The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1893-02-16

'tNDo4 Ni's II N'EliNf nv pAlA
half, which takes in the lines running
from the State into Arkansas, Indian
Territory, Oklahoma, New Mexico
Kansas and Colorado. The north
half in a group, the lines of which run
to the Canadian lines, including the
Dakotas. We will be told tonight
that the net earnings Of all these
roads, as grouped, is only II little
over two hundred dollars per mile.
But Mr.. Chairman, and gentlemen
Of the committee, L wish to know
why the people of Missouri, should
be heavily taxed TO pension the rail
roads in new and sparcely settled
States and Territories, which were
built there On speculation, they ex-
pecting to realize a profit on capital
Invested in building the roads flom
the sale of the immense land grants
they received. We are told railroads
IA the Eastern States and Europe
charge as much or more than the
roads in Missouri, except the New
York Central, which charges but two
cents per mile, but Mr.. Chairman,
and gentleman of the committee, we
are not told by these same gentle.
men repre- cnting the railroads here
tonight, what the net receipts of
the Eastern aud European roads are,
they keep that Il profound secret.
We have no reason TO believe but
what these roads in the East could
afford to carry passengers at two
cents per mile, and as for the Eu-
ropean railroads charging as much or
more, they have three classes, in
the first, they charge four and one
half cents per mile; In the second
class they charge two and one.half
cents per mile, and in the third, a
little over one cent per mile, then
the comparison, is not fair, from the
fact that it cost more money to buy
the right of way through The old and
populated countries of En-
ropea, than it did to build many of
our roads in Missouri, and yet the
average price: Of the three classes j.
doubtless less than it is here, and Tie
same is true of our roads in oar
Eastern States as to cost of right of
way, and in some instances they are
laid in cuts one hundred and fifty
feet deep, blasted cut Of Sid rock
and often tressled for one hundred
and fifty feet more, and in many
places tunnels are as numerous as
bridges are in Missouri. ii may look
like presumption OF my part to state
my views as TO the management of
railroads, but / at least can draw a
deduction by comparison. Expert,
ence shows that n large increase of
business has resulted from the
stimulus of low rate of post
age, and a large net revenue has
been returned to the Government
on the reduced rate of letter
postage. In 1851 letter postage was
reduced from five to three cents,
prior to this the revenue was Sc, iO0,-
600. The first year under the re-
ductiOn the revenue fell off 81 POO.
900, but eight years latter it had in.
creased TO $500, 900, or nearly six
ty'ive per cent more than the last
year under the old rate In 1883
letter postage was reduced from three
to two cents. For the first year there
was a small falling off, but it gained
raIIHIu mill I,,n an lSIn
when it reached $50, 900, 900, and
the Postmaster General informs US
that there was a clear gain of nearly
$50, 000, 900 from letter postage
alone. From good authority (Peo-
pies EncycIoprdia) | get the infor.
nation that an extra car or two ON a
train that must 90 any way, only costs
one-third additional, and an extra
train only one-half as much as re4u-
lar trains, an extra passenger or two
in a car which must run any way,
hardly anything. Hence, there is
no reasonable fixed sun which can
be specified as the cost of transport
tation below which there Is a loss. |
believe it is our duty to lower the
rate by law, aud legislate against
Discrimination in price of tickets sold,
aud special low rates that are now
made for tile favored few. know
we are told by the railroad magnaIes
that there is no discrimination in
selling one thousand mile tickets for
twenty dollars, and the special low
rates given TO tourists, that ali have
the opportunity to avail themselves
of these rates. But Mr.. Chairman,
aud gentlemen of the committee, the
Railroad COMMISSIONER report
shows the average number OF miles
Travelled by each passenger in
Missouri last year but forty five.
This being true, tell me how
many, and what per cent Of the
whble people car avail themselves of
O. two cent rate by purchasing a
thousand mile ticket? Again, they
try to justify this on the principal
Of wholesale ami retail trade, but
gentlemen, as a common carrier UNI
der the law, they have no right to
make this rule apply. If / pay three
and one-fourth cents per mile Gas
haye) and ride in the same coach
with a commercial traveller who only
pays two, | ask, is not that discrim'
lhation? Ii not, | fail TO understand
The English language. Again, why
should the sport be permitted to ride
at half fare to see Nancy Hanks trot,
and others b. compelled 10 make up
the loss when travelling on business,
or why should the tourist travel fol-
health and pleasure at a very 10"
rate, and the the mssS". moko -,
laying full fare? Ii thi
us, not correct and there is no loss OF
the low rate to make up (Which Their