The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-01-04

WASHING TON, D c. DECEMBER s9th.
Mr. EDITOR The Department VI Ag'
riculture has AT last gone after the rail
roads for violation of the cattle iran spor-
tation law. There WAS stiff fight In
Congress last session over the extension
81 what was known 81 the "2s hour Law.
THIS was regulation in virtue of which
the railroads in shipping cattle from the
ranches to the markets might not carry
them more THAI % hours without food
and water. Even this was crowding the
limit because the average packing house
or cattle shipper wsnld think himself
very badly used If he were kept 90 his
feet and denied access 10 the table Tor ss
hours. Bot in his opinion 1t did DOT mat
ter il the cattle destined for use as human
food we're tortured in this way. The rail-.
roads and cattle shippers have consistent
" violated the 90 hoar law for years
past. Secretary Wilson has over l2eO
cases ia which The railroads have broken
the law and the railroads while pleading
guilty said that If the minimum penalty
Of 500 was imposed in each case they
would be good in the future and abide by
regulations. This concession WAS made
them and they then clamored for an eH
tension Of the time limit 10 SO bears.
They were opposed in this by all the hid
name societies and decent minded citi-
zens of many classes. but With the aid
Of a strong lobby managed to get the 80
hour bill enacted. Since then. however,
they have been violating the law more
Aagrantly than before it was amen ded.
The Department Of Agriculture has fouad
that cattle were kept on board the car rs
and the Solicitor If the Department has
collected over 500 cases in which the evi.
uence il conclusive. The Secretary Of
Agriculture is certifying these cases TO
the Department of Justice IS rapidly IS
the clerks can make up the papers and
tho chances are that the maximum penal
ty of $500 will be inflicted in almost all
these cases. Charges have been already
laid against many Of the proninen. rail-
roads and it is said that the Department
OF Agriculture has evidcH &c in it's posses
sion against practically every railroad in
the country.
The Secretary OF Agricultural and the
Solicitor Of the department have just
started OF on a merry jaunt to Investigate
the whisky distilleries with = view of find
ing out from personal observation just
how straight whisky is made 80 rs to Fl cure
the proper sort of labels to be imposed
hereafter on straight whisky and on the
products of the whiskey blenders and
manufacturers OF synthetic liquor. The
pure food law which goes into effect on
the first of the year providedes for the
labelling Of whisky among other food pro-
ducts 50 that the consumer will know
" hat he is getting when BIZ buys 1t by
the bottle.
An important decision was rendered
this week by the Interstate Commerce
Commission in the case Of the railroads
and telegraph companies with regard, to
free passes. Quite recently the commits.
sion sat down very hard On delegation
from. the National Editorial Association.
who wanted to continue their contracts
with the railroads whereby they exchange
advertising for railr ad passes. The
same question aro Sc between the rail
leads and the telegraph companies.
there having been contracts for years
past in virtue o which he railroads issa
ed passes and transported men and mat.
elal free OF charge for the telegraph
companies in return for wire service
along their line. The Commission Has
agreed to allow the railroads to continue
transportating men and material free Of
charge where the object is to maintain
the railroad telegraph line. This is
something of 3 concession bat 1t Is limited
to cases in which the telegraph compau
les are WORKING directly on railroad bust
ness. and the old graft OF free passes IN
return for telegraph services is to be
abolished.
(,Onntv Com niRsinner&