Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-03-01
ARGUMENT OF j. w. McDrLL.

We have been very hard pressed, and think
these perhaps are the reasons.
ARGUMENT OF j. w. McDILL.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen: Why
should passenger rates be reduced i'll Iowa
to two cents per mile? 1t may be answered
at once, and many would answer, because
the people demand it. Do the people de-
mand it, and if they do, is that a sufficient
reason for the reduction?
HISTORY OF THE AGITATION.
For years the maximum rate on first-class
roads has been fixed at three cents per mile,
and until quite recently no demand for reduc-
ed passenger rates has been made. For long
time the railroads have been giving re-
duced, or committed rate on mileage tickets,
selling two thousand mile tickets to the
general public for fifty dollars, and to the
commercial traveller for forty dollars.
The passage of the Interstate law by Con-
gress prohibited any extension of favors to
individuals of a class which were not equally
extended to all other individuals of the same
class.
Any violation of this rule was attended
with severe penalties and punishments.
Under belief that no favors could be ex-
tended to commercial travellers that were not
at the same time extended to the public gen
orally, the railroad companies, as | am in
formed, under legal advice, changed the rule
and sold two thousand mile tickets to all at
one price, namely, for $50.
The effect of this was at once to withdraw
from commercial travellers an advantage of
SO upon every 1000 miles travelled and to
raise the rate in that class to the amount
above mentioned. The committed rate was
not raised to the public.
A privilege was taken from class limited
in number. Naturally this change was not
pleasant to the class affected by it. 1t is, |
think, matter of history that they protested
against it, insisting upon their old privilege.
Finding their protest unavailing in view
of the clear requirements of the Interstate
Commerce law, these gentlemen in associa-
ton declaring their purpose to begin an agi-
tation which should result in securing to
themselves and the public their old special
advantage And so all who wanted a re-
duced rate were sought to be enlisted in
crusade for two cent per mile passenger
rate. The gentlemen who inaugurated the
movement knew the task to be an easy one.
This is a cheap age, and he who cries out
for cheap things will, without much discus
sion, find many converts. Newspapers fell
into line. Politicians said how admirable
reform that would be. Platform makers said
it would sound well in the promise section of
party platform. And this is the nature Of the
demand for the two cent rate. If l have
truthfully stated the history of the move
ment, now ask the conscience and intelli-
gence of the General Assembly of the State
of Iowa, under all the solemnities of their
situation, charged to represent truly and
faithfully every interest in the State, includ-
ing even the unhappy and almost friendless
railroad interests; if they sincerely believe
the people of Iowa have demanded the re-
duction of passenger rates to maximum of
two cents per mile?
do not believe the people of Iowa have
demanded it. l do not believe man Of
thoughtful mind in the State believe it.
Murmur and discomfort with transportation
rates have reached my ears from many a
direction in the last fifteen years, but never
a demand for two cent per mile passenger
rate have heard until since the withdrawal
of the special rate to commercial travellers.
l may not then be held to be unreasonable
in my claim, that the people of Iowa have
not demanded, do not demand, the reduc-
ton.
II DEMANDED, Is THAT ALONE REASON FOR
GRANTING 1T?
But If am wrong in this, and the people
do really demand reduction in passenger
rates to two cents per mile, maximum, L
ask the gentlemen of the General Assembly
to consider for moment, whether the mere
fact of demand is a satisfactory reason for
granting the demand? 1t is not usually so
considered.
Let no one claim for himself greater con-
sideratiOn for the wants and wishes of the
people than do. No one can truthfully do
so Yet, in no case can it be safely predi-
| Gated that demand is to be followed by full
qualification. All demands must be well
| considered, and only granted when founded
sin reason. He will make very unsafe leg
| lslator for any people, who only asks, to
| In his position as the weak parent who stops
| the mouths of his children by giving them
| whatever they ask.
Such a legislator will meet the same sad
| fate in the end as the over indulgent parent.
| The very recipient of his bounty will one
| day reprOach him for his unwise generosity.
| No, gentlemen, it is your duty to inquire
| and justice, be granted; whether that which
| you take from one and give to another can
| justly be so taken and given. These are
| questions which must be, by you, well con-
| sidered and about this you must impartially
| deliberate. l therefore ask you to look at
| the question from the standpoint of the JUS
| tice and ACCESSIBILITY of the measure pro-
| posed.
| i think it may be fairly asked then, that
| the demand, if any, for a reduction of pas
senger rates to two cents per mile shall be
| shown to be reasonable; and that present
rates are unreasonably high, and the pro-
| posed reduction necessary to make passenger
| rates reasonable.
| 1t is proper to call your attention to the
| fact that the vast railway system of the
| United States passes through regions OF
country very dissimilar in situation and cir
| cumstances; TO the immense number of ex-
i cursion communication and mileage rates
made many far below the average rate; to
the fact that some roads traverse densely
populated regions, where the passenger cars
are reasonably well filled, while others pass
through sparsely settled regions, where the
assenger cars are comparatively empty, and
10 the fact that in such cases both an inspec-