The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1912-02-10
QUESTION
OF PRICE
OF BEEF
EMAY BE CHANGED By CASE
NOW BEFORE COMMISSION
DECISION WILL BE OF VITAL IN
TEREsT TO SHIPPERS, CON
suMERs, AND RAILROADS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
sUMERs,

WASHINGTON. Feb. 10.-One Of
the most interesting cases that has
come before the inters.at commerce
commission in the past year, was
argued today by representatives of
various chambers OF commerce locate
in the middle west and southwest,
and of over 700 railroads operating IN
various parts of the United States.
The disposition of the case, which
involves the rates ON stock cate
and sheep. VIII affect the price of
beef and mutton in every city in
the United States.
The case has been before the COM
mission since August IL, 1911, COM
ing up when the various railroad In
terests petitioned the commission to
advance the rates ON stock cattle
and sheep TO the rates of beef cat
tie, amounting to from % to 80 Is
per cent, Complains against the
petition were fled with the commis-
sion by cattle rasers associations, and
a number of chambers of commerce
and traffic bureaus located in various
sections of the west and middle wes.
As a result the commission suspended
the rates from time to time pending
inquiry and hearings, and finally
fixed June 13, 1913, as the outside
limit for an opinion in the matter.
The railroads most interested are
western, southern and middle wes-
tern points, to the packing hose
centers. The complainants inter
eSted are chambers of commerce and
live stock associations located in
a number of cities. Briefs in the
case have been filed by these asso-
citations as well as the railroads.
George t. Bell, of the Sioux City
Live Stock association in presenting
the cattle raiSers' SIDE of the contro
versy today, stated that the rail
roads have failed utterly to justify
the proposed advance in rates on
stock cattle and sheep. He said:
They have not even attempted tC
assume the burden of proof cast upon
them by the statute and have pro
duced no evidence to prove the
reasonableneSs of the proposed ad
vance rates for the service performed
or to show the reasona likeness of q
basis or relation of rates that makes
raw material given a confeSsedly Sc
coNd rate service"
He charged that the sweeping ad
vance of 3S IS per cent. in These
rates was the result of an agreemeR
among the carriers, and that the eff
feet of the agreement was dscrim
matory in a large measure in the
movement of interstate traffic.
Bennett Lee, counsel fer the Hin
OILS railroad, who addressed the com
mission in behalf of number of the
carriers, held that the lower ratt
of 25 to 80 1-3 per cent. ON stocl
cattle and sheep was in effect {
discount or a privilege granted BY
the railroads to encourage the stool
raising industry. He said that the
proposed withdrawal of this priv
lege or the proposed Withholding o
a discount, resulting in highe
charges is not proposed increasa
in rates as contemplated under tbs
commerce act.
The commission at the hearing to
day heard few additional Witnesses
and a Encouragement along the sam'
lines by both carriers and shipper
made at prior hearing, bringing GU
few additional details of the Rou
fight between the cattle raisers am,
the carriers.
An opinion in the case is eXpecte'
from the commission within the mex
six weeks,