rate. The benefit he declares is en-
tirely to the public in convenience and
expense being allowed to travel and
ship over the long line at times at the
short line rate rather than have to wait
or suffer other convenience for the short
line. Furthermore he claims that
where one line has a short haul he
tween two points it is likely to have a
long haul in some other part of the
.+,+o - oc,o1;1a ~, ftars