Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-02-19
Oppose 2-cen. Fare

Des s.-Representatives of
the railroads appeared before the
house committee on railroads on the
9th and made arguments in opposition
to proposed 2-cent fare legislation.
Former Speaker j. H. Funk, George
w. Sewers, John Sebastian, w. E.
Blake and others insisted that the
proposed legislation would result in
very seriously Gripping the railroads,
particularly the smaller lines. The
railroad men specifically disavcwed
the making of threats of any kind,
but they were insistent it was a mere
matter Of mathematics for they con.
tended that the present rates are not
sufficient.
A number of railroad employees or.
CARNATIONS were represented in oppo-
sion to the measure, expressing the
belief that wages will be reduced and
men will be thrown out of employ.
ment if the bill passes.
The hearing was on seven bills in
troduced by Representatives Cottrel1,
Clarke, Teter, and Jones, who offered
2-cent mileage and one for a 21s
cent mileage book, DeMar and Gen
eva.
John Sebastian of Chicago was one
OF the conspicuous figures at the hear
ing. His presence was interesting
at this particular time, as recently he
mas visited a large number of the
state legislatures in session this win
ter. Vice President Hiland, Solicitor
w. S. Kenyon, formerly of Fort Dodge,
and Capt. ]. F. Merry of the Illinois
Central railroad were present Gen
eral Solicitor Hanson of the Milwau.
kee and General Counsel Sewers of
the Hawley roads, Judge G. H. Carr
Of the Great Western, ]. C. Davis OF
the Northwestern, w. d. Eaton of the
Burlington E. w. Blake of the New
ton & Northwestern, General Auditor
Nay and w. p Brady of the Rock
Island, eX-Speaker j. H. Funk of the
Iowa Falls & Northern, William Ellis
OF the legal department of the Mil
waukee, who had charge of the rail.
road side in the live stock freight
hearing before the state railroad COM
mission on Thursday; General Traffic
Manager Eustic of the Burlington, and
a large number of other prominent
railroad men were in Des Moines for
the hearing.
Judge Carr had charge of the direc.
ton of the case for the railroads.
For Lower Rates on Live Stock.
Representative Stewart of Wash
motion hos I'M, II;
to reduce freight rates on live stock.
1t is intended to do away, in part,
with the custom of charging "short
haul rates over that part of rail.
road lines that lay in Iowa when
IN reality the Iowa haul is part
of the long haul. The bill pro.
vides that only certain per cent,
70, regulated on the distance of the
schedule rates on live stock Is fixed
by the Iowa classification No. 10 of
the reasonable maximum rates OF
charge" may be charged by the rail-
road companies. Mr.. Stewart points
out that the rate from the Mississippi
river to points eighty miles west is
l0.26c and from the Mississippi to
Chicago, a distance of about $50
miles, the rate is II 1-2c, since re-
duced 20 per cent, while the rate to
points in New England is only 35
cents. Figuring pro rata, the rate in
Iowa for the eighty miles should be
but 5.6Sc and the object of his bill
is to bring the rate as near the pro
rata figure as reasonable and posi-
Bile where the haul is continuous.
The bill, therefore, provides that
common carrier of live stock shall not
be permitted to charge in Iowa
maximum rate to exceed rs per cent
of the schedule rates on live stock
as prepared by the Iowa railroad COM
mlss1oners, taking effect March 1,
1905, on distances of 100 miles or
less, and shall not be permitted to
charge as a maximum rate to exceed
so per cent of the schedule rates for
distances exceeding 100 miles and not
exceeding 100 miles and not more
than 80 per cent of the scheduled
rates for any distance in the state of
Iowa in excess of $50 miles. The bill
was referred to the house committee
on railroads and commerce and will
be taken up by that committee some
time this week.