108 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



it is stated on good authority that the advances, if put into effect, will cost 

 the shippers of Iowa over two million dollars annually. So, accordihly, 

 the commission was asked to suspend the advances, which they did, and 

 arrangements were made with Mr. Thorne, the rate attorney, to go to 

 work on the case. Under an order of the Interstate Commerce Commis- 

 sion the hearing opened in Chicago about August 25th, and it has been al- 

 most a continuous hearing ever since — three hearings having been held 

 in Chicago, one in New York, and two in Washington, D. C, each one last- 

 ing from one to two weeks. So you can readily see that this is going to 

 be the most expensive case that the association has been mixed up in; 

 but I believe the amount represented in these advances and the principle 

 involved amply justifies the spending of this money, because if the rail- 

 roads are permitted to make these advances without us contesting their 

 right, we can make up our minds that we are practically at their mercy 

 in the future. Hence the importance of us doing all we can to prevent 

 them. 



As already stated, Mr. Thorne has given almost his entire time to this 

 case since about the 25th of August, and we should appreciate the fact 

 that we could secure a man of his ability to represent us at this important 

 hearing. 



The last hearing was held in Washington, D. C, the latter part of No- 

 vember, and the case concluded as to evidence, but the final arguments 

 will not be made to the commission until in January. Then it will be 

 some time after that before the commission renders a verdict in the case. 

 So we can only patiently await their decision, resting in the conscious- 

 ness that we have done our best to protect the people's interest. 



Now, as congress has already convened and the Iowa legislature will 

 soon be in session, there are some important measures that I believe this 

 association should call their attention to and urge upon the different 

 bodies. Some may look upon this as being useless, but I want to say 

 that it is through conventions like this that the people speak, and a num- 

 ber of our lawmakers are now listening to hear what the people have to 

 say. And the time has come when men begin to realize that they are 

 elected to serve the people instead of special interests; so I believe we 

 ought to speak, and speak so loud and so plain that they can easily un- 

 derstand what we want, and there should be no uncertain sound as to 

 our position. 



The first important matter that I want to call attention to is the ne- 

 cessity for an act providing for a special commerce counsel in this state, 

 whose duty it shall be to look after and take charge of all questions per- 

 taining to freight or passenger traffic, also express or telephone rates, 

 either state or interstate, by which the citizens of this state are effected. 

 I believe that such an officer should be appointed by the governor, but 

 such appointment must be confirmed by both the house and senate; and 

 that he shall have the power to prosecute cases of discrimination or ex- 

 cessive rates, both before the state railway commission and the Interstate 

 Commerce Commission, according to the nature of the rate involved. It 

 must be remembered that the railroads have many very able attorneys 



