Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-06-23
IOWA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL
BRINGS UP NEW QUESTION
FOR STATE PROSECUTORS.
SHOWS EXPRESS COMPANIES
ENJOY ABSOLUTE MONOPOLY
Companies Claims, If True, Would In.
dictate Marvellous Exhibition Of Phi
anthropy-Cosson Shows Himself
Master Of Entire Express Rate Stu.
alton,
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, June 23.-Attorney
General Cosson in the formal address
he delivered yesterday to the national
convention of attorney generals at Salt
Lake City, raised one point somewhat
new and which those who have studied
the subject believe may cut quite bit
of figure in the litigation which is
ahead for Iowa and half dozen other
states In this important matter. He re-
ferred to the fact that in most of the
states the express companies have in
recent years raised the express rates
anywhere from 10 to 40 per cent and
further that in the matter of making
the rates they have been up to the
present time left free to act and that
they have enjoyed an absolute n1onop-
oily in the business.
The express companies make a show
ing that in the matter of rates within
the states they are now doing business
either at cost or SO near it that not the
slightest reduction can be made with
out loss; and yet it is fact that in the
making Of these rates the companies
have had monopoly. If having the
power to fix rates, protected by an alb
solte monopoly, they have actually
fixed them at cost, it has been the most
marvellous exhibition Of philanthropy
known to all history. 1t is anticipated
that the companies will abandon their
pretense Of having rates now as low as
possible in view Of this argument.
The address Of Attorney General
Cosson, in which he entered into many
Il tot tic Nff 1o -hn1 ia
opened the eyes Of the attorneys for
the express companies to the fact that
they are up against a hard proposition
in their fight to prevent Inquiry into
the reasonableness Of their rates in
Iowa. 1t has been an open secret that
they have done good deal Of shying
at George Cosson in the recent litiSa-
ton, and now the reason can be seen
in the fact that he is found to be mas
ter of the whole situation. Mr.. Cosson
had hoped to get the Iowa case ~ to
the court before this time but for me
reason there has been delay for which
his department is not responsible.
Commencing July 10 the state execu-
tive council will take up the matter OF
making the assessment on Iowa rail-
roads and similar property on which
the council acts as an assessing BODY.
Secretary Dawson is sending out ths
notices to the railroad managers Of the
program that is to be followed. The
council will consider on Monday and
Tuesday, July 10 and IL, railway and
other transportation properties, includ-
Ing equipment car companies, express
companies and sleeping car companies
On Wednesday, July -, telegraph and
t,o 1,1o pT~G
subject Of equalization Of values be-
tween counties will be taken up fol-
lowing the hearing on the 18th.
The hearing on July II before the
state railroad commission in the mat
ter OF extending the time for the
change to be made in length of freight
cars, or what Is the same thing the
minimum weight Of carload lots. will
be Of considerable Importance. When
the commission some years ago made
an order that the minimum car length
should be SO feet. an exception was
made for stock cars, because the bust
ness had been built up on the basis
Of the 81 foot car as the minimum.
The exception was to continue a year.
but it has been extended from time
to time and now the shippers ask an
other extension. Unless 1t is granted
the car load lot of live stock will be
paid for on the basis of a larger car
than now.
Commissioner Barney's corps Of spe-
cialists in the creamery business start
ed out today for tour Of the state
to find out whether or not the men
who apply the Babcock test to ascer-
tain how much butter fat there Is in
the milk are really onto their respec-
tive Jobs. The corps Of specialists con-
sists of J. ]. Ross, r A. Clark. II. r.
Forester, G. II. Teller, o. P. Thonp-
son and P w. Crowley. AS the result
of this kind Of sweeping Of the state
it is pretty certain that the milk bust
ness will be improved.
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