Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-09-10
ATTORNEY GENERALS ATTACK
ON EXPRESS RATES A PRICE,
DENT FOR HIS HIGH OFFICE.
ExToRTIoNArE CHARGES
SHOWN TO PREVAIL IN IOWA
Rates Much Higher Than in Illinois,
Where Reduction is Being Demanded
Package Tolls Especially Arc Bur-
densome and UnreasonabIe-River
Cities Prepared to Make Showing.
Special to Times-Republican.

| Special to Times-Republican.
| Des Moines, Sept. 19.-The action
taken by Attorney General Byers yes
terday to force a complete examina
tien into the express rates in Iowa and
to secure a reduction and fixing of
package rates upon some basis other
than an extortionate one, is the first
time in the history Of the state that
the office of attorney general ever took
| Independent action and the initiative in
| q matter Of this kind. Mr.. Byers was
at first in doubt as to whether or not
the power and duty was conferred up
on his office to take the initiative in
representing the Iowa people in such
an important matter without any COM
plant being filed; but a careful read
| ing Of the law convinced him that, in
| a general way, the office is retained
| as the legal representative of the peo-
! pie and Of the state to do whatever
| may be deemed best to protect the pub
lie interest.
| The showing as to the condition Of
Iowa rates will cause much surprise
1t is recalled that the order as to ex-
press rates was put into effect year
ago in February, and following this a
readjustment Of rates was made which
it was stated actually increased rates
in many instances. This was denied,
but 1t is actually found that under
| the Iowa schedule rates can be made
higher than they have been in the
| past, and in fact the door is left open
for any kind of rates by the familiar
| jugglery of the classification.
The Illinois railroad commission re-
Gently made a thorough investigation
Of the express rate question and ordered
a reduction. The maximum rates fixed
in Illinois are lower than in Iowa. On
the bulk basis, for 100 pounds. the
charge in Illinois may not be more than
40 cents for thirty miles, while in Iowa
| it may be so cents. and so on.
But the surprising thing about it
all is that according to the reports of
the companies on file in Tie state house
| they are making profits declared to be
enormous, on their investment and bus
mess, and that express company pro-
! fits turnout the country have enor-
mously increased in recent years. 1t
General Byers makes the bold declara-
ton Of extortionate and unjust rates
and an absolutely illegal schedule I'M
der the Iowa law.
| The action thus taken will immedi-
ately bring to head one question that
has caused a great deal of annoyance.
especially to local shippers of small
goods. The Iowa schedule covers only
bulk stuff and is based on 100 pounds,
with classification as may be fixed;
but the great mass Of the business is
done on the small package rates which
are proportionally very high. The out
come will be watched with great inter
est. 1t is very probable that a back
fire will be started by attacks upon
the office Of attorney general for al
legged unwarranted interference.
So
The plans of the shippers Of the Mis-
sissippi river cities to join in a big suit
before the interstate commerce COM
mission, as exclusively outlined in this
correspondence three weeks ago, is
coming rapidly to head Representa-
tives of the river shipping interests
have appeared again before Attorney
General Byers to arrange for the COM
mencement of the suit and they are
which they expect to induce the inter-
state commerce commission to direct
a revision of interstate rates from the
east to Mississippi river points in
Iowa The showing made by the inter-
Tor Iowa cities of rank injustice and
gross favoritism can be, so 1t is sa1d,
duplicated as to the river cities which
have suffered from like Inequalities IN
the interstate rates for many years. II
the readjustment is made 1T Will mean
q great deal to the manufacturing and
iobbing interests Of Iowa. All parties
interested now believe that some def
mite action will be taken.
In case the railroads of the country
make good before the interstate COM
MERGE commission in their demand Io1
an increase in rail rates for the pur-
pose of accommodating funds for oetter-
ments. etc., there is no doubt whatever
that similar question Will come oe-
fore the Iowa railway commission at
an earlv date When the Iowa board will
be called to sit in judgment on IS
sues exactly like those to be deter
mined by the national body. The rail-
roads not only have not raised any
question involving any interstate rate
directly affecting Iowa, but they seem
to have purposely avoided any issue
that would give Iowa foothold In the
suit before the commission. But 1t is
stated that as soon as the principle is
recognized by the interstate commerce
mmission-provided it ever is SO rec
ognized-of the necessity for more
revenue for the railroads, they VIII then
come into Iowa and ask the comlnis-
sion to revise it's rates upward. In the
meantime the Iowa commission, with
ont assuming the role of prosecutor. is
securing all the information that is to
be obtained at the hearing in Chicago
with a view to having it handy When
the final fight comes in Iowa.