Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-21
Is AN UNJUST TAX.
Tha; Nov imposed on the Tri-
City Railway.
TO usoss BRIDGE, $4,000 A YEAR.

1
sssnsns 90 Levy r.p-r.-s. wss-s ~.
Jas; pssisssas Go t-.s Oct o.-.s,.-s
Mech .arr Tee.
The troubles which h.re be.et the
Tri-Ciiy .ail~ay eomPsny since 10
acquired the car lines 81 the three
cities have not ended with the re.
opening oi the new Rock Island
bridge. For with the starting 81
sars over the reces;iy completed
structure the company fonnd 90 ~.
cisnay that !; would hereafter be
obliged to pay 90 your rsele samuel
= toll of - 800 for crossing she low
er deck q shzt j. 90 the public n
free -thorongtfsre for ;raffis Of all
Minds. The Discrimination thus ca
erc5-ri sgains; wha; ). Tire chief
agency Of public travel IL resolved
by those who have been discussing
it the ra-.ioS ilys in vic 9 n; The facts
which are lust beginning 10 leak cot
with natural surprise aud not inite-
.gueut expressions Of indignation.
When General Manager Lardner. of
the Tri-Ciiy Railway company wss
no; feet a; liberty 90 die iss tse sub.
ject ;or the public. I'VE felt thai
with the opening % the bridge after
n years deprivation % the revenue
from that line following the coniin-
ued interruptions We haze received
there he said. .siha; the wav 60
smooth sailing would be open then.
but we hsve been disappointed. that
Is all" Asked IL I; was true aha, the
government had imposed q toll for
using the new bridge. SIR. Lardncr
said he would prefer that Information
should come from the government
tn. rs-,. 90 ere Matter.
According II Information which
has beea gained from sources which
appear g be reliable. the war dc.
pz-trlen; hss. acting under the d.
rec'inn ot en- act u congress. fssd =
tar q nf - 400 rar annnsn o. she Tri-
City Railway compans. Tor The use ~
the bridge. beginning IA. fret of "a.
ourrest year. Prom what source that
act % c3sgrc = came - nos known.
but IL j. learned that IN the clos.
ing session 90 tho last cor sress = pro.
vision was introduced by n ulctss Der
frosn do~n IN Texas. requiring the
urcn nee department so impose.
with the c5mpl t'os % thc new bridge.
= tax on ihs Fri Citv EailWay CON.
pany IN such IN sfn guns q. m ght he
fixed o. the a parttpert The tseas.
I urs passed. sud the amount named
Gs ftsis-.
] That the Requirement is al IN.
4 reaeunahin GRE. especially for the use
of bri'Ee srYpsscd g. b free as
fat as the loSer d.ck is e 5neernea. 20
al common carriers. d. must be y.ne-.
ally conceded. d seems tae more 20
"a that The company has ~ re thas
fula!led the provisions If its CHAR.
ter 10 the matter 81 expansive gfan.
ste Tsviug ON fuIt Armstrong ave.
rue. nna IN ;bs proviaiag 81 a.
heavy rails over tie bf.sgss. which
~. an advsnta-. 60 the government,
Z in szvine the f3oTs. ard q grfst 3ta.
I prDsemeut over the str 10 toe vog.
eminent originally supplied N5th
this cad ia Nis~. Beyond the. ana
I aside from ths Sac; ihst the a.; -,
ceec; cgatFovoFis the main purpose
Of the gosernusent ia providing =
tree bridge. the is1 IN itself can ~
Of Little advantage - the govern.
neni Ne FER n revenue 10 e3nrornrs.
while On ID. other kand d fasst sofk
hardship on the corporation.
a rs'sraiY ce-s--asisa.
Corpor are. a. a Fa7r b7nags