Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25
IOWA TO FIGHT
FOR HER RIGHTS
STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION
AND SHIPPERS BRING RATE
CASES TO HEARING.

Des Moines, Jan. 23.-(SpeciaL)-
But for the action Of the legislature
two years ago in making an appropria-
ton for the rate department Of the
state railroad commission 1t would
hardly have been possible for the com.
mission to have aided the commercial
interests Of the state, as 1t has. IN the
preparation and presentation OF SO
many important rate matters to the
Interstate commission. One OF the
big cases presented was at Chicago
this week affecting rates from and to
points in far western territory.
The commercial interests and the
Iowa commission presented to the
interstate commission innumerable
cases of unjust rates affecting un-
favorable the situation In Iowa. 1t
was declared, and shown, that the
present rate situation helps to make
the big cities bigger and the small
towns smaller. Thirty years ago
over 70 per cent of the population OF
this country was rural, today about
so per cent constitutes the rural popu-
lation. The RESI- Of the people are IN
the cities. Ott1' factors have helped
to cause and will help to cause, this
situation in the future and develop
it still more; but it was declared there
is no excuse for continuation Of a
rate system that will unjustly discrim'
mate in favor of these big cities In
addition to their natural advantages.
Thorne After Iowa's Rights.
est. Louis has the advantage today
of 81 cents per hundred weight over
Des Moines on combination hauls,
first class, originating at New York
and terminating at Denver" says Com
missioner Thorne of Iowa. "St. Louis
has the advantage over Ottumwa, for
instance. on the same kind of haul
amounting to % cents per hundred
weight. This is the result if the far
sighted. shrewd work Of the big f1n-
anciers in our cities which builds up
our congested terminals, our great
cities. to the sacrifice of the ordinary
healthy town Of normal size in this
great Mississippi valley. We have
finally established rate department IN
Iowa that is in working order, and
with the help Of the able traffic men
in our various cities. we propose to
get what we ought to have had for
the past quarter of century-an
equality of freight rates with the
cities of the neighboring states. We
propose to force a revision of Iowa
interstate rates. and we are going to
keep at it until We get it.
There is no earthly reason why
Iowa, In the heart Of the continent
with thousands Of acres Of coal, be-
tween the two greatest rivers In the
country, traversed by network OF
railroads. should not be the indus
trial center of the Mississippi valley.
Instead of that, our cities are sur.
passed in manufacturing by practical
ly every neighboring state except
South Dakota. We have asked the
railroads to revise our interstate rates.
We believe that will revolutionize the
situation, which we find existing to-
day. They have refused. We now ask
the interstate commerce commission
to perform that task"
The great importance Of all the varl'
Gus cases affecting interstate rates
in Iowa is being brought home to the
business interests Of the state more
legislature will readily agree to au-
thorize continuance of the work.
Shields Named Senator.
Nashville, Tenn, Jan. 23.-The Ten.
nessee legislature today elected Chief
Justice John K. Shields Of the state
supreme court, U. S. senator for the
term beginning March 4. Justice
Shields is a Irregular democrat"