Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-27
MANUFACTURERS
WON By PUSH
State Association Entitled to
Credit For Securing Of Joint
Freight Rate Order
GET JUST WHAT WAS ASKED FOR
Commission Will Put Rates in Effect
August 1-Association Has Been Per-
sistent in Its Efforts-Worked With
out BIare of Trumpets-History of
the Campaign.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
persistence since it's organization in
| August, 1908. won for the Iowa State
Manufacturers association the order of
the railroad commission promulgating
schedule of joint freight rates. Not
only that but the association got eX-
actly what it asked for to the letter.
The efforts of the association have
not been accompanied by the blowing
of horns, and as result there is some
confusion in the minds of the public as
to just what started the agitation for
joint freight rates. The fact is this
was one of the first things talked of
by the Iowa State Manufacturers as
sociation when it was organized. 1t
invited Hon. Frank 7. Campbell to de-
liver an address on the subject before
the association. This was followed by
more discussion on the problem and
considerable investigation, which ulti-
mately led to the association, thru a
committee, getting the bill drafted and
passed, and to a petition to the railroad
commission for four things: an 80 per
cent schedule, thru billing, minimum
charge of 25 cents, and the railroads to
absorb the transfer charge. The as
sociation has stuck by those four
things till crowned by success.
The more active work Of the associ-
alton on the problem began last jan
uary. The executive committee of the
association he'd a meeting In Waterloo
Jan. II, at which time W. B. Martin, of
Dubuque, a shipper and experienced
freight man made an address on the
subject of joint rates. The sentiment
of the committee was for joint freight
rates, and committee of five was ap-
pointed to meet in fDes Moines to take
the matter up and decide what to do
This committee of five was finally
changad to a committee of three con-
sisting of o. L. Dennison, of Mason
City, w. D. Martin, of Dubuque, and
Paul Arbenz, of Ottumwa, all expert
enced and Informed in rate matters.
There was meeting in Des Moines
January 80 in Parlor l of the Savery,
and at that time 1t was thought that
the schedule would be about 70 per
cent of the sum of the locals, but the
work of the committee was chiefly
concerned then for some weeks in get
ting bill that would make it man
datory on the railroad commission to
prornulgate the joint rates. 1t was
fhnnphf that bn ri lou
thorized such rates was constitutional.
tho there vas some little question as
to that.
The committee Of the Manufacturers
Association secured the interest of
Representativ White of Story county
and Senator Jamison of Page county
and these men introduced the bill in
the two houses. The bill was the re-
suit of many conferences Of consider
able agitation in the association. 1t
was discovered that such cities as
Des Moines and Sioux City and Wat
erloo did not look with interest on
joint freight rate. Having many rail-
roads these cities were able to reach
practically every city in their territory
by shipments that did not leave the
initial line and joint rate meant that
the little towns would be able to cut
into the territory of the bigger towns
However, these large cities did not
fight the rate. The Des Moines jobbers
said they would fight it but they did
little. The Sioux City business men
tho opposed to joint rates took
broad view of the matter and said at
the outset that, they would make no
effort to defeat it. Council Bluffs was
for the joint rates.
The bill was known as house file 2s2
by White. During the course of it's
progress thru the legisla ture 1t was
changed but with the consent
and at the request of the manufact-
urers and was approved by them in the
form in which it finally passed When
it finally passed both houses it was
without dissenting vote
After the bill was passed the Iowa
State Manufacturers Association got
together ON the 80 per cent idea. There
was a meeting of the executive COM
mittee in this city April Is. On the
Monday before that there had been
of the freight agents in Chi
cago and the freight agents appointed
d. EOlHIIlItlGe W SEE LllS LOW MdHuIdC-
turers and ascertain if it would not be
possible for them to agree on a sched-
ule of rates that the railroads would
put in. voluntarily. Watson of the
Great Western. and Morris for the
Iowa Central and NJ & ST l.. were ap-
pointed as the committee to see the |,
manufa cturers. When the manufac-
turers met April Is this committee was
invited in and ultimately it was agreed |
hat schedule Of 80 per cent of the |
sum OF the locals under the Iowa dis |
.auce tariff with thru billing the rail- !
roads 10 absorb the transfer charge
and with % cents as the minimum |
charge for any one shipment would be |
to both sides. The rail- |
roads or some of them subsequently !
backed out but the manufacturers
stuck toNtheir first request
o. T. Dennison of Mason City. and |
". D. Martin, Of Dubuque, had much J