Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-23
STOCKMEN FLAY
PROTECTION IDEA
"High Tariff Fosters Powerful Trusts
Which Are Running the Live Stock
Industry of America" Says
Associations Attorney
BY Associated Press.

By Associated Press
DENVER, Jan. 22.-In a speech at
the opening session of the tenth con-
vention of the American Live Stock as.
| sociation, which assembled in this city
today, H. Cowan of Texas, attorney
for the association, scored the tariff,
which, he asserted, fostered powerful
trusts which want high protective
duties to keep out European compe-
tition.
He asserted that the present policy
of high tariff is running the live stock
| industry of the United States.
Germany and other foreign nations
are boycotting American meats be-
cause of the short-sighted policy of
protection" he said.
f. H. Hartman, the railroad mag
nate, was criticised by Mr.. Cowan,
who said that the government was too
late in taking action against the Union
Pacific and allied lines, which, he said,
were in a combination in restraint of
trade.
THE railroads are saddling a worse
feudalism on this country than was
ever tried before" said Mr.. Cowan.
swallowed up by these so-called cap
tains of industry. There never was
\ a time when you needed to be or
ganized more than at present.
Have Not Lost Power
"The railroads have not lost their
power in Washington. Although the
railroad bill was passed by congress
I the railroads have not lost their cum
ming. They are working underground
and overground and in every way to
shackle you in such a way that you
will never get out of their power.''
+ President Murdo Mackenzie deliv-
cred his annual address. He referred
| to previous grievances 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 ship
pers could derive any benefit from the
measure was to carry their complaints
of unjust rates to the Interstate COM
merce commission without delay.
He told of efforts to have the law
amended 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 writ
ten request of the shipper stock could
be held on the cars for thirty-six
hours.
During 1906 there have been to my
knowledge more complaints of poor
service by the railroads than in any
year in the past. and unless something
is done to compel railroads to give
reasonable speed limit to perishable
goods in transit such as live stock, it
will create such a loss that ultimately
stockmen will have to abandon the
business.
Should Sue for Damages
81 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 ship
ments of stock in transit and when
ever it is found that loss has been
incurred through failure on the part
of railroads to make reasonable time
a suit should be instituted for the dam
ages sustained by the shipper
"There is another question which has
forced itself upon our notice during
the past year, and that is the abso-
lutte failure of the roads to supply
cars for the shipment of stock upon
proper notice.
"There are some people who contend
that regulating the rates by the fed
eral government retards the building
of railroads, but l would go a step
further: / would like to see a law
passed prohibiting the extension of
railroad now in operation until, first,
the owners of such railroad could
show that they had equipped the road
already built with cars and motive
power to supply the demands of the
public, and that they had sufficient
funds to equip the railroad which it in
tended 10 build. l would also like to
see a law passed prohibiting railroad
companies from paying any dividends
on stock. especially watered stock, un-
til they first could show that their
roads were properly equipped.
Urge Legislative Relief
''I think a bill is pending in congress
that / believe will give us the necessary
relief. The bill penalties the railroads
for failure on their part to supply cars
Continued on Page TwO.)
upon receiving reasonable notice, and
also provides for a penalty of S25 per
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* Los ANGELES SUNSHINE 9