The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-01-26
viii, Not Reduce Passenger Rates.

's|SS
limos state board Of railroad and ware
house commissioners has decided. after
n careful and thorough Investigation OF
the railway business 10 this state, to re-
port against the proposed reduction OF
the passenger rate from 3 to 2 cents per
mile. AS this report is based upon ac-
curate data from official sources, 1t is
safe to assume that the present leg'sla-
ture will not care to ignore q recon-
mendation made by those who are au-
thorized by the state to protect the IN
~terests OF the people, and at the same
time to deal Justly with railway inter
ests.
While it is important that tho people
should enjoy the benefits Of the cheapest
transportation hat is consistent with
good service. any legislation that is cal
culated to cripplesthe earning power OF
the railways to the extent that they will
fail t o yield a fair return upon the inves
ted capital is clearly opposed to public
policy. 1t is conceded by those who are
familiar with the history OF railroad'ng
for the past twenty years that the rail
roads have been the heaviest sufferers
FROM the widespread and often un-
reasonable hostility to corporations.
They have been seriously embarrassed
| by IN avalanche OF unfriendly bucolic
| legislation in many western states,
| when they were struck by the panic and
the Wilson-G German tariff law OF 1894.
The last three years has Witnessed a
Gesrex,te struggle for existence on the
part OF n ost OF the western railways.
According to the report of the interstate
commerce commission for the year end
ing June so, 1895, the railroad compan-
les Of the United States lost IN their
operations the m sui Of $780,,
9i5,24l. Seventy per cent OF the stock
failed to pay dividends and there was
default in the payment OF interest on j
per cent Of outstanding bonds.
The twenty fifth annual report OF the
Illinois railroad and warehouse commits
s%ioners. recently submitted to the gov
ernor, showed the Illinois lines had sui
fered heavy losses from the business de
preston and financial uncertainty Of
the year. The report shows that only
sixteen of the forty five roads operating
in Illinois paid any dividends and thai
there was IL net deficit for the year o.
81, 1903, 544. The passenger department
showsA decrease from last year OF 3.
423 959, or 24.66 per cent in the receipt,
from passengers, the average passengcI
rate per :ml!e being "a cents.
1t is pNssible that somA OF the bl.
trunk lines might stand the proposed
reduction, but it must be borne ia minC
that much OF the railroad property in II
%linois is branch mileage, and any reduc
ton in fare would inevitably result III {
curtailment OF transportation facilities
that would be inimical to the interest
OF the travelling public.
AS a matter OF fact, there is no popu
lar demand for reduced railroad fares n
the present time. After three years o
disastrsus depression the railways arr
struggling to get a new lease OF life un
der an administration that gives promise
OF a revival Of prosperity in all the pro
duct.ve industries The public interes
would not be promoted by reducing the
resources of the railways at this time.
A torpid liver means a bad complexion
bad breath, indigestion and frequen
headaches. To avoid such companion
take DeWitt's Little Early R,sers, th'
famous little pills.
FRANK SMITH