The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-01-24
IMPORTANT MATTERS.
They Were Presented by Mackenzie
and S. II, Ccwsr,


Denver Jan. 24-President MItrds
MacKenzie's annual address was the
main feature of the opening session Of
the tenth annual convention OF the
American Cattle Livestock association.
A report &C legislative questions OF
vital interest to all members was made
by S. H. Cowan of Texas attorney for
the ASS ociation.
, Mr.. Mackenzie referred to previous
grievances stockmen had against the
railroads. saying that one of them
eYorbitant freight rates-had been cor
rected 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 commission
without delay.
He told of efforts to have amended
the law which requires that livestock
in transit be unloaded for food and
rest every twenty-four hours, and said
that only partial success was had. The
law was changed so that by a written
request on the part of the shipper
thirty-six hours Mr. Mackenzie said
during 1906 there have to his knowl-
edge been more complaints Of poor
service by the railroads than in any
year in the past, and unless something
is done to compel the railroads to give
a reasonable speed limit to perishable
goods in transit. such as livestock, 1t
will create such a loss that ultimately
stockmen will have to abandon the bus
mess
L would suggest that all shippers, -
he said, who are members Of this as
ISOLATION keep a record of the rate
| of speed made by the railroads OF all
shipments of stock in transit. and
whenever O. is found that loss has
been incurred through failure on {, e
part OF the railroads to save suitable
time, suit should be instituted for the
damage sutained by the shipper.
There is another question which
has forced itself upon our notice du-
ring the past year, and that is the alb
solute failure of many Of the railroads
to supply cars for the shipment Of
| stock On proper notice.
There are some people who contend
that regulating the rates by the FEEDER
| al government retards the building OF
/ railroads. but | would 20 a step far
| ther. | would like to see a law pass
ed prohibiting the extension of a rail-
| road now in operation until first the
| owners of such railroad could show
that they had equipped the railroad al
ready built, with cars and motive
| power to supply the demands Of the
| yNy,h1 a. 4
to equip the railroad which it intended
to build
Il would also like to see a law pass
ed prohibiting railroad companies from
| paying any dividends on stock, IS
pecially watered stock. until they could
| first show that their roads were prop
erly equipped.
"A bill is pending in congress that
/ believe will give us the necessary re-
lief. Said bill penalties railroads fol
failure on their part to supply cars on
receiving reasonable notice, and also
provides for penalty of $25 per cal
| per day for every day In which tbs
railroads fail in this respect"
! Mr.. Mackenzie said that the mini
mum carload weight for all classes OF
livestock was too high, and should be
| adjusted. He also spoke of the bill in
| troduced in the present congress tG
amend the meat inspection law adopt
ed by the last congress SO as to make
| the packers pay for inspection. The
| objection stockmen had to the pro
| posed amendment was that they would
| have to stand the cost themselves
something like s5,000,000 annually.
| The Cooperative Livestock Commits
sion company, organized by the stock
men for the purpose Of fighting the ad
vance in commission rates, Is a sue
| ces, Mr.. Mackenzie declared