Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-01-12
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. - 81, OOl ,Oo3.S3
REPORT OF RAILROAD coMMlsSIoNEy.


The report Of the Railroad Commits ,ioncrs
show, that the humber OF miles Of railway in
III" State, June 30, lNNI, was so. The mum.
her Of miles built last year was AZ! The
amount of stock representing the roads in
Iowa Is Sli', $50 ,1li.tN. Amount Of bonds for
for Tho same Sl5O.2M.9lg>i. Stock per mile
Sl9.Dri.2I. Debt funded and unlundrd per
mill $!h31O.j2. Total stock and debt per mile
S43,G!ii. ~. The cost nl the roads and equipment
in Iowa Is placed hV the Commissioners at
S2Gl, ~, 1914. The "ro>s earnings of the
roads in Iowa, passenger. mail and express
SlO,AS, OS'j.12; freight and miscellaneous, 81
:2l $3.50: total ~ I!I 1906! Increase over
SA, lI?.EO.il. Net earnings after paving all
expenses, Sli,3i6, i0.9l Net earnings per
mile Sl,Gi2. H. TAXES paid in Iowa 81 OF 30 81.
Total number of employees in III" state 29O;S.
Amount paid employees Sl5.l46.:4.SL Loco
motives in State Lin. Cars passenger
box freight, 1861; stock. 3llG: coal
and platform, 1876; other cars. ?Ii9; total
81, li2 Number of stations in Iowa. 1879.
Number of miles in operation January !. ISIS,
SOB. During ilrNcar IS! persons were killed,
of whom were passengers. - employees. and
III not connected with the operation Of the
roads. In the same time, 40 persons were
iniurcd-2S passengers, :54 employees, and IS
not connected with the operation of the roads.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
propose to discuss in another paper, more
fully than the limits prescribed to myself in
this message will permit the relations Of rail
road corporations to the State and the duty of
the latter to protect its citizens against eXOrbi-
tant rates, I'm just discrimination. aud unfair
and incQuitahlc dealings of all kinds at the
hands Of these corporations. At present
make the following recommendations in re-
gard to that portion of railway traffic that
comes within the control Of State authority:
First. | recommend the passage Of a law
destroying the pass system root and branch.
No one should he permitted to ride free except
the officers and employees Of railroads. and
they only when travelling upon the Legitimate
business OF their respective companies.
Neither passes or mileage tickets should be
used in payment for services or work Of any
kind done for railroad companies Such ser
vices and work should be paid for in cash.
Second. | recommend that maximum pas
sengcr fares on first class roads he fixed at two
cents a mile. In my judgment increased
travel and receipts from those who formerly
travelled on passes, will soon make up to til,
railroad companies any loss they NAV suffer
from this reduction in fares, and the change
will prove beneficial both to them and to the
people. A large percentage of the business
Is already done at this rate, but not eniOyed by
those least able to pay.
Third. | recommend the passage Of law
fixing reasonable maximum rates of freight or
the principal commodities transported b.
rail: and also authorizing and requiring the
Railroad Commissioners 10 reduce said rate.
at any time when, in their Judgment, they ar,
too high. If it shall be held that the legisla
ture cannot delegate to the Commissioner.
the power to absolutely fix such rates, ther
they should be regarded as prima facic reason
able rates. Railroads should not be permitted
10 raise any freight rate at any time withou
the written approval of the Railroad Com
missioneTs
The companies should be required Il
furnish sufficient freight cars. There hav
been, during the present season, hardship
and suffering in the midst Of plenty, in tn
Northwestern part of the State, because O
the failure Of the railroads to provide sufii
cient rolling stock to remove the products o
that section.
Should the General Assembly decide +
make the Railroad Commissioners clectiv
by the people, or nominated by the Executiv
and confirmed by the Senate, such Legislation
shall not meet with any opposition at IN
hands. The salaries of the Commissioned
are now paid by the railroad companies.
recommend that the law he so amended tina
they shall hereafter be paid by the State.
Railroad corporations in the running o
the trains do not pay sufficient attention I,
the sabbath. They not only deprive larg
numbers of their employees Of the weckl
rest which is essential to their physical an,
moral wcll-being but they also sci a bad OK
ample 70 the rest of the community. A larry
part OF the present Sunday work of railroad
could and should be discontinued. Durin.
the year nine persons We're killed and on
hundred and thirty four injured Ia coupln
cars. The companies should be required I
adopt more modern appliances. invite sou
attention 20 these subjects.
Railroad companies are public corporations
and the railways should bc, by law. declare
public highways, and their officers should
required 10 take an oath 10 obey the constitu
ton aud laws Of this State aud Of the Unite
States. The right Of the State TO control raj
roads has been confirmed by the highcs
judicial authority. While stringent mean
should DC applied 10 strong corporations, tn
weak ones shDnld lie protected, especially III
new roads making efforts 10 do business q
lower rates Penalties should be provided an
more effective measures used TO compel tn
companies TO comply with the laws. Comb