Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-04
FORMER RAILROAD COMMISSION.
En- SAYS DISTANCE TARIFF
LAW 10 iNJvR,Ne STATE.
TELLS MINNESOTA LEGISLATORS
FACTORIES ARE KEPT OUT
Enables Outside Concerns to Underbid
Local Manufaetories-SmaI Towns
and Small Industries handicapped by
Present Laws-Eaton Summoned TO
Give Views to Selens.

Minneapolis, Feb. 4.-1owa's distance
tariff Laws got pretty rough handling
before che senate railroad committee
late yesterday. The committee IS con-
eidering the T. E. eastman bill which
is copy OF the Iowa law. and it gave
the third public hearing on the subjec,
yesterday in the senate chamber. The
bill again played to a crowded house.
The principal speaker was man who
gave the committee first hand Informal
ton on the Iowa law as an expert. w.
L. Eaton. Of Usage, Iowa, who has just
finished four years service on the Iowa
railroad commission. For two hours he
held the fioor. most 90 the time answer
ing questions fred by friends and foes
Of the measure.
/; M. Eaton's testimony was the most
severe arraig1nen1 OF the Iowa law
that has been heard this session. and
i. came from a man who began his
service on the Iowa commission be,iav-
ting the law 10 be ideal. He told how
he had been disi!lusioned. and gave one
case after another 20 show the Ill eff
fecis % law tina, hampers Industry
and destroys railroad competition The
statements of Mr.. Eaton did not please
Senator'S eastman. John Moonan and
/ Q. A. Lerde. who piled him with ques-
tions, bur nearly every question sug-
gested 20 Mr.. Eaton another poin,
against the law.
| Predicts Virtual Repeal.
! While criticizing Governor Cummins'
~ -.
four years ago. Mr.. Eaton took pains
Cunnins man He predicted that the
ter, relaxing its provisions so shat It
vii, no. differ greatly from the rate
system now used In Minnesota
/ Mr.. Eaton was kept on the floor so
1 long that hearings were not finished
yesterday and were resumed at 2 p. m.
! today. His was TO. the only strong
evidence Of yesterday, however. A. c.
lLoring. for the Minneapolis n1illers.
warned the committee against the dan
gers 81 destroying the Minneapolis
grain market BY legislating its mills
out Of existence. George n. Gillette
| Of M!nea polls. made an imprisoned
plea for manufacturers who have built
up a business under present conditions
and have an investment that Is liza ble
10 confscation by such bill.
Changes Views on Law.
Il am not a shipper or railroad
attorney" said Mr.. Eaton. IT retired
voluntarily from the railroad commits
sion. 20 which was elected without
opposition When I went on that board
four years ago. I was echooled in the
belief that the Iowa distance tariff was
sec ond only in vene-at.on to the deca-
logue. the ne Plus ultra Of railroad
-eguia ,ion.
II believed then. and believe row in
railroad regulator u which Iowa Is a
pioneer. My judgment az ~ the dis
.ance tariff was made wholly without
knowlsagA bei!e-a Ia: I: was an
exceedingly wiSe law when Il was
"a seed !. vas no, an absolute neces-
sity . ena conditions -h.n existing Il
zis Is work ard wiped ort d.=c-;oina-
tionz ard -eba-e=. Ra-e regulation
stree -hs- 'av was passed -we,ty--wo
EAe-= ago haS been y-eat'v developed.
IT,. distance -a-;~ -el-AS into con-
sheraton tut orc Factor :ra- ~ dis
.a-ca. Tha- = on'v ora factor and
-r=rre-.'-. .HA lAas. ir-po-.e7. Any
o-a who has ral eSpe-ir-co ought 10
-Aax7a that rata, king IS -he most
complex suh:ac. before the American
u=oo,e TO-DAY
iowa Is a'o-a. T-e s;a.eS -ound rs
g., have aexiA'e -a-t~s r,D- rates are
:rHerihle ard re sche5u= adopted
~ -ha -ail-oa' commission u 'ha rate
OF e1a-y -oaS al nTa- .he e-a-a Y
;.ou are goiry - pass this hiil. YOU'D
urge you % MAKE -Tro or three amend
n, snts Ore is % iacirae n i sched-
ule II rates. TIE NO rrps. 20 together.
Factories Leave State.
NJ f-st discovery as To our sys-
ter? wos in connection with ny own
town % csaee We have -ice l.-'le
.own wi.t 2 200 people ten veg-s ago
AID . $50 last year. Our Deoole are
4-.e-nrising and orr CONNIE -cia' club
has tesr -eectir= out after industries.
Four =. ava ves-s ago We go- butter
t-ih factor which shics ..s -ev nate
rial %, !ow rate from Tennessee but
later :he mara rers came 70 ia e-d said
t-e,- could ro- 10 husi-Ass in our town
ard shtn ou- on ou- local rates They
vent instead 70 Sioux Falls. where
trev could shin back into Iowa on a
low Interstate rate. 7 locked around
! and found TIE same condition in MAN.
otna- parts 0. the s.ete.
! Down q. Charles City there IL a
big factory making traction engines.
~. ships every bit o. its product out
( Of ire state. Tire big CEN ent mill AT
Mason Cifv ship. its product out OF
TIE state but does a small par: Of the
Lora business. On inquiry fonnd It
was matter OF f-eigh. rates Right
here I will gay that there is not a
single industry in OF. state bu. what
can be made or broken by freight
rate
x had good lesson -;thsn three
! 81 ;a;- months cer.ei- district in
the southern part. shipping coal, APP
piled for assistance 70 save them from
going out Of business. They were zuf-
>erin4 from Illinois connection. we
couldn't help them by blanket rates.
hut could only reduce rates al! over
the state. We did so brt d'a not help
our own peonIe much. for the Illinois
shipper could still come TO our state
line and then 80 on over our iowa
rates. II We had had flexible sys-
tenn we could have protected our PEG
pie by blanket rates.
| Nesd Competitive 9ssvies.
+, We have no competition in IOWA.
| IA our part. except from Minne,ots.
What we need, what shippers need. IA
com petition IN service. Rates. 90 Ions
~ there II equality. do not wofrq the
simmer for thov ARE maid nv tJ>> can.