The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-08-29
IOWA RAILRAOD
BOARDS REPORT
Commissioners Submit Thlrty-second
Annual in Which Suggestions
for Legislation are
Made.
ADJUSTMENT OF RATES
Amendment Asked to Long and
Short Clause in Present Law
Question Of Safety is Also
Touched Upon.

The Iowa board of railroad com
missioners has submitted to Governor
B. T. Carroll its thirty-second annual
report in which suggestions are made
for legislation and improvement of the
board by extending it's powers.
The board suggests that by legis-
lative enactment it be given definite
rights with regard TO the drainage of
farm lands, city property and public
highways, wherever such drainage is
DISTRACTED by railway companies. 1t
also asks law defining what eonsti-
tutes safe and adequate railroad
crossing and an amendment to the
long and short haul clause to conform
with objections that have been made
by the business interests of the state.
Attention is called to the fact that
Iowa is paying less TO its commission
than Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Ok
lalloma or wisconsin. The board sug-
eests that the time has come when
the state of Iowa should not be back
ward in thorough investigation of To-
cal conditions and that the board
should be furnished authority and
funds with which to make careful
research into railroad and express con-
ditfons with a view of determining
what the just and reasonable charges
should be for services performed
locally within Iowa.
Freight Rates in Iowa.
Concerning freight rates in Iowa the
board says:
The records of the board will show
that for wears 1t has been lowering
rates within Iowa This has not al
ways been done bv changing the rate
schedules themselves, but has been
accomplished by changing commod-
tiles from higher TO lower class
in the classification OF freights In
practically every case presented to
the board the request has not been
so much that the rates be lowered up
on any given commodity. but the low
ering of the rate has been asked In
nidentally. because Of the rate on
some other conditions, lowering was
necessary in order 10 edualize rates.
The commissioners have tried con-
scientiousiy in all rate cases that
have been brought to their attention
to so adjust the rates as TO eQualiZe
the conditions They believe this to
be more important than constant re-
auctions. although wherever they have
believed that rates have been too
high. they have promptly ordered q
proper adjustment of the schedules.
There are many conditions 10 be
considered with reference 10 railroad
operations within Iowa other than
rates Attention should be given to
a careful examination Of railway lines
roadbed, bridges buildings and equip
ment in order that the public should
receive the safest service it is pos
sihle to give. This should be para
mount to everything else and this
commission hopes that some provision
may be made BY the Legislature II
order that these physical conditions
MAJ be carefully investigated in Iowa
10 the end that Iowa shall stand pre-
consideration is given public safet,
Or public travel and superior service
In all departments of railroading."
Protecting Home Industries.
THE complexities involved in tn
making Of interstate freight rate
make the subject an exceedingly di
fcult one 1t will be remembered tha
selfshness has not been eliminate
from the business world. A supe
fetal investigation of interstate rat
making might lead one to believe thu
frequently the interests of differer
classes of business conflict.
Many shippers of live stock graf
etc. desire an exceedingly low int
state rate in order to carry the pr
ducts of Iowa to the great DISTRIBUTE
markets on the lake and seaboar
Many of those engaged in manufa
turing industries desire a low int
state rate on the raw material to
shipped from outside the state, and
high Interstate rate on the manufs
tured product in order to keep the
competitors out OF the territory
Iowa.
Many of those interested in the &C
mines of Iowa and in their operati
believe that Iowa coal interests
quire a ligh interstate rate in ord
to protect them from the competiti
of coal mined IN Illinois and otf
states.
An application was made to Il
commission, requesting a revision
the interstate rates on grain and flo
Many shippers object to this beca,
of certain interstate rate features c
nected with these products. and
fore the case could be heard it v
practically withdrawn
The above instances are cited me
ly to show that the problem of m
Ing rates which will be perfectly !,