Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-04
GOVERNOR LARR%sEE SAYS SEN
AroR's EFFORTS HAVE sAvEp
MILLIONS TO shiPPERs.
iovvAN,s AMENDMENTS TO Law
MADE RATE RULING POSSIBLE
Attitude Of cummins When Governor
Drew Wrath Of Railreads-Duysr
Fer state institutions Prepessd-
Foster Not to es Candidate For Re.
appointment.
Special to Times-Republican.

all the country IL more deeply inter-
ested in the recent decision Of tho In
terstate commerce commission refus-
ing the railroads the right Of making
a general increase OF rates than ex-
Governor William Larrabee. who has
been pioneer in the fight on behalf
Of the consumers. In letter he wrote
"a few days ago to Senator Cummins
he said:
Il have Just heard Of the decision Of
the interstate commerce commission re-
fusing to allow the raise Of rates asked
by the railroads. have read the testi-
mony printed by tho railroad men and
u am satisfied the decision Is q just one.
1t must afford you much satisfaction, as
1t is the result Of your amendments
to the laws. You have left. I suppose,
from $5O,0oo.0o0 to 800. 100000 Of
money in the pockets Of the people that
would otherwise have gone into the
railroad Golfers. wish the people APP
preciated fully the profits accruing to
them thru your labors in the interstate
commerce law. Your amendment that
brought about this decision was stem
winder. Had the railroads received the
advance that they were after they
would have had corruption fund that
would enable them to control the next
presidential election In spite Of all that
honest people could do. Your friends
expected good work from you, but your
good work has already far exceeded
anything that they had any right to
expect"
1t was Governor Larrabee who. as
president Of the interstate commerce
law convention which met In ST. Louis
in the fall Of 1904. appointed COM
mittee consisting Of then Governors
Cummins Van SAINT and Lafollette, to
to go to Washington. on behalf Of that
convention which represented over 500
organizations In the west. and there
to lay before President Roosevelt the
demand Of the commercial and shipping
trade that the interstate commerce law
be amended 30 that the commission
might prevent arbitrary increaee In
rates. President Roosevelt did embody
the suggestion In his message and the
senators com promised II out Of the bill
before It was passed.
Not until Senator Cummins. az a sen.
ator. had opportunity to write the law
was 1t made so that the recent rate de.
cision could be rendered and be made
effective.
1t was the attitude Of Cummins as
governor on this question far more than
anything else that drew down upon
him the wrath Of tho corporation ele-
ment in Iowa and started the neht
which brought about fractional oppo-
sition to him.
A buyer for the state institution.
will be proposed to the legislature,
probably by the committee on board
OF control. There is probably not an.
other consumer In the state paying out
million or moro a year for supplies
and on contracts that does not employ
a skilled buyer.
The work OF the board Of control has
Immensely increased in recent years and
while bids are received and samples
kept OF everything purchased, It IL
probable that the state is not as we'll
fixed az some big commercial houses
to know certainly whether or not every
dollar IL wisely expended and whether
or not the goods and prices are the
best possible Members Of the board of
control committee believe that an Inn
provement can be made in this re.
spect.
A bill to embody the idea of a special
agent OF the board to devote his en-
tire time to buying and to seeing that
the goods delivered are up to specid-
cations will be prepared.
The new line of the Rock Island
south from Dies Moines will do far
moro than open q new thru route
acros tho state-it will open up the
largest undeveloped coal deld Of
the state: The Rock Island road
owns coal rights on nearly $4,000
acres of land In Marion and Lucas
workable veins Of coal. The North
that part Of the state.
Thomas d. Foster. Of ottumwa,
member Of the board Of education. will
not be q candidate for reappointment
for the next six-year term, on account
OF business engagements. George T.
Baker, Of Davenport and A. B. Funk.
Of Spirit Lake. will probably be 70.
appointed on the board Baker and
Foster are both democrats and the
SUCCESSOR to Foster win have to bs
someone other than republican. The
selection Of Dr.. John Bowman 20 10
president Of tho university was prob
ably due az much to Mr.. Baker - to
any other, a. they lived near neigh
bors in Davenport and Mr.. Baker has
long been an ardent admirer Of Dr..
Bowman. Appointment to tho three
places on the board which terminate
July I next. will be due very soon.
psni,ou Man Dies In Florida.
Special to Times-Republican.
Denison. March "a telegram re-