152 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the difference in conditions justify such an enormous variance as 

 that? And in connection with this I want to refer to the Iowa 

 group of states, group 6, composed of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, 

 Minnesota, that part of the Dakotas east of the ]\Iissouri River, 

 that part of Missouri north of the ^Missouri River, and that part of 

 Michigan north of Lake Michigan. These states are substantially 

 similar. I find, in 1905, the average distance haul for a ton in Iowa 

 was longer than it was in the Iowa group of states; yet, notwith- 

 standing that fact, I find the average revenue on every ton hauled 

 in Iowa, was 31 per cent greater than in the Iowa group of states. 

 The last report we have from the Inter-state Commerce Commission 

 for group 6 is for the year 1905. Let us consider the Iowa report 

 for the year 1906. We find the average revenue for every ton 

 hauled a mile in this state is 54 per cent higher than the average 

 revenue for every ton hauled a mile in the Iowa group of states. 



These facts are appalling. For fear that the accuracy of my 

 statement may be questioned I refer you to the 28th report of the 

 Iowa Commission, pp. 100-101 ; 29th la. Com. Rep., pp. 98-99 ; 36th 

 111. Railroad & Warehouse Commission Report, page 149 ; and the 

 18th Annual Report, of I. C. C, pp. 70 and 98. 



Notwithstanding this situation in regard to the freight rates on 

 Iowa farm products, I do not consider that the most important 

 problem which concerns the Iowa agricultural interests at this 

 moment; there is a still greater one. 



You have heard a great deal about honesty lately— and some 

 people claim these exposures we have had have hurt business. I 

 am not surprised at this. If one of these great big wads of concen- 

 trated .juicy rottenness gets a puncture, it is not strange that an 

 odor arises. Yet, after all is said and done, I do not believe the 

 average railroad official is any more dishonest than the average 

 politician who talks about him. The matter of honesty or dishon- 

 esty is not peculiar to the railroad business. Of course, I don't think 

 we should trust our railroad officials any more than we do our bank 

 officials. I believe we should have their books examined peri- 

 odically by experts. But there is no issue here ; there is no disagree- 

 ment between you and them. They agree that they ought to be 

 honest, and, I believe, after an investigation you would find that 

 railroad men are just as honest as you are. In nine cases out of 

 ten they are doing precisely what you would do if you were in their 

 shoes and had their brains. 



But there is a far greater question, far more perplexing and pro- 

 found. If the issue is not rebates, not discrimination, not exces- 

 sive rates, not over-capitalization, what is it? Would you please tell 



