Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-05
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPENS UP
ON IOWA RAILROAD
LINES.
ASKS INTERSTATE COMMISSION
FOR EQUITABLE TARIFFS
Millions Would Be Saved to Shippers
= Action in Limo With Recent
Amendments to Commerce Laws
Enacted by Congress = All Iowa
Roads Named as Defendants.

Des Moines, Aug. 5.-Attorney Cen
eral H. w. Byers this morning mailed
to the Interstate commerce commission
at Washington actions against rail-
roads operating in the state of Iowa
asking for the revision of present al
legged excessive, discriminatory and
unlawful rates.
The actions are divided into three
classes, the first relating to proper
tional class rates and directed against
the seven largest roads operating in
the state; the second relating to COM
modify rates and against all roads in
the state. and the third relating wholly
to local shipments.
The filing Of these actions before the
interstate commerce commission pre-
cipitates a hot legal battle, which, if
won by the state, will mean the saw
ing of millions of dollars to tax payers
and shippers.
The attorney general is the COM
plainant in the case but he is acting
upon the request Of the state board OF
railway commissioners.
The action is based on the amend
ment made by the last congress to The
act to regulate commerce, such amend
ment providing that no moro shall be
charged as a thru rate than is the
aggregate Of the intermediate rates.
This amendment becomes effective
Aug. II.
The Greater Des Moines COMMITTEES
f1,r-a nv
commission in April of this year and
on June the board issued its order
asking the attorney general to bring
merce commission. Since that time
Attorney General Charles w. Lyon
have been preparing the cases and
have just completed them.
In the actions bearing upon the pro-
portional class rates the seven largest
roads. mainly the lines touching the
Missouri river. are made the defend
ants, tho connecting routes are affected
more or less. These roads are the
Rock Island, Chicago. Milwaukee & st
Paul, Burlington, Great Western, Illi-
nots Central, Iowa Central and North
western.
It is based solely upon the amend
-ment made by the last congress to the
act to regulate CONNIE cree. 1t Is charged
that Iowa is Disseminated against by
reason Of thru rates from points in I'LL
nois and east being higher than an<
aggregate of the intermediate rates
Numerous instances Of where the pres
ent tariffs Of these roads make this
Px,IL 0if S1fJ
In the complaints.
For instance, a shipment OF shoes
from Cincinnati to Des Moines is made
at rate of eighty three cents, which Is
made up Of two rates, forty-one cents
from Cincinnati to Rock Island and
forty-two cents from Rock Island tc
Des Moines. The local rate from Rock
Island to Des MONIES, however. is but
thirty-six cents. This, II added to the
forty-o one cent rate from Cincinnati tc
Rock Island, makes total rate OF sew
enty-seve cents, or less than the thru
rate charged by the railroad. This, i,
is charged, Is undisputably violation
Of the amendment made by congress
and the interstate commission Is asked
to correct it.
All Iowa Roads Defendants.
In the cases dealing with the proper
tional commodity rates, all roads oper-
ating in the state are made defend
ants. These commodity rates are
charged to be simply unfair and dis
criminatUry.
An example set forth in the COM
plant is as follows: The rate on asphalt
from East Burlington to Des MONIES Is
IN cents per hundred pounds. and the
same rate goes clear across the scate
to the Missouri river. In other words
a shipment Of asphalt could be sent 70
Omaha as cheap as to Des MONIES.
The city OF Dies MONIES IS not the
only one in the state to suffer by this
tariff It is charged, but all cities are
affected in the same manner and nave
the same complaint.
In the actions relative to local ship
ments. both class rates and commodity
rates from Chicago, Milwaukee, Peoria
and other Illinois and Wisconsin points
to Iowa stations, are complained Of
The charge is that the rates of the
roads are excessive, unjust and dis
criminatory.
Comparisons Arc Made.
In the petitions comparisons are
given showing that in numerous in
stances as much is charged to haul
shipments to points In central Iowa as
is charged for carrying similar ship
ments from the same points Of origin
clear across the state OF Iowa to the
Missouri river.
The result OF these actions, If the
state Is successful. will be to cause
general revision OF adjustment o!
freight rates affecting the whole state
OF Iowa,
It has been years since tho rates
complained Of have been changed to
any extent, 1t Is said, and they have
been gradually growing worss until the
present condition has been reached. I,
is said that Iowa's Yates generally are
- - "a g