NINETEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 431 



Now, I insist that we must not run the chance of having some revo- 

 lutionary changes put into effect between now and the time you determine 

 what shall be the ultimate disposition of the railroads. During that in- 

 terim we have the greatest danger to the American shipper, because the 

 railroads will realize that the termination of their control is probably 

 close at hand, and what they want put in effect, they should do so without 

 delay. Senator Cummins has offered an amendment striking out of the 

 law, "except where in conflict with the orders of the President." That 

 is th eclause that is so often invoked to over-ride acts of congress, the 

 states and decisions of courts. 



I am afraid I may leave a very wrong impression on your minds. 1 

 do not want you to feel that I am wholly hostile to the Railroad Admin- 

 istration and its official staff. If I leave that impression on you, I will 

 be unjust to myself and very greatly unjust to the members that consti- 

 tute that staff. The Director General and his official family have shown 

 universal courtesy, without any exception, in every matter that we have 

 presented. There has not been the slightest indication of bad faith or 

 lack of integrity or lack of ability at any time during the past year. The 

 reason that I have recited these facts as I have is that I concede that I 

 am an advocate, and I want certain changes in the law, just as quickly 

 as possible, for the protection of the shippers whom I represent. Many 

 acts have been done by the Railroad Administration which were fair and 

 just. Last year an order was made by the Railroad Administration, 

 providing on live stock an advance which should only be 25 per cent, with 

 7 per cent as a maximum. The administration also had under advisement 

 the $2 spotting charge. Advance information leaked out, and protests by 

 letter and telegram went into Washington, and the proposal was with- 

 drawn. A few weeks ago the railroads issued an order causing a 2-cent 

 advance in rail rates on grain from Chicago and St. Louis to the east, 

 affecting both local and re-shipping rates, and on our protest that was 

 withdrawn, pending further investigation. This General Order No. 57 

 that I have attacked was issued the middle of last week, and we pro- 

 posed amendments to that, and the Railroad Administration stated they 

 would give us a definite answer within ten days. If that order is with- 

 drawn, it will be an act of wisdom on their part. 



Mr. J. L. Harris, chairman of the Live Stock Committee of the United 

 States Railroad Administration, was approached by your counsel, and it 

 was stated to him that you had not received nearly as good train service 

 under the conditions of the past year as prior thereto, and without hesi- 

 tation he said: "I will be glad to go out there and give the stock shippers 

 of Iowa an opportunity to present the situation as it exists, and I will do 

 all in my power to correct it." And I want to tell you further that I have 

 personal knowledge of certain acts of Mr. Harris which entitle him to the 

 confidence of every stock shipper in this room. He is straight as a die. 

 It is not his policy to make the Railroad Administration a burden on the 

 people. We must remember, we have been engaged in war, and there 

 has been a war emergency such as we have not had since the Civil war, 

 demanding the most superhuman tasks. All we ask, now that the war 

 is over and the emergency has passed, is that we want the immediate 



