Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-23
Be KEPT OF TRAFFIC

VI AhN
Pending Bill May
Assist.
DENVER, Jan. 22-President Murdo Mac
Kenzes annual address was the main fea'
ture Of the opening session of the tenth an
nual convention Of the American National
Live Stock assc collation., which assembled
here this morning In the Broadway theater
A report on Legislative questions" OF
vital interest to all the members was
made by S IL. Cowan of Texas, attorney
for the association. The delegates were
welcomed in a felicitious address by Gov
ernor Henry A. Buchtel
Mr.. Mckenzie referred to previous griev-
ances stockmen had against the railroads
saying that one OF them-exorbitant freight
rates-had been corrected By the passage OF
the rate bill, but the only way shippers
could derive any benefit from the measure
was TO carry their complaints Of unjust
rates to the Interstate Commerce commits
sion without delay. He told of efforts to
have amended the law which requires that
live stock in transit be unloaded for feed
and rest every twenty-four hours, and
said that only partial success was had. The
law was changed so that by written re-
quest of the shipper stock could be held
in the cars fo= thrty-six hours. Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Mackenzie said:
During 1906 there have been. to my knowl-
the raiiTosds tban in n anY Years in the
past, and unless something is done to
compel railroads to give reasonable speed
live stock, II will create such loss that
ultimately stockmen will have to abandon
the business.
Suggestion to shippers.
would suggest that all shippers who are
members of this association keep a record
of the rate of speed made by the railroads
of all shipments OF stock in transit, and
| whenever IL is found that loss has been
| incurred through failure on the part Of the
railroads to make reasonable time. a suit
should be instituted for the damage sus-
There is another question which has
! forced itself upon our nstlce during the
| last year, and that is the absolute failure
| Of many of the railroads to supply cars
| for the shipment of stock upon proper no
tice.
There are some people who contend that
| regulating the rates by the federal govern
ment retards the building of railroads, but
l would go a step further, l would like
/ to see law passed prohibiting the extern
| sion of a railroad now in operation until
| first the owners OF such railroad could
show that they had equipped the road al
ready built with cars and motive power
| to supply the demands OF the public and
that 1t had SUFFICIENT funds to equip the
railroad which It intended to build.
would also like to see law passed pro-
hibiting railroad companies from paying
any dividends on stock. especially watered
stock, until they first could show that
their roads were properly equipped.
Bill Nay Cure Evils.
A bill is pending in congress that be-
| lieve will give us the necessary relief. Said
| bill penalties railroads for failure on their
police - SdPy Paso proyde SS for PENALTY oS SIS
railroads fail IN this respect.
4
car load weight for all classes Of live stock
was too high and should be adjusted. He
spoke Of the bill introduced in the present
congress to amend the meat inspection law
adopted by the last congress- so as to make
the packers pay for inspection. The Oh.
| lection stockmen had to the proposed
amendment was that they would have to
stand the cost themselves, something like
$3 900 annually.
| Mr. Mackenzie characterized the question
Of the administration Of the forest reserves
as one OF the most important on which the
association should take action.
| The Cooperative Live Stock Commission
company. organized by stockmen for the
purpose OF fighting the advance in COM
mission rates, is a success, Mr.. Mackenzie
declared. He was confident 1t would be
lasting beneht to the stockmen.
Mr. Mackenzie said he never expected
to see a man in the Agricultural depart
ment who would personally pay SO much
attention to the live stock interests Of the
west as Secretary Wilson.
Cowan Discusses TaT1R.
The tariff question was discussed by at
torney g. H. Cowan OF Texas, who said
that powerful trusts which want high pro-
lection to keep out European competitor
were running the live stock industry, Ger
many and other foreign nations were boy
cotting American meats because OF the high
tariffs OF this country. r. II. Hartman.
the railroad magnate, was criticised by Mr..
Cowan, who said the government was too
late In taking action against the Union Pa
cific and allied lines. which he said. were in
a combination TO restrain trade.
''The railroads are saddling worse
feudalism on this country than was ever
tried before" said Mr. Cowan- The rights
OF the people are lost and swallowed up by
the so-called captains Of industry. There
never was q time when you needed to be
organized more than at present
'srhe railroads have not lost their power
at Washington. Although the railroad
rate bill was passed by congress the rail-
roads have not lost their cunning"
Greeting from Roosevelt.
clifford Pinchot OF the government fores-
try department delivered greetings from
President Roosevelt to ths sCockmen and
the following message;
THAT in his Cthe president's) Judgment
the government control Of the public range
Is evidently coming. and coming quickly
THAT It is right that II should CONS.
That he believes that 1t is for the best
interest Of all users OF public domain. in
cluding live stock men, that It should come
soon, and
That, as government control OF the
public range Is one OF the fixed poll
cies OF his administration he would be
glad to get the advice OF this association
TO the form 1t should take for the best in
terests OF all concerned"
The matter OF government control OF the
public grazing lands in Colorado and
throughout the west has long been bone
OF contention in the ranks OF the stock
growers. While many Of them favor Presi-
dent Roosevelt's idea in this regard It lie
stated that a majority is antagonistic 70
this plan.