Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-26
ROADS DO ATTACK
DISTANCE TARIFF
Next Legislature Will Have An
other Problem to Wrestle
With
JOINT RATES NOW ON TRIAL
Much Discussion InduIsed in Relative
to Operation Of New Order PromuI-
gated by the commission-May Be
Raised or Lowered at End of Six
Months.
Special to Times-Republican.

Des Moines June 26.-Mr. Watson,
who has represented the Great Wes-
tern at the hearings before the Iowa
railroad commission on the question
of joint rates, practically served notice
on the public and the railroad COM
mission that the railroads are getting
tariffs. He stated that at the next ses-
sion of the legislature the people must
expect that there viii be number
of changes asked for in the laws relat-
ing to the railroads and among them
the distance tariff will be subject to
attack.
'These joint rates that the COM
mission is about to promulgate must
be in the nature of a campaign of edu-
cation to the railroads. the railroad
commission and to the public said
Mr.. Watson, and the people may ex-
ifs of this state subject to criticism.
The maximum distance rates in Iowa
are too low for the straight-away haul
and must be raised" Mr.. Watson's S
remarks We're addressed to the railroad
, commission following Its announce
ment of the joint rate yesterday. He
further stated that the Great West
ern would accept an so per cent joint
rate with the same transfer charge as
for interstate business.
The railroads, which all along have
been opposing any joint rate what
eyer, when they discovered that the
commission was to put in a blanket
rate covering all commodities and that
rate to be so per cent, began every
argument possible to save as much
as possible. Arguments were ad-
vanced and the commission urged to
make the transfer charge minimum
Of so cents and they asked that no
shipment be for less distance than
twenty-five miles over one road-that
is, that every road over which the
shipment be carried charge minimum
of at least twenty-five miles.
Mr.. Hambin, Of the Burlington,
thought the commission ought to make
a definite announcement as to what
was, to be expected of the joint rate.
1t took some minutes for the commits
sion to ascertain his ideas, but in the
end 1t was discovered that he wanted
the railroad commission to announce
that If at the end of six months the
shippers had not under the joint rate
been able to considerably increase their
business that the commission should
at once wipe out the joint rates and
go back to the old basis. Chairman
Ketchum and Commissioner Eaton both
informed him that the supposition on
which the joint rates were ordered
by the legislature and were being put
in by the commission was that the
joint rate was fair and just and that If
at the end of six months the railroads
were shown to have received a fair
rate and compensatory rate for their
shipments the rates would stand.
In other words the supposition is
now that the railroads get too much
for joint shipments when they charge
too high short distance rates and that
the shipper is entitled to have his
shipment go by the shortest distance
no matter how many railroads handle
it. If the railroads OF the state were
all owned by one corporation that cor
poration would send a shipment by
the shortest route and would make
just as much money then as they do now
because, tho they would receive a lit
tie less in freight charges, they would
be hauling 1t at less expense because
of hauling 1t by the shortest route In
stead of taking it many miles out of
the way, as is done now to keep it on
one line.
Mr.. Hamblin was therefore informed,
and 1t was stated for the benefit of all
the roads and the public, that the COM
mission Is not unalterably bound to
an 80 per cent Joint rate but that at
the end Of six months it may decide to
lower it to 70 per cent or raise it to 80
or change the entire basis and make
the rate the straight distance tariff for
Joint shipments the same as tho on
one line of railroad. At the end of SIX
if there is no complaint either
on the part of the railroads or the
shippers the rate at 80 per cent will be
allowed to remain. If there is COM
plaint the commission will then take
the matter up again and hear witness
eS and take eVlQenCe ana VIII ASK u
be shown by actual facts and figures.
1t has been next to impossible to get
any kind of facts and figures during
the hearings Just closed on which to
base a joint rate with definite accur-
acy and the rate is therefore one for
purely since that is the
only way In which the commission
could get at the matter
c,neE CHANGES hANDc