Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-05
LIVESTOCK RATES INCREASED rs
PER CENT BY RECENT RULING
OF COURTS.
STATUTE FORTY YEARS OLD
KNOCKED OUT BY DECISION
Easina Of Rates on Values Of Livestock
Now Resorted t-State Commission
Prepares to Demand Relief From In
terstate Commerce 6oard-Affects all
Iowa Towns.
pecial TO Times-Republican.

Special TO Times Republican.
Des Moines, May 5.-The ordinary
printed contract between a railroad
company and the man shipping live
stock to the Chicago market provides
maximum values of the livestock for
which the carrier will be responsible
in case of accident. This value of
steer is set at $50, and of a hog at $40.
Any value in excess of this causes an
increase in the rate amounting to .
per cent for every 100 per cent added
value. For instance, a steer worth 800
would take 25 per cent advance in the
regular freight rate. A steer worth S259
would take 100 per cent advance in the
freight rate.
These provisions limiting the liabil-
i,y of the carriers for many years have
been held to be invalid by the courts
and this fact has been taken into full
consideration when rates have been
framed Iowa has a statute declaring
such limitations to be invalid. This
statute was passed forty years ago. II
has been held valid by the courts re-
peatedly AS late as 1896 it was sus-
United States as applicable to the por-
ton of interstate hauls within the
bounds of the state, because Of no fed
eral regulation relative to the matter.
But the supreme court of the United
States, in a recent decision tJan. b:
1879. declared this law to be uncon-
stitutional as affecting any part of an
interstate haul on the ground that con-
=, toll rpcyIll3re the
matter of damages by the amendment
Of 1905 to the interstate commerce act.
Causes Freight Advance.
This decision of the supreme court,
Of the United States. rendering the
Iowa statute unconstitutional, causes
an advance of % per cent in freight
rates on livestock from practically all
Iowa towns TO Chicago and other mar
kets. unless the shipper is willing to
release the railroad from ability for
damage above the maximum value.
This grows out of the fact that the
800. or twice the maximum permitted
in these contracts, thereby compelling
the shipper 10 pay % per cent moro
than the regular livestock rates.
March ! Mr.. H c. Wallace, secretary
OIL the Torn totIl ic'uNSAs' ~
ISOLATION, brought the matter before
the. state railroad commission, asking
what could be done. He was advised
of several possible courses of action.
Since then, Senator Cummins has
drafted u bill seeking to remedy the
situation by act of congress; but the
bill is meeting with Very serious op-
position, which will probably mean its
defeat In the meantime. the railroads
docketed the matter for hearing az
their St LOUIS conference April /;
but declined to do anything. Mr.. Wal
lace has filed request With the state
railroad commission, requesting it TO
file a petition. and prosecute this mat
ter before the interstate commerce
commission conference was held
Saturday in the offices Of the Iowa
railroad commission, at which it was
decided that the Iowa commission
should prosecute the case. The COM
mission viii seek 10 have the valuation
entitled to the present livestock rates
10 correspond TO the ordinary present
values Of the animals. II successful,
this will remove the advances in the
rates above described on the great bulk
OF Iowa stock shipments. and thereby
avoid the effect Of the decision Of the
supreme court Of the United States.