Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-13
rn1Es-REpUB11CAN MARsHA11TowH. IOWA. JANUARY

stating that there could be no deIenSe
of adopting the resolution and placing
it in the hands of the railroads and
Withholding it from the Corn Belt Meat
Producers Association The commits
sion did not Intentionally, as COM
mission, arrange for any such situa-
ton.
This makes clear the whole matter.
According to Attorney General Byers
the first knowledge of the contents of
the Nov. 8 resolution was given the
shippers late in December. Judge Prou-
ty, of the commission, sent to Cliff
ford Thorne, the attorney for the ship
pers in the case, a copy of the argu-
ment of the railroad attorneys, which
contained the resolution, and this Mr.
Thorne sent to Harry Wallace. Then
followed the conference which resulted
in the resembling of the resolution.
The facts concerning the middle in
the record came to the attention of the
public at Washington by the state-
ments of the railroad attorneys Them
selves. Mr. Thorne explained the situa-
ton. Mr.. Byers did not take up that
phase of the case.
A hearing was had before the COM
mission upon the subject of live stock
rates in Iowa in the winter of 1907 at
the instance of the Corn Belt Meat
| Producers Association. AT that hearing
no consideration was given to the sub
ject of hog rates. No claim was made
that they were too high. On the con-
trary,, it was generally conceded by all
parties that the rates within the state
were not unreasonably high. AS re-
suit of this hearing the cattle rates
were lowered in the neighborhood of
is per cent. No change was made in
/ the hog rates.
Based upon our findings and rulings,
the Corn Belt Meat Producers Associa-
ton afterward applied to the interstate
commerce commission for lowering
of interstate rates on live stock. After
the evidence had been introduced by
the Corn Belt Meat Producers Asso-
citation before the interstate commerce
commission and while the case was still
pending awaiting the introduction of
further evidence and. at the request OF
Commissioner Prouty. the preparation
of maps and diagrams making a fairer
oNt'N-
Mr.. Thorne. attorney for the Corn Belt
Meat Producters' Association, and H
C. Wallace. their secretary, came to the
office of the railroad commission and
suggested that our board intervene or
behalf Of the state for the moral ef-
feet before the commission
More than one conversation was hac
upon the subject and in no conversa-
ton was there mention of any rates
except cattle rates ] do not believe
that the subject of hog rates was II
the mind of any OF the parties to these
conversations. The commission hat
lowered the cattle rates and had re-
fused to lower the hog rates for tht
reason of the general understanding
that they We're reasonable and thi!
ruling could form no basis in itself TO
asking for a lowering of interstate hos
rates.
/ believed we ought to give the asso
citation. in it's efforts to lower the cattl
rates, all the assistance in our power
and so expressed myself. Later, l wa
: Informed that general petition of In
tervention had been prepared by tn
attorney general, signed by a membe
49,
case.
At the request of the Corn Belt Mea
4 Producers Association, in compan
with The attorney general, I attende
e two hearings before COMMISSIONS
Prouty as the representative of tn
Y board. held in Chicago on Oct. 21 an
u on Nov. 1.
Immediately prior to the first meet
ing attended by me, learned that tn
packers of Iowa had also intervene
in said action, strenuously resistin
;. the lowering of the interstate hog rat
They based their resistance, as l u17
| derstood it. upon the theory that II
principle OF protection applied Wit
0 equal force to the state as to the ns
T ton; that it was to the advantage
r the state as a whole to build up tt
packing interests of Iowa. AS under
v stood it, they claimed that lowerir
: of the interstate rate would be gree
o injury to their business; that prop'
% announcement of the packing interes
of the state. in order to enable such il
re terests to compete with the Chicas
packer. required high interstate rat
u and low interstate rates. Wheth
1
at least entitled to consideration.
Up to this time it had never bee
y suggested in my presence and flf
! never occurred to me that there w
N any attempt on the part of the con
plainant to change the interstate h.
~ rates AT neither of the hearings
IL Cricago was there any mention b
~ fore the commissioner in my presen
~ of the subject of a change of hog rate
Indeed. so far as I remember. nothil
was done at either meeting except t
az exam ination of diagrams of cat
lu ~ rates furnished by both railroads a
40 shippers.
n Packers Are Placated.
At the first meeting in Chicago,
as found Colonel Clark, of Cedar Rapi,
in representing the the packers of low
So He claimed that his only interest W
s. in the hog rate. I frankly expressed
it him what l believed to be the unal
er nous judgment of the commission II
ey neither the commission nor the col
lat plainant had any thought of making
as serious claim that the hog rates WE
aw too high.
Cd Suggestion was made that the co
as mission withdraw upon the record
OF contention for a change in hog rat
ere I favored the suggestion, following
IDS maxim that believe to be good nrs
rs. tice before all tribunals, not to ella
am anything that do not sincerely belle
but l am entitled to. / had conversat
an, at that time with both Mr.. Thorne a
out Mr. Wallace and gave expression