Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-30
nd the new effort is directed to cause

ana the new effort is directed to cause
n feeling that more legislation or
regulation will injure the country
prosperity. The last effort of the
railroads in this direction greatly en-
barrassed their friends in Washington
but they have apparently set about
to repeat that campaign.
Il is for the purpose of meeting this
movement that 1t is now proposed to
call another meeting Of the Interstate
Commerce Law convention. Judge 8.
H. Cowan OF Fort Worth, member
of the executive committee, and its
representative in Washington during
the Hepburn bill fight, said today:
1.-THE shippers are vitality interested
in enforcement OF the present law;
that goes without saying. And they
are likewise interested in the enact
ment OF further legislation, particular
ly that which will compel the railroads
to perform their public duties as COM
mon carriers, to furnish transporta-
ton Of the products of the farm, the
ranch, the factory and the mine to
the end that the negligence Of the
carriers shall not dam up the COM.
merce Of the country and produce
stagnation. The past nine months
have Witnessed the unexpected specta.
Gle Of the railways being incapable
Of handling what the farmers and the
labors and the commerce Of the con-
tinent have produced. The excuse is
that there is too much of it, The
railroads say that If they are let alone
they will equip themselves to handle
the business and save the shipper
these millions of dollars which their
failure to move freight is costing. But
we find them asking public officials,
congress, the legislatures, not further
| to disturb the roads by additional
laws or regulations, on the ground
| that if they do, the roads will not be
able to prepare themselves for an in
| creasing business.
AS to over-capitaIization.
THE absurdity is apparent. One OF
the difficulties confronting shippers
organizations In getting enforcement
of the law against unreasonable rates
and determinations, is the defence al
ways Urged by the roads that they
must pay interest on their bonds and
dividends on their stocks. To this the
shipper does not object, IL the stocks
and bonds do not exceed the fair valie
of their properties; but the shipper
is as much robbed by having to pay
his part of a rate based on overcapi
| talization, as the railroad would he
were it compelled to accept less thar
| a fair return on what it has invested
| The shipper demands valuation to
be accurately made, that he may know
at least what is being done to him
and may instruct his representatives
/ in legislative bodies to stop further
issue Of securities to I'LL the Golfers
Of multi-millionaires at the sacrifice
Of the workers of this country.
1.-THE shipper needs law that will
compel performance of the public ser
vice under sufficient penalties. Re
Gently a. general advance in grair
rates for export has been proposed
/ the export rate figures in the pric
paid the farmer; the export price fol
the surplus generally fixes the price
of what we sell at home; the graiI
dealers do not care If there Is uni
form change in rates! the farmer suf
fers but is not able to prosecute 5
complaint. Hence the law shout
charge the commission with investi
eating and give 1T power to suspend
apparently unreasonable changes IL
rates. If found unlawful, the com
mission should have power to pre-
scribe a lawful rate. The law shoult
Therefore be thus amended"