Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-23
STATE RAILWAY coMMls sloN
PROBABLY WILL ORDER
SWEEPING REDUCTIONS.
DISTANCE TARIFF SCHEDULE
MAY BECOME NECESSARY.
Matter to Come Up for Hearing Nov.
80, When Both SIDES Will Be Heard
Federal Military Departments De-
tails TWO Men to Instruct Iowa Ma
tionaI Guard,

Des Moines, Oct. 23.-When the rail-
road commission meets Nov. 80 to take
up express rates it is more than likely
that it will go into the entire question
of express rates and may ultimately put
in a distance tariff express rate sched-
ule. There is considerable uneasy
breathing in some quarters for fear
they will.
point rate on cream because of the ap-
plication of E. B. Higley, of Mason
City. Since then the Iowa State Manu-
facturers' Association has asked that
this order be extended to all commodt
ties. The hearing on this proposition
has been set for Nov. 80, but there are
also many other complaints before the
commission that express rates are too
high generally. The commission had
a hearing on express rates a year or
more ago and ordered slight reauc-
ton in rates. There have still been
complaints and the commission may
have to take the matter up on Nov. 80
when it hears the joint rate matter. 1t
is certain that it viii take the ques-
ton of express rates up at not a very
distant day.
When the commission does take up
express rates the question will at once
be raised as TO whether or not the COM
mission in fixing such rates will not
have to fix a distance tariff just as
governs in the case of freight. Under
the law which specifies that the charge
shall be no greater in one part of the
state for a like distance than in an
other it is held by lawyers and the
courts that on freight matters no sched-
ue of rates would be legal except a
distance tariff.
The law as to eight rates says the
same law shall govern so far as apple
able to express rates. One side of the
argument that will be presented to the
commission when this question comes
up will be that express rates are DIFF
ferent essentially from freight rates
and therefore the distance tariff rules
; should not apply and 1t will be held
that because of the law which says the
law as to freight rates shall govern only
when applicable the commission has
, full power to put in schedule other
than distance tariff.
The argument against the distance
tariff for express shipments is that
the public has become accustomed te
4 express rates being on the basis o.
4 postal rates to a large extent. Posta
I rates are made regardless of distance
Express rates take some regard to dis.
lance but not the same regard that !:
\ taken in freight rates.
& Furthermore under the present ar.
I rangement when an express shipmen
x is delivered to the express compan,
i. is alleged that it goes by the quick.
est rather than by the shortest route
while the charge is on the basis of tn
shortest route, but that If distanc
tariff Is put in both the charge AM
he shipment will have to be by tn
Z shortest route tho the longer route ma
4 get the shipment thru first.
9 Some are claiming on this last poin
4 that a distance tariff will work yer
4 much against the interests of the ship
4 per and that the joint rate schedul
would also both as 10 time and ex
I pense in many instances.
4 Sergeant James Hayes and Sergear
y Thomas Wolvington, both from til
Second United States infantry. nav
4 been detailed to the Iowa Nations
\ Guard They are now in Des Nome
! and are subject to the orders Of A6
4 infant General Logan They will trav
about the state to the cities where thel
4 are national guard companies and Wi
attend the drills and drill the con
panies, teaching them military ma
i ters 1t is the intention that they sha
put in their time chiefly with tho
companies that are deficient in DIR
matters and military discipline.
- Their expense is borne by the fe
eral government and their detail he
is part of the general plan to viii,
D the government has been working mo
u and more Of making the guard an e
fcient. competent military force to
drawn on in times of actual warfal
"a Much Of the expense Of maintainil
the guard is now borne by the COVER
ment, regular army officers regular
ar inspect the guard and those compani
that are not UP to the standard do n
get any of the appropriation. This
~ spires them to work hard and now sc
geants from the regular army are to
used to assist the ccaptains in drilli