The Monte Vista journal., 1908-01-25
LIVE STOCK PROBLEMS.
Policy Of Railroads Condemned BY
President Mackenzie.

Denver.-Retiring President Murdo
Mackenzie. in his annual address at
the opening session OF the American
National Livestock Association Tues
day, discussed in an able manner the
problems at present confronting live
stock men. His address was in part
as follows:
Last year I referred to the amend
ment Of the law commonly known as
the twenty-eight-hour law. The old
law prescribed that no stock. while in
transit on any railroad. could be held
on the cars for a longer time than
twenty-eight hours without being un-
loaded for feed, water and rest. The
enforcement OF that law was the cause
Of great loss and damage to stockmen
generally. because in many cases rail-
roads frequently failed to make the
market within the time limit. and con-
sequently stock had to be unloaded
within eighty to hundred miles from
market and held for a period Of from
ten to twelve hours in order to COM
ply with the law. We took the matter
up with the railroad officials, and they
promised that II law was passed ex-
tending the time limit to thirty-six, in
stead OF twenty-eight hours, they
would do everything In their power to
carry stock to the market in the thirty
six hours, and not use the extra time
Of eight hours for the purpose of CIV
ing them more time between feeding
points.
Instead. however OF the railroads
keeping good faith with us they did
the very opposite. and. instead OF using
the extra time allowed them by the
law. as amended, to hurry the stock
to market, II is taken up by them in
running between feeding points. and,
In fact. the extra time Is being used
for the sole beneht Of the railroads
and to the loss OF the stockmen.
"On June 30. 1894. the railroads en-
tering Chicago imposed what they
called a terminal charge Of 81 per car
upon every car shipped to the Chi
cago market. The stOckmen Of the
country felt that this was an unjust
charge and protested vigorously.
In 1898 the case was decided in IA
vor OF the stockmen. the commission
holding that to the extent OF 81 per
car the terminal charge was unreason-
able. Suit was then brought by the
commission TO enforce it's order and
the commissions attorney prepared
and tried the case In the federal court: /:
by . divided bench the United States
Court of Appeals failed to sustain the
nne0t0N rf Tho - 60 ~
and the case was then appealed to the
Supreme Court OF the United States.
The Supreme Court, after nearly two
years. held that the commission was
justified in finding - II did. except on
shipments from Texas and Oklahoma
points. from which. in October. 1896.
tho through rates were reduced: while
the court refused to enforce the order
II. however. expressly stated that the
commission might correct tho rate a
to shipments from other points where
Q reduction Of rates had not been made.
III. At the time our complaint was
hrst hlcd. the powers vested In the
Interstate Commerce Commission had
been the same - they now are. the
decision rendered by It In 1898 would
have been respected and Justice could
not have been postponed for ten long
years. You can readily figure the
amount OF money which would have
been saved for the stockmcn. Take the
average number Of cars Of live stock
entering Chicago each year at 2SO. 900
the saving Of 81 per car on this mum.
Der would aggregate 93.00O.000. II the
different associations accomplished
nothing else. this alone would hand
somely remuncrate them for all the
money they have spent.
There n another matter OF the hrst
importance on which you should take
action. For the past few years you
have all been aware Of the loss to
stockmen BY the failure of the rail.
roads TO supply cars for the shipment
OF stock. For the past ave or six yeara
the complaints In this respect have
been increasing each year. until last
year they reached = climax.
Congress can settle the whole ques.
tiOn. and II the necessary powers are
granted the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. then the railroads can be com.
PEELED To supply cars for interstate
shipments upon reasonable request.
think this 10 one Of the most important
things We have facing US today. and
urge upon you to take such steps II
this convention a. will bring the mat.
ter properly before Congress. and
demand that II be- corrected.
"A bill providing for governmental
control of the unoccupied public do
main was introduced In Congress In
the spring Of 1907. but II failed to pass
This year again another bill has been
introduc N and will shortly come W
before Congress for consideration. II
the members Of this association arc
SIN Of the mind that the administra