Arizona republican., 1917-01-19

every opportunity to prove a success
along tie lines of real home making,
but trust this convention may decide
to urge upon congress the need OF
supplementing this regulation by some
properly prepared leasing measure,
providing for the control Of such por-
ton of the public range as is not TAX
en- up under the provisions of the new
stock-raising homestead bill.
The question of freight rates on
live stock, and adequate service in
handling live stock in transit, has
been one of the most important sub
jects we have ever had before us, and
l doubt whether there is any other
national organization which has had
greater influence in bringing about
reasonable rates and establishing i'm
prOVenentS in service that the Amerl-
can National Live Stock association.
AT our last convention | referred to
the proposed advance in western live
stock rates, and the further investiga-
ton which the interstate commerce
commission had ordered; the probable
itv that this investigation would be
exhaustive and long continued, ana
would involve much work and expense
on the part Of this association. This
question has been one of the most i'm
portant confronting the organization
during the past year.
The unusual and complete know
ledge which our Secretary Mr.. Tom
linson. possesses of this somewhat in
VOWED question. of rate making is of
immense advantage to our associa-
ton; and the thorough grasp OF al!
the legal intricales of the subject by
our attorney, Nh. Sam Cowan, has
been of special value to us during
the last wear. The remarkably able
brief prepared by Mr.. Tomlinson, with
the cooperation of Mr. COwan, cover
ing this whole question of rates on
live stock products, was presented to
the interstate commerce commission
in connection with Mr.. Tomlinsons
letter to Commissioner Hall, of May
27 and is an unusually terse and
able presentation of the whole matter.
"As you know, there has been
formed during the year what is known
as the National Live Stock Shippers
Protective League, of which our dis
tinguished first vice president, Colonel
Isaac I. Pryor, has been made prasi
dent.
Il had the pleasure, on behalf of
this association. of attending one of
the sessions of the executive com
mittee of this league, and believe that
its work, if carried on along the con
structive lines proposed, should prove
of practical benefit in maintaining just
rates for the livestock shippers, not
only in the west but throughout the
entire country; for. as voI know, the
investigation proposed by the inter-
state commerce commission has now
been broadened so that in addition
to covering the question of western
ityh ~ r.
vance or all live stock rates through
out the entire country is row under
consideration.
The National Live Stock Shippers
Protective League has retained as
counsel Mr. Sam H. Cowan and MI.
Clifford Thorne, formerly chairman
of the Iowa railway commission. The
league proposes to finance its work by
small fee on all carloads of stock,
which is secured through the CO.
operation of the members of the Ma
tional Live Stock Exchange. and the
league generally is prepared to CO.
operate thoroughly with the work of
our association on railway matters.
The position of our association, it
seems to me- is a remarkably fair one.
as we stand squarely on the prin-
ciple that, while we are perfectly
willing 20 pay a reasonable and re-:
munerative rate, before any rate is
advanced it must be definitely shown
by the railway company that the eX-
listing rate is unreasonable and unre-
munerative; and we further insist
that in this Investigation the compar-
alive cost Of moving live stock, as
against other products, be shown. SO
that the actual facts may become the
basis or which rates are made.
The issues raised in what is known
as the Shreveport case are tremen-
dously vital and involve the question
of whether federal authority, thro Ig.
the interstate commerce commission.
shall extend within the states and
allow the interstate commerce com
mission to control interstate rates
Should this policy be fully estab-
lished it would practically nullify the
work of the various state commissions
The effectiveness of the various state
Commissions has been so manifest of
recent years. in establishing and con-
trolling rates within the various states
that it would seem a most unwise
policy 10 curtail their efficiency by
the proposed enlargement of federal
power A bill is now before congress
known as the Sheppard bill, which
provides for thorough cooperation
between the interstate commerce COM
mission and the various state commits
sions. without interference with the
rights of either
AT its last session congress adopt
cd a resolution creating a joint COM
nittee of tan--fiVe from the house and
five from the senate-to investigate
the entire question of railway trans
portation, government control, federal
incorporation Of common carriers, the