The National tribune., 1890-09-11
rAIn FARE rs nNE cINr A M1LE

FAIR FARE is ONE CENT MILE.
The fares for all railroad travel are exor-
bitant, and those for short distances partic-
ularly so.
Through rates have been reduced on ac-
count of the resistance of travellers to the
large amounts exacted for trip between one
distant city to another, by rate wars among
competing lines, and by the influence of busi-
ness men, anxious to facilitate access to them
by their customers. For example, it was to
the interest of the merchants Of Chicago that
their customers, and those whom they would
like 10 make customers in the territory adj
iacent to Cincinnati, ST. Louis and Louis
vile, should be able to come to Chicago as
chenply rs they could visit the other Cities
and so they worked for reduction of fares,
which was met by similar tactics on the part
of their competitors.
But mono of these influences had any
effect upon the local fares, in which most of
the peoples money spent. There the roads
have had the people at their mercy, and
could do as they pleased. The amount Is
too small in individual instances to be worth
making trouble for Passengers have paid
and grumbled, and that is all. Millions in
the aggregate have been taken away from
the public every year, which have been abb
solute spoliation of the people.
1t is singular with what bold effrontery
this has been and is done For example, in
some of the States there are laws prohibit
ing charging more than three cents n mile.
In others this prohibitory maximum is part
of the terms of the charters. Before the
war the tariffs were arranged on this basis.
During the war an internal revenue tax of
q per cent. on gross receipts was levied on
railroads. These Immediately shouldered
this burden upon the public, by getting laws
passed permitting them TO increase the price
Of tickets TO an amount equal TO the tax.
Gaining this privilege they made il the basis
Of IN enormous advance Granted an inch
they took full ell. Where the tax would
have added, say, one cent, they put on from
10 TO 20 cents, and charged four and Ave
cents a mile, and even higher. For exam
pie, where q ticket for ~ miles under the
old three, cent rates sold for 80 cents, they
charged Is, 90, and even 60 cents.
In n few years tho Government took the
tax off the railroads, but these had no idea
Of restoring the old rates, and many of them
have gone on now for nearly 30 years, charg-
ing The full wartime rates.
One excuse for this is that they must make
the local fares make up for the Iow rates on
through tickets. II some public-spirited
pcrsons were TO bring tho matter before the
courts, the roads could be compelled to re-
duce their charges to within the legal limits
But prudent men fear TO enter into such q
contest with powerful corporations, which
are known to be more revengeful than pri-
vate individuals, and have unlimited oppor-
tunities for wreaking their spite
The amount Of money that is wrongfn1ly
taken from the people every year by these
unjust exactions is many millions. The
railroads Of the country carry about 500,-
100000 passengers year. If the average
extortion above legal rates is only 20 much
as 10 cents on each ticket, the total extoriiou
reaches the enormous sum Of $5O,O0O,OOO, or
nearly 100000 a week This throws
into the shade the extortions of any other
trust or monopoly that can be named, even
by the most impassioned orator. 1t in
money, too, that is taken directly out Of the
pockets of the common people-of men and
women making journeys OF necessity, OF af-
fection and friendship. 1t is a blighting
tax on people Of moderate means, and in
terferes harmfuily with thousand inter.
csts.
Fair fare fs one rent n mile