182 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Mr. Ryan: Have you any reason to give why you can't? 



Mr. Ames : Simply because they will not buy them from you. 



Mr. Ryan: Aren't they healthy? 



Mr. Ames: I mean that they don't want to do business with 

 the feeder. One man represents the different packing houses in 

 every single town from which they are handling stock, and he 

 handles all the stock, and nobody else can do business without pay- 

 ing that man a royalty. Then they come up here and howl about 

 what we are doing against the local packer. I wish to goodness 

 they were all out of the state if they are going to treat us like 

 that. 



As far as making claims against the railroads is concerned, I 

 I have had put a few claims put through and have been paid some 

 money, but with one or two exceptions I have never received the 

 full amount of my claim. I have made what I thought was 

 an honest claim, but have had them tell me repeatedly 

 that it is not their policy to pay claims in full; if they should, 

 what is the use of having a claim department? They settle on 

 a forty per cent basis or less. If you have a $300 claim, the chances 

 are that your first offer will be about fifteen to thirty per cent of 

 it, and they will finally try to settle on forty to fifty per cent. 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



The reports of the secretary and terasurer showed the associa- 

 tion to be in very good financial condition. Total collections for the 

 year were $5,358.82; disbursements, $5,257.02. The heaviest ex- 

 pense item was for attorney's feees in fighting the advance in 

 freight rates. At the beginning of the year there was a decifit 

 of over $700, which has been paid off. There are still some ex- 

 pense items to be paid in conection with the rate fight, amounting 

 to from $800 to $1,000, but these are not yet due, and can be paid 

 out of the receipts of the year 1911. 



President Sykes: We will now have the report of the auditing 

 committee : 



Mr. Doran presented the report of the committee, as follows: 



We, the committee appointed to audit the books and accounts of the 

 secretary and treasurer of the Corn Belt Meat Producers' Association, re- 

 port that we have examined the same and find them correct. Receipt 

 and vouchers on file for all receipts and disbursements. Examination 

 covers period ending December 13, 1910. 



J. R. DORAN, 

 E. D. BAIRD, 

 WM. LARRABEE, JR. 



