Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-01
Two CENT RATE SUITS HIN
Local Passenger Fare Discussed by Local
Railroad Official.
EXPRESSES SENTIMENT OF HIS CLASS
Involved In the Change Would lie
Adjustment of All Special Rates
and Price of Tickets Would
he strictly Uniform.

The spirit OF retrenchment has struck the
travelling public and is becoming manifest In
a sentiment that is growing throughout the
country in favor of a reduction Of passenger
rates, or at least that's what railroad men
eay. Reports f-cm Iowa are that a bill VIII
undoubtedly be introduced at the coming SEES
sion Of the Hawkeye legislature to reduce
passenger fares in Iowa to 2 cents per mile
and that the sentiment of the state is strongly
in favor Of the passage of the measure.
The outcropplng of the sentiment for
cheaper riding on railroads in Iowa is only a
sample of the feeling that Is growing in all
parts Of the country. 1t is now pretty gener-
ally conceded that the recent demands of csr-
tain roads for reductions in the sleeping car
rates was only a ruse, intended to divert the
attention u the public from the high rates
that have beer exacted for passenger travel.
1t is a fact, admitted by railroad people, that
while all classes of business mas been sub
jected to the knife OF retrenchment during
the past few years, there has bsen no reduc-
ton in passenger rates worth mentioning.
Freight rates have been whitfield down a little
every year until they are now much less than
they were three and four years ago, but the
passenger rates for the common, everyday
travellers have been kept up to the top notch.
The railroads have made excursion rates
frequently at the usual price OF q lare anu u
third for the round trip, or a cents a mile
for a round trip ticket. In cases where the
business has promised to be large the rate
has been fixed at one fare, or Ia cents a mile
for the round trip. Commercial travellers
have been given mileage books that amount
to 2 cents a mile and reductions have been
made for big theatrical troupes, and for
harvest home excursions and the like, but the
everyday passenger has to put up 3 cents a
mile on nearly every railroad in the country.
Local railroad men appreciate the growing
sentiment in favor of a reduction of pas
senger rates, and, at heart, most of them are
In favor of it. A reduction OF rates would
do away with many Of the evils that now
cause so much trouble in the passenger bust
ness. A prominent official, discussing the
subject, said:
1.-The general adoption Of a 2-cent a mile
passenger rate would be the very best thing
that could happen to western roads. Most
Of our trouble at present comes from the
scalpers, who take advantage Of excursion
tickets and cheap rates put in for special
occasions. II a 2-cent rate were made uni
versal the excursion business would be
dropped and all travellers would fare alike.
We would get more business and it would be
more profitable. 1t would have the effect, too,
of cutting off a lot of the pass business that
is now given for political and business
reasons and would give the roads a chance
to earn something on the business they carry.
Abolish the cheap excursions, the cut rates
for certain classes and put all the passenger
traffic on a common basis of 2 cents n
mile, and collect the money for that, and the
lot OF the passenger agent would be much
more pleasant than it is at present or can