The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-05-13
RAIL RATES ARE Of
INTENSE INTEREST
osurpation of Prerogative Going
With State Rights IL Urged
Against Federal Authori-
ties by Commission

1
| The Nevada Railroad Commission
is in receipt of advice from Chair
man Charles Webster of the legis-
lative committee of the National
Association of Railway and Utilities
Commissioners regarding the amend
ment Of the Transportation Act, or
Esch-Cummins Act, in such manner
as to restore the police power of
the states in compliance with the
Capper bill which has been Endorsed
by the American Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton with a membership of over
million farmers) the American
Livestock Association, the National
Industrial Traffic League, the Inter-
mediate Rate Association, and other
civic and shipper organizations;
and that approximately one half of
the state legislatures have passed
concurrent resolutions urging Con-
gress to amend the Transportation
Act.
In this report Mr.. Webster states:
"The hearings on this amendatory
legislature before the house commit
tee have been interrupted by consid-
flooded with letters asking them
members of Congress are being
flooded with for letters asking them
to vote against the bill, claiming
that if the state commissions have
authority they will reduce rates.
This propaganda is having the de-
sired effect. If every state COM
missioner will write his Congress-
men and Senators-if they will get
their governors and other infuen-
tial men to do SO, it will help very
much. We must get action quickly,
otherwise, these bills will not be
passed this session."
Mr.. Webster, who is a Railroad
Commissioner of Iowa, states among
other things, in a report he has
filed before the House Committee:
Propaganda, or l might say, poison
gas, has been scattered broadcast
intimating that the support given
by the state commissions to the
amendment and repeal of certain
sections of the Esch-Cummins act
is due to selfish motive. know
most of the state commissioners of
the country, and know that their
support is due solely to what they
regard as their duty as representa-
tives of the respective states, and l
doubt if any one of them has any
selfish motive. Even if all railroad
rate making authority were removed
from the state commissions, they
would still function in other matters
and it would not effect them per-
sonally in any manner. 1t is the
principle that they are endeavoring
to maintain-the preservation of
our local home rule from des-
truction.
At the formation of the Union,
certain rights were delegated by
the state to the national govern
ment. All the rest were reserved,
including the right to regulate their
internal affairs.
Before the war the minimum on
hogs in Iowa was 10000 pounds
for 36-foot 4-inch car. This was
raised during the government opera
ton to 1900 pounds. After the
railroads were returned to their
owners, they petitioned to the Rail-
road Commissioners of Iowa, ask
ing that a $1,000 pound minimum
be established, and after an ex-
haustive hearing, it was decided
that 1900 pounds of all kinds Of
hogs and in all kinds of weather
could not be loaded with safety
1t was shown that 76 per cent OF
the hogs that arrived at Sioux City
were loaded less than 1900 pounds
and SO per cent less than 10000
pounds. This was done by ex-
perienced hog shippers, although
they paid for $1,000 pounds.
The railroads were not satisfied
with this decision and took the case
before the Interstate Commerce