Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-02-23
DEMAND FOR PAYMENT OF
sw,rcHiNo CHARGES FELT
~ LARGE MANUFACTURERS.
Big BUSINESS CALLS
MEETING IN CHICAGO
lows to 10 Represented at Gathering
Of Capitalists and Business Men
Who see Danger 20 Industries Which
Have Been Reesivins Favors From
Railreads which May % withdrawn


Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. 23.-The latest big
bomb thrown in the warfare over the
proposed railroad rate advance hit
others than the railroads and was felt
in Iowa. In fact, it viii be found be-
fore many days that Iowa commercial
interests are very much wrought up
over the new situation.
The big organization Of merchants
and manufacturers in Chicago which
controls millions Of business has
called e conference in Chicago to be
held tomorrow and the days following
to rally the scattered forces and de-
eide on a new plan of defense Com
mercial bodies in Iowa will be repre-
sented. It Is meeting OF big business
in all the midland country.
The cause of the alarm is the rails
ing Of the question as 20 whether or
not the carriers should stop up all the
leaks and prevent loss of revenue to
which they are entitled before demand
ing larger sums from the shippers for
their service. Mr.. Brandeis was the
man who hurled the bomb. He called
attention to the fact tina. the carriers
fail to collect some fifty million dol
lars year which they earn in the
matter of switching charges for in
dustries. This, taken in connection
with the interstate commerce commits
sion's finding that the railroads lose
other millions in the allowances for
industrial railroads, puts the carriers
on the defensive.
Determinations Involved.
The special interest Of the business
men of the country is that if the al
lowances are to be cut off and the free
switching is abolished somebody will
have to pay for these things and it will
be up to the shippers to pay the bills.
In some cases it will not be possible to
pass the added expense along to the
ultimate consumer and make him pay
the bill. In many cases it involves
determinations in fact.
For instance, in Des Moines. fac
tory is located on an industrial track
or siding or terminal line. and the prac-
tice has grown up of having the rail-
road switch its cars right to the ware
house of the consignee. there to be un-
loaded. The switching service Is free,
or there is an allowance to the ter
minal company which is an advantage
But a rival factory is located mile
or so away from the tracks. The owner
has to pay full freight charges to the
regular unloading switch and then
haul his goods by truck. The dis
elimination is evident.
The demand now is that the carriers
cut off all this free business and get
their. added revenue IN that way in
stead of asking for a fat Increase Of
rates on all commodities and classes.
II this is done it will mean that fac
tory owners and warehousemen and
merchants and miners and others will
pay millions to the railroads annually
in Iowa for service they now get free.
1t probably will hit the big business
house more than the small ones. for
usually 1t is the big business that gets
the special favors. It will compel re-
adjustment as to all these discrimin-
atoms. It will mean a bigger shaking
up in business, In Iowa and every
where than anything heretofore pro-
posed.
George Wrightman. secretary Of the
Iowa Manufacturers Association, went
to Chicago to attend the big confer
ence. What we will try to do is to
find out exactly what is right and just
in the matter and get back Of it," said
Mr.. wrightman before leaving. 1T is
a serious matter. There are CONNER
cial conditions that have been built up
by years of labor and 1t will hardly do
to disturb them at this time. Reform
is all right. so long as it doesn't come
too close home. But Wen see what
can be done about it,
All Iowa vitality Interested.
The big Chicago association which
has called the conference of midland
commercial organizations is the one
which some time ago got back Of the
railroad demand for an increase of 5
per cent in rates. It is the same or
ganization which led the fight against
an increase Of rates few years ago.
This time it was so strongly set in
favor Of the increase that it's officers
even refused to permit speaker to
appear before the club and take up the
other side before the final action was
taken indorsing the proposed increase
of rates. And also the organization
members are among those who would
be hardest hit by an order of the in
terstate commerce commission to stop
all determinations and fee switch
ms.
There is hardly city or town in
Iowa not vitality interested in this
question. When the state railroad
commission undertook to tackle the
switching problem in Iowa and to es-
tablish industrial zones and fix rates
it came up against one Of the hard
est problems it ever tackled. Il soon
found that this was q dangerous sub
ject to handle for in very many cities
free awitchinR WAS the rule and no.