New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-02
PASSENGER RATES TOO HIGH.
PLAIN WORDS FROM THE INTERSTATE COM.
MERGE COMMISSION.
ABUSE OF EXCURSION PRIVILEGES BY Rail-.
ROADS DIscUSsED-THE BUSINESS OF
-scALPING" A HINT FROM

JUDGE COOLEY
Chicago, Nov. specaD.-Chalrman Abbott. OF the
western states Passenger Association to-day sent out
circular letter 10 members OF his association contain
Ing the following from Judge Cooley chairman OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission:
Object lessons are apt to be the most ,nnress,ve
teachers, and what taught thereby IS most certain
TO be remembered and acted upon / desire 10 call
associates TO the question whether the railroads of the
country and especially of the interior are not now
LIVING me public an object lesson which is certain to
impress the public mind that regular passenger RES
are altogether too high. In imposing such rates II is
assumed that the rates are prescribed reasonable
compensation for the service actually performed But
has not the public abundant for believing that
eohsderabie numbers Of persons are all the while
behg Improperly carried free. the cost OF their
carriage tending necessarily TO keep up
n Ihe usual rates charged to those who payi
But the extraordinary manner in which the privilege 10
give excursion rates is abused is much greater wrong
to those who pay the customary than is even tho
improper free transportation. That the privilege is
Improperly exercised when the excursion only
tend 10 cut the regular rates IS unquestionable
Moreover You cannot fail to know that excursion
tickets in great quantities issued with an under
standing expressed implied. that the condition OF
Issue shall not be enforced and that they or al least
the return part thereof be used instead of regular
tickets, the consequence being that upon the same
Ra1e pa for are sr passage t S
more than twice, as much as others, though neither
any STera NOR IN Tho morals Sc is there reason 70,
TO this method Of conducting the business Of trans
porting persons by rail- tho carriers furnish support
number Of persons in all sections of the country in
business that ought not TO exist at althe business
known as that of ticket brokers scapers.r Some
times these persons are made use Of directly a
means Of cutting rates more often indirectly whereby
directly or indirectly; the effect the travelling
public is the same the cost Of supporting them and
their business falls upon the public; their profits
tend to keep rates excessive.
In view of thee facts the following questions
naturally arise:
l. When the railroad companies thus distinctly
give the public 10 understand that their regular rates
more than fair remuneration for the services
performed for those who pay them, why should not
the fact be stated with equal distinctness by the
commission in its official communications
O. If persons charged the regular rates should com
plain of them as excessive and bring out the facts
above stated proof. how would the railroad COM
panies undertake 10 show that complaint to be not
well taken
This letter has called out comment than any
yet issued by Chairman Cooley in his official capacity
In the main, the TO the effect that the
Commission IS right in. stirring up the unmitgated
evil referred TO in Judge CO0ley's letter. Adverse
comments are plenty, however.