THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IV 20'3 



Now, I asked the representatives of these railroad companies at 

 Chicago to let me look over their records of minimum weights for a 

 year, to find out what actual movements of articles there were. Could 

 there be a fairer request than that? Here I am, an attorney for you 

 people, those people had all the information in their possession. Wasn't 

 it right, gentlemen, that I should see their records, showing the mini- 

 mum weights? They let us send up a man, left him to examine the 

 records for two or three days, and then stopped him and denied access 

 to your chosen representative to their records of minimum weights. I 

 say that kind of thing must never be repeated, and the next time I ask 

 these railroad companies for information, I want them to know through 

 Mr. Whitenton that if they don't give it to me, I am going to keep on 

 te;ling the folks over this state what they are doing until they learn 

 to come across! 



During that case there were some recommendations by the uniform 

 classification committee. I asked for a copy of those recommendations, 

 because they w^ere using their recommendations as a basis for the 

 change in rates; and that was refused. The result of the case was that 

 the commission laid down a few general principles, and the question 

 of a practical application of those principles is now at stake. Of course 

 it is all right to have a general principle, but it is also important to 

 see that applied practically; I hope those will be. They made specific 

 orders on about 100 different cases that were heard during the case. 



Now that I have made these statements as to my sore spots (and I 

 have stated them as forcibly as I could with my meager capacity, to you 

 folks; I stated them to the railroads before, and didn't get results), I 

 feel better; I have got it out of my system! And I will say 

 on the other side of this story that we have lots of complaints 

 come into our office that are absolutely groundless, and lots of com- 

 plaints that have a good foundation; and I will say that when I go to 

 consult with these railroad officials in the city of Des Moines, I have, 

 without any exception, received the finest kind of treatment. One of 

 the broadest-gauged, biggest men in the whole railroad service in this 

 country that I know of or have had any dealings with sits right here 

 in your presence — Mr. Whitenton; and I am in hopes that as a result 

 of his presence in this state, a healthier and better relationship will be 

 created between us and the carriers. 



Last night considerable was said about our interest being mutual, 

 and that there was no reason why we couldn't waive all differences. 

 There is a great deal of truth in that, especially as to service. Serv- 

 ice is one of the most important things that you have to deal with, and 

 one of the hardest things for us to deal with. When an employe of a 

 railroad company violates orders or makes a mistake, it is hard for me 

 to say how a state commission can devise an order that will compel 

 that employe to do his duty. We will try to help solve these problems, 

 but while we are trying to do that, please remember that the carrier 

 is equally earnest and solicitous in solving the same problems that we 

 are trying to solve, and it is only where we would have better judg- 

 ment than he that we would succeed; and you know that he, with 



