Arizona republican., 1916-01-26


 grazing lands and if this convention | is prepared to endorse some such com | bination. bill as will be presented to ] you covering these questions it, when | introduced in congress, may serve as a compromise measure on which the | supporters of the various conflicting bills may unite, and l trust that defi- hite action may be taken by this con VentiOn on this very important mat ! ter"
 Regarding valuations in live stock shipping contracts. the president said As you are aware. at the last session | of congress, at the request Of this as sooiation as well as other livestock or ganizations, several bills were intro cuced for the purpose of prob hIbiting .he railroads from limiting their lia- bility under the ordinary livestocl; shipping contracts.
 One of the bills, known as the Cum mins bill. was passed and approved on March 1. 1915. and became effective on the 2nd of last June After it's pas sage and before it became effective, the interstate commerce commission, on May 7th. submitted it's opinion in terpreting said law, and the railroads, acting on their construction of the de- ciSion of the commission and the Cummins bill continued in effect their former livestock valuations but modi- fled their tariffs and livestock con- tracts, effective June 2nd. 1915 Ghe day when the Cummins law became operative), by providing that for each 50 per cent. increase over the old valuations there will be an increase of per cent. in the rate. and provid ing, also, that livestock will not be ac- cepted for shipment unless the shipper shall declare it's value at the time of shipment-the only change being the reduction in the ratio of increase for q higher valuation.
 Some shippers construed the new regulations of the railroads, the decis- ion of the commission of May ', and the Cummins amendment in connec- tion with section 10 of the interstate commerce act, penaliZing any persons who by false statement as to value or by any other device or means, ob tained or attempted to obtain, trans portation for property at less than regular rates, to require them to de- clare the actual values and paid the increased rate wherever such value exceeded the contract schedule. Most of the shippers, however forwarded their livestock on the basis of con tract valuations, regardless of the ac- tual value of the animals. thus obtain ing the flat rate"
 Independent Slaughter Houses
 Concerning independent packing plants, the president said:
 It seems to be generally considered by those who have studied the matter thoroughly, that anOthcl definite step toward creating better markets for livestock would be the encOuragene nt of a larger number of independent packing I:ants throughout the west ern country, as the consolidation of so large a portion of the slaughtetnS business of America in the hanCs oi q few men gives them such an immense power that it is well to provide some Checl, through an increased number of small, independently owned slaughter ing establishments, or else frankly face the question of an even more complete standardization of the indus try under thoroughgoing government supervision and control.
 There is a growing sentiment in America in favor of properly conduct ed, thoroughly sanitary municipal slaughtering houses as method of conserving the health of the people and reducing the price of meat pro ducts to the consumer. and l under stand that a municipal slaughter rouse in the state of Texas has proven a practical success. This question will be ably presented to you by MT l. T. Pryor of this state, one of the most distinguished officers of our as sociation.
 At our last annual convention, the retiring president Hon. Henry \. Jas tro was requested to appoint d con- mittee consisting of himself and two other gentlemen to investigate the sit nation regarding the unsatisfactory methods employed in the packing plant at JuareZ. which it was believed were a menace to the best development of the livestock industry of this country, as well as the health of the American people.
 MT. Jastro appointed as his associ- ates on this committee two exception ally able gentlemen from Texas. Mr. J. D. Jackson of Alpine and MT. Isaac T. Pryor of San Antonio. These gen. tlemen have been most active in their investigation of the Juarez matter. end, owing to their earnest efforts in behalf of this association the plant was closed, although later it was tenn porarilv reopened Under rigid inspec- tion A full report of this matter will be presented later in the meeting by MT. J. D. Jackson, the very efficient president of the Texas Cattle Raisers association. who will also discuss the live stock conditions in Mexico
 As to livestock rates:
 The proposed reduction in western livestock rates which the railroads tried to secure in 1914 and 1915 were not allowed by the Interstate con- merce commission in it's decision rem dered July 90. 1915 The lengthy hear ings in these cases, the Voluminous records, the filing of many briefs and answer and the oral arguments at 1 Washington have occupied large portion of the time of OUT attorney, Mir. Cowan. and our secretary, MT. Tomlinson. The amount of money saved to the stock shippers in the west | by our victory in these cases is estl- | mated to be not less than two million I foIIarc ann1aIlV On ShipmentS of live