628 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Live Stock Exchange to appear before you. Your organization has done 

 more, I think, in the way of putting the feeding operations of the country 

 on a firm and sound basis than any other. 



"Time was" when the average feeder secured liis feeding stock in a 

 hit-or-miss manner, paying no particular attention to the grade of stock 

 secured or the time it might take to mature same, to crop conditions, or, 

 in fact, to any of those conditions surrounding liis business which might 

 have a beneficial or injurious effect upon his feeding operations for that 

 particular year. These conditions are now decidedly changed, these 

 changes brought about to a considerable extent by the information dis- 

 seminated through the channels of your organization. Feeders today 

 handle their business as carefully and economically, with as minute at- 

 tention to detail, as that given by the manager of a department store to 

 his business, or the president of a bank to the affairs of that financial 

 institution. 



Your organization, through its officers, has been wide-awake, safe- 

 guarding your interests in many ways. They have been tireless in their 

 efforts with the railroads to secure equitable and just transportation 

 conditions. Chief among the railroad cases instituted and pushed to a 

 conclusion by your organization, was that which caused the lowering of 

 live stock rates to Chicago from Iowa points. When the railroads at- 

 tempted to eliminate the stock and sheep rate, your officers were tireless 

 in their efforts to help the South Omaha exchange, which instituted this 

 case. There is no question in my mind but that the testimony of your 

 president, Mr. Sykes, and his able argument before the commission, had 

 much to do with the final victory. 



Your organization has called attention to some bad spots which have 

 crept into the service at the public markets. It has been our desire to 

 keep our market absolutely clean. A short time since, we discovered 

 some bad practices on the part of one of our firms, and I can assure you 

 the firm is not in business on our market at this time. We feel the in- 

 terests of the members of your organization are our interests, that as 

 your members prosper we prosper; that we are inter-dependent, and that 

 those things which adversely affect your members are reflected onto us. 

 We take it that we can best be worthy of our hire when, outside of those 

 routine features of the average exchange, we keep a keen eye out for the 

 welfare of our shippers. Among other items which we feel it incumbent 

 upon us to watch carefully are the rates, rules and regulations promul- 

 gated by the common carriers. We feel it one of our duties to protest 

 any changes in freight rates, rules or regulations, which adversely affect 

 shippers to or from our market, asking the suspension of these proposed 

 changes until the same can be revised by the Interstate Commerce Com- 

 mission on interstate business, and by the several state railway commis- 

 sions on intrastate business. We have complete confidence in the Inter- 

 state Commerce Commission and in its members, and believe them to oe 

 honorable gentlemen, keenly alive to the welfare of this country, and 

 anxious to deal justice to all concerned. 



At this point, I want to congratulate your members on their local rail- 

 way commission, and upon its having for its chairman Clifford Thorne, 



