124 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



case was concluded as to the evidence in Chicago, and the briefs and 

 arguments will be presented to the commission at Washington, D. C, 

 in January. Railroad people cut some queer "capers" at these hear- 

 ings. For instance, they started out at Omaha to prove that it was 

 more expensive to the carriers to handle the stocker and feeder business 

 in local merchandise trains than to handle the fat stock business into 

 the markets on the special expedited service which they give. This 

 was just the opposite of what they testified to in former cases which 

 this association had had before the commission, as they had persistently 

 held that the special fast service given the stock into the markets was 

 the most expensive service they had. But, fortunately, we were able to 

 soon spike their guns by introducing into the record some of their testi- 

 mony at former hearings on the costly kind of service given the stock 

 to the markets. 



They next tried to hide behind the question of discrimination, claim- 

 ing that it was a discrimination to charge one man a higher rate on 

 stock because he wanted it to slaughter than they would charge another 

 man that wanted the stock to feed. But I think they utterly failed on 

 this point also. 



From the standpoint of evidence the carriers certainly made a very 

 poor showing, and towards the last it really looked like they had given up 

 in despair. But they may be able to brace up their case very materially 

 in their arguments. 



It was conceded that the stockmen made a strong case, and that the 

 case was well conducted and your interests carefully guarded. Judge 

 Henderson, the Commerce Counsel, and the president of your association 

 appeared for your association, Judge Henderson also appearing for the 

 Iowa Railroad Commission and the shippers of the state. Then the rep- 

 resentatives of the different live stock exchanges at the Missouri river 

 markets and Chicago appeared in the case for the stockmen at large, 

 and T. W. Tomlinson, secretary of the American National Live Stock 

 Association, appeared for that organization. All of these men rendered 

 valuable service at the hearings, and your interests were very zealously 

 guarded, so that there- was no stone left unturned that would inure to 

 your benefit, and at the conclusion of the hearings I think that all felt 

 well pleased with the work done and the showing made. 



I consider this the most important case to the live stock industry 

 of the middle west that has come before the Interstate Commerce Com- 

 mission, and this no doubt accounted for the anxiety and alertness on 

 the part of these different organizations; and the stockmen should ap- 

 preciate the splendid service rendered by all of these men. 



In this case you have very forcibly illustrated the value of the late 

 amendment to the interstate comnierce law, for which this association 

 had so persistently contended for years, and which gave the commission 

 power to suspend advances until the shippers' side could be investi- 

 gated and hearings held, and which also places the burden of proof on 

 the railroads. Had it not been for this amendment these advances 

 would have gone into effect as proposed, and there would have been but 

 little hope for relief through a reduction. And had this advance gone 



