Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-23
RAILWAY COMMISSIONER PUTS
DoARo ON RECORD on PEND.
ING RATE CASES.
DEMAND ON LEGISLATURE
TO PROVIDE slNEws OF WAR
Otherwise stats Commission Should
b Relieved Of Responsibility For
Prosecution Of Gases Before Inter.
state Commission -Apprepriatiens
Urged.
Special to rime.-Re2ublican.


Des Moines. Feb. 23.-In connection
with the presentation Of certain bills
in the legislature yesterday which look
to the supplying of the railroad COM
mission with "the sinews of war" In
freight rate matters. the railroad COM
mission itself took action which will
inevitably bring to the attention Of the
legislature the needs of that body.
The bills provide for appropriations
to care for the work of the Office In
connection with rate cases. the ex-
PLANTATION Of which is contained In the
following resolution offered by Cliff
ford Thorne and adopted by the COM
mission:
Whereas, since the first day Of July
last year fifteen cases involving Iowa
interstate rates have been instituted
by this board before the interstate
commerce commission, and not one
exhibit has been prepared and nothing
whatever has been done by this or any
other department Of the state in prep
aration for the prosecution OF said
cases. altho they have been pending
for more than six months. and some OF
them affect hundreds of towns and
thousands Of commodities.
1.-THE responsibility of taking the
initiative for Iowa interests relative to
interstate rates Is a comparatively new
duty cast upon this board. and there
is not one stenographer, rate clerk. or
other assistant who can be taken from
the duties now performed for the COM
mission to help in the preparation OF
the exhibits for the said cases.
There are no funds allowed this
commission which can be used in the
preparation Of exhibits. briefs. docu-
ments. travelling expenses. employment
Of help, or purchase of books. or any
other facilities absolutely necessary
for the proper preparation for the
prosecution Of the said cases.
AT the present time the contingent
expense fund of this board IL over
drawn SAP. there is balance Of only
$14.87 in the rate investigation fund.
and We have no money to pay exc
penses already incurred in the pur-
chase Of the transcript filing briefs.
and presentation Of oral argument In
the advanced rate cases recently con-
cluded at Washington, d. c. before the
interstate commerce commission. at
fecting over 200 commodities from
Iowa points, and
Iowa Pays Interstate Rates.
Whereas approximately IS per
cent Of the freight rates paid by Iowa
Is interstate business, consequently
these duties relative to interstate rates
are Of vast importance to Iowa In
dustries. and they should be properly
performed, therefore be It
Resolved. that we strongly urge
upon the present general assembly that
the state should either furnish US at
once all necessary facilities for the
preparation and prosecution Of cases
before the interstate commerce COM
mission involving interstate rtaes af-
fecting Iowa industries or else we
should be relieved from such RESPONSE
bility. Either we should not be re-
CURED to. perform this task now re-
CURED Of us by law. or else we should
have adequate facilities to perform
that task.
And be Il resolved that a copy Of
these resolutions be sent at once to
the governor Of the state, to the speak
er OF the house and to the president Of
the senate Of the general ASSEMBLY, now
In session. with the request that this
memorial shall be placed before the
members Of the same"
The bills presented provide for a
fund Of $4,000 for prosecuting rate
cases affecting Interstate rates. q
similar sum for cases involving inter.
state rates, also $1,000 to cover the de-
dcit mentioned ana $1,327 for q deficit
or unpaid bill In connection with work
already done under orders Of the rail-
road commission In connection with
the rate cases at washington.