The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-01-30
LIVE STOCK PRosLEMs.
Policy Of Railroads Condemned BY
President Mackenzie.

PoIl0y Vt VAtltOdQB SOuo0VuIS0 ~
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 tho
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 law. The old
law prescribed that no stock, while in
transit on any railroad. could be held
on the oars for longer time than
twenty-eight hours without being I'M
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 If 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, it is taken up by them In
running between feeding points, and,
in fact, the extra time is being used
for the sole benefit Of the railroads
and to the loss of the stockmen.
ION June 80, 1894. the railroads en-
tering Chicago imposed what they
called 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 its 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
opinion CT the interstate commission,
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 as it 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
it, however, expressly stated that the
commission might correct the rate as
to shipments from other points where
a reduction OF rates had not been made.
"If, at the time our complaint was
first filed, the powers vested in the
Interstate Commerce Commission had
been the same as 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 stockmen. Take the
average number OF cars of live stock
entering Chicago each year at 100000,
the saving OF 81 per car on this num-
Der would aggregate 100000. II the
different associations accomplished
nothing else, this alone would hand
somely remunerate them for all the
money they have spent.
There Is another matter OF the first
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 five or six years
the complaints in this respect have
been increasing each year, until last
year they reached climax.
Congress can settle the whole Ques-
ton, 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. I
think this is one Of the most important
things we have facing us today, and
l urge upon you to take such steps at
this convention as will bring the mat
ter properly before Congress, and
demand that 1t be corrected.
"A bill providing for governmental
control of the unoccupied public do
main was introduced in Congress in
the spring Of 1907, but 1t failed to pass.
This y<ar again another bill has been
introduc I'D and will shortly come up
before Congress for consideration. II
the members Of this association are
still Of the mind that the administra-
ton should be Endorsed in this matter,
resolution similar to that Of last year
should be passed, and your officers and
executive committee instructed to take
such steps as may seem best to them
to have your side OF the case properly
presented before the committee Of both
the House and the Senate.
IT am pleased to state that the
trouble we have been experiencing dur
ing the past few years from the