Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-05
EMINENT AMONG MANUFAc.
TuRERs NOT AGREED ON
SWITCHING QUESTION.
ONLY TWO CITIES As VET
TAKE DEFINITE ACTION
Fact That lows Has Many Small
Business Houses Makes Proposed
Disco ntinuanes Of Free Services Of
Less Importance Chicago Shippers
Aroussd-Miliions Involved There.

Des Moines, March 5.-George
Wrightman, secretary of the Iowa
Manufacturers Association, who rep-
resented Iowa industries at the con-
ference called by the Chicago Com
mercial Association to consider rail-
road free switching service, reports
that at the meeting strong resolution
of protest was adopted against the
proposal that the interstate commerce
commission should decree abolition of
this free service. Thus far. however.
but two Iowa organizations have taken
the same attitude-those at Cedar
Rapids and at Davenport. In fact
opinion is much divided in Iowa, since
Iowa has mostly small business houses
and they are not SO much favored by
the free switching service and other
allowances.
Chicago is Assured.
The matter Of the enormity of this
question. which was fully exploited in
this correspondence two weeks ago. is
just dawning on these who are inter
ested most. The Chicago Tribune.
" ilich is VIGOROUSLY close to the rail-
roads and some of the big business
concerns, broke loose the other day
with a long article pointing cut some
of the phases of the subject as given
IN this correspondence at an earlier
date, and showing how. much Chicago
would lose if the special favors were
cut off and charges be made for all
things done. This article, by loca.
reporter, commenced:
The decision in case now pending
3efore the interstate commerce COM
mission in Washington may result in
adding $20,OO0,OO0 or more a year to
the cost of doing business in chicago:
It will add that amount to the net
earnings of the railroads which terml-
nate in Chicago; it will take the same
amount out of the earnings of the big
shippers, manufacturers, and mer-
chants Of the city !: it will put the small
business man for the first time on all
equality with the big, so far as rail-
road freight rates are concerned; ana
it is likely to have. in the long run,
great influence in forcing the railroads
and the shippers of the city to coop
crate in working out better and more
economical methods Of collecting and
distributing freight"
Gain Enormous.
The estimate of $20,000.0000 as the
amount which the railroads centering
IN Chicago would gain by cutting OH
the free service greatly exceeds esti-
mates before made. The greatest esti-
mate made heretofore was of 100000
900 for the entire country; but II chi
caeo's big shippers are favored 10 the
extent of s2O,ooo,oOo, the aggregate for
the entire country is much larger tnan
supposed. -. -
The fact that this favor to the big
shippers is at the expense of the small
er ones. as well as at the expense OIL
the railroads, is matter which prob
ahly will be inquired into. 1t IS be-
cause OF this fact that there Is said to
he great reluctance for Iowa to get
into the game in opposition to cutting
NJ, the determinations. There woulo
he some loss in Des Moines and 1e"
of the cities Of the state II the 1ree ser
vice plan was abrogated. but Tor the
vast mass OF small shippers 1t wouio
mean little.
lowa's Attitude. -,
The attitude which Mr.. Thorne Will
take in this matter. so 1t is understood.
i. that the question Of free service
losses should not be confused with the
other one Of the sufficiency Of the rev
enues of the railroads. He will go be-
fore the interstate commission next
week prepared to show that the rail-
roads are already fully compensated.
that their credit is good and that they
are not in fact in need Of additional
revenues. The free service question mas
heen nut forth as ono scheme for IN
crea sing the net revenues Of the car
riers without increasing the gross IN
come. - 1oua
shinners on this question has oeen
placed in the hands OF the commerce