The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-06
Proposition to Reduce Passenger
Rates Is Not Popular.
WAGES OF EMPLOYEES ARE MENACED
I,niironds would He Compelled to
Make Up the Deficiency In Earn
ings by Reducing salaries.

now that the bills on that subject are being
considered in committee representatives OF
the different corporations are here armed
with statistics and arguments to oppose
the measure. The attempt at legislation
which will at one stroke cut off onc-third OF
the revenue Of one branch of the business
is startling thing and many OF the roads
look upon 1t with a great deal OF fear, as
the action of such large body as the
Texas legislature could be at all times
antjcipatod Some of them. one of whom Is
General Manager Tom Campbell of the
International and Great Northern, can not
become reconciled to the fact that the eff
fort is a serious one.
No matter what the legislature may do.
the railroads win still believe the railroad
commission is the proper authority and
that passenger rates as well as those per-
tanning to freight, should be controlled by
the commission. 1t Is within the power OF
the commission to raise and lower freight
rates whenever the charge Is deemed TO be
In Justice to the railroads or the people.
and while passenger fares have never been
considered in this connection. 1T is argued
that the commission, being an official board
elected by the people to act as an arbitrator
between the corporations and the indi-
vduals, is the proper authority to pass
upon this question 1t Is further held that
tho commission is composed of men edu-
Gated as to the condition of the roads, they
know what each has invested. what each
earns and the cost Of operation, and being
elected by the people to regulate the COM
mon carriers will reduce railroad rates
,,ha 4, 10 ,l,a
the reduction and exist.
What will be the result II the rates are
lowered? The members of labor organiza-
lions are watching with anxiety the pro-
gress Of affairs. because they realize that
should the companies employing them lose
one third of the revenue of one branch Of
the business, wages Will be cut.
Another point is that the roads must
have a way of making enough to conduct
their business on a paying basis. II they
can not make the passenger department
self sustaining. enough must be appro-
priated from another TO supply the deiici-
ency. The result will be that freight rates
must be made to do this and therefore
freight rates will be advanced.
Who will benefit by this? Certainly not
who travel all the year round will, of
course, be glad to see the 2-cent rate. The
farmers, the merchants and the laboring
people, who very seldom travel. and who
generally do at times when excessive
rates are on, will find no advantage in the
cheaper passenger rate, These various
classcs are interested In freight rates, be-
cause every additional expense added to the
movement of necessares OF life is paid by
the consumer. VI 2-cent rate is forced
upon tho companies every ticket will be
sold strictly on that basis. The conventions.
conferences, exhibitions. etc, will not be
/ granted cheap excursion rates. as has been
the custom in the past, aud in this way the
entire people will feel the effect.
Representative Wolch of El Paso is a
railroad conductor. He is opposed to the
reduction and says he voices the sentiments
of all employees. j. w. Hopper who is
chairman of the legislative board of the
/ Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers ad-
dressed the committee and made good ar
gument He speaks for ali labor organi-
! cations of railroad character and asks
| for them some consideration at the hands of
the legislature. He is a sensible well
posted man. and ho Is earnest in his oppo-
stion to the 2-cent measure
for share of abuse. Every argument that
can he thought of is advanced urging the
legislature to prohibit the use of the gates
1t is said by the railroads that the legis-
iature should not prohibit that which Is
| now only an experiment and which might
| be found to work to the detrment of the
roads and voluntarily be abandoned. The
! employees of the roads. however urge the
passage of bill prohibiting the gates.
Representative Welch is an ardent advo-
cate Of some such measure, and being a
railroad conductor. he will do what he can
in the house to further the wishes OF his
workers.
The reduction of sleeping car rates is an
other feature of proposed legislation 1t IL
urged against such bill that IL the rate,
are reduced the travelling public Will see
the withdrawal from Texas OF the elegant
Wagner and Pullman palaces on wheels.
/ ana in their stead the immigrant cars
Whlch are as uninvltlng as a howell would
! be to former tenant OF a mansion III
can not he expected" said Mr. l.ovett of
| houston, that a person could yet the ac-
coinmodations for the night OF railroad
train as are afforded at hotel and fox the
sal.e price. However the sleeping car
matter was not generally discussed hut
representatives. are here loaded 9th argu.
ment aud Will tell a tale OF woe 20 the com
mittoe as long as a string.
since the question of 2-cent railroad fare
has been brought up the following COM
parlson OF rates is rather interesting:
Population State Rate
STATE Pr. Sd Mile. in cents.
Niapaina ..'... $3.50. rs
Nhansas ...... $50. 2
California $50, g
Colorado So. ..,.
noia,.au 49, '''lis 2h--3--4
,,,,laWare '''''. ..... ~
cH 49, '''''.'.. i-5-6
I,t,ne,s ''''' ''''''' ~ 3-3k-4
liilnols ....,. ...... 67
.""i"hu 80. ..'...... III
W" ''''.''' s.s..'. 81
Kansas ...... ,,. II
Kentucky ..... 49,. az
/. | LOUISIANA -. ,.,. %