TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 507 



then turned the work over to other live stock interests to look after and 

 returned home. The hearings continued for some five or six weeks, and 

 I am very sorry to say to you that while a bill has been prepared by both 

 houses of congress, no action whatever could be secured on either bill 

 before congress adjourned last summer, but the Kenyon-Kendrick bill 

 remained in the senate as unfinished business and will be called up for 

 consideration at the present session of congress. 



Then there was the all-important question of stock cars and railroad 

 service during the first six months of the year, which was ever present 

 with us and demanded the constant attention of your officers, and it was 

 under the greatest difficulties that we succeeded in co-operation with the 

 officials of the various railroads to get anything like an adequate supply 

 of cars for the shippers. 



During the winter and early spring conditions became quite serious. 

 They were alarming, and if it hadn't been for the efforts that were put 

 forth by the officers of this organization, who were in constant touch not 

 only with the operating departments of these various railroads, but also 

 with the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the chairmen of these 

 important committees in Washington, why I wouldn't attempt to say what 

 the situation would have developed into. But we know that it was bad 

 enough in spite of everything that was done, and all of the various inter- 

 ests that were working in behalf of the shippers to realize these very 

 serious conditions that prevailed. 



Your president made two trips to Washington, D. C, for the specific 

 purpose of securing relief for the shippers, and on one of these he ap- 

 pealed both to the Interstate Commerce Commission and the senate and 

 house committees on interstate and foreign commerce. He appeared in 

 person before all of these important bodies and laid before them the dire 

 need for proper transportation facilities for the farmers and stockmen of 

 the middle-west, and a second hearing was held before the senate com- 

 mittee, of which Senator Cummins is chairman. At this meeting, Senator 

 Cummins not only called together his senate committee but he called in 

 the presidents and operating heads of the various big railroads of the 

 east and the middle-west, and I was asked to address the joint meeting, 

 which I did, and explained to those present the whole situation and the 

 urgent need for quick and speedy relief. 



These meetings were held early in May, and I am glad to say, as you 

 all know, they brought relief very quickly from a most harassing and 

 unsatisfactory situation. 



I have received a number of very complimentary letters from men 

 over the state, as well as from men who have told me personally about 

 their appreciation of the work done by this organization in assisting them 

 in securing cars and service for their shipments. 



In spite of our efforts, I want to say that we sustained a heavy loss — 

 the cattle feeders and hog men. I am not speaking now with regard to 

 the market, but on account of having to hold our fed stock so much longer 

 than, in many instances, we should have held it. It meant an additional 

 loss to meat producers of the country. 



