Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-18
IOWA PACKERS UBJtG|
Attempt to Intervene in Iowa
Livestock Hearing Before
Commissioner Prouty
WOULD PACKERS ABSORB RATES?
Railway Representatives Contend That
Chicago and Not Iowa Would Benefit
From eduction-Hearins Brief and
Adjournment Taken to Feb. II in
Chicago.
Special to rimes-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 1S-Whether the
Chicago packers or the shippers Of
Iowa livestock should be benefited by
interstate rail rates is the question
so far presented in the hearing before
Commerce Commissioner Prouty in
Des Moines. A Marshalltown lawyer
who appeared as intervenor on behalf
of Iowa packers lent variety to the
hearing which was later adjourned to
February II, in Chicago.
That the packers would absorb any
reduction the railroads might make In
interstate freight rates on Iowa cattle
and the producers would not get any
by the railway attorneys to granting
the reduction asked by the Corn Belt
Meat Producers Association of Iowa
at the hearing.
The expression Of the railways view
of the matter was made by S. A. Lynde
Interstate SouliSCl VI LIN
Chicago & Northwestern railway. OF
course the railways will offer other OBJ
jections later, but they were not pre-
pared yesterday to defend the case OF
the Iowa livestock men which was sub
mitted by Attorney Clifford Thorne of
Washington.
At the request of the railroads, Com
missioner Prouty adjourned the hear
ing until February II, when the rail-
ways will present their side of the con-
troversy in Chicago. If the IoWans
wish to rebut any OF the evidence sub
mitted there by the railways and do
not find it convenient to take their
witnesses to Chicago, Commissioner
Prouty announced that another hearing
would be granted in Des Moines.
The case Of the Corn Belt Meat Pro-
ducers' association in brief is to Sc
cure reduction Of between 20 and 20
per cent in the interstate rates on live
stock, reducing them to the maximum
freight rates allowed by the state rail-
way commissions in Iowa, Illinois and
Missouri. They also ask for the feed
ing in transit rates, which the rail-
ways refuse Iowa feeders, altho the
privilege is granted to feeders in Ne
braska, Kansas and other states. An
effort will also be made to secure bet
ter service in the transportation OF
live stock,
The case Of the IoWans had been re-
duced almost entirely to writing. Sixty
or seventy exhibits We're introduced
consisting. Of masses of tables compar-
ing freight rates from Iowa points to
the live stock markets with the rates
from other states, and especially with
the maximum rates or the actual rates
charged by the roads when giving sim
liar service under the distance tariffs
of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. 1t is
alleged in the evidence submitted by
Mr.. Thorne for his clients that the in
terstate freight rate on live stock from
Iowa points to Chicago is about Ii
per cent higher than the Missouri dis
lance tariff, 20 per cent higher than
the Iowa distance tariff and % pei
cent higher than the Illinois distance
tariff.
The exhibits concerning the discrim.
nation against Iowa farmers show
that the refusal Of railways to extend
the feeding in transit rate privilege
to them amounts to between $40 an6
$50 per car load. A great mass Of
statistics to prove this allegation was
complied by II. G. Wallace of Wallaces
Farmer.
Iowa Packers Ask to Intervene.
Attorney Boardman of Marshalltowr
caused an unexpected stir early in the
case yesterday by appearing before
Commissioner Prouty and asking the
privilege Of intervening on behalf O
the Morrell Packing company, the 7
NJ. Sinclair Packing company and 9TH
er Iowa packers. He said that the
granting Of the petition Of the Corr
Belt Meat Producers association nigh
seriously affect the Iowa packing
houses Commissioner Prouty, aftel
consulting Attorney Thorne and hear.
ing the latters objection to the pro.
posed Intervention, refused to permi
Mr.. E.oardman to intervene.
The railroads tried hard to make &
point of the contention Of Attorney
Boardman and in the brief cross exam.
ination of H. C. Wallace, endeavoret
to make him declare that the reduced
rates to Chicago and other big live
stock markets would be detrimental
to the Iowa packing houses.
Mr.. Wallace declared that the price!
of live stock in Iowa were made on the
Chicago quotations. He said that he
did not want to disparage the lowe
packing houses, but that few exper'
fences of his own led him to thi'
conclusion. He said that the lowe
| packers took a greater shrinkage thar
did the packers at the Chicago mar.
ket. He also declared that he hat
been able to get better prices in some
cases by shipping his stuff to Chicago
Attorneys Question Wallace.
Attorneys Holden of the Burlington
Ellis Of the Milwaukee and Lynde OF
the Northwestern, attempted to show
Mr.. Wallace that he and his associates
in the appeal a few months ago to the
Iowa railway commission to reduce tbs
! Iowa rates on live stock and urged II
or the grounds that it would be bene-
fetal to the iowa packing establish