The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-09
NEWS OF RAILROADS
THREATENED LEGISLATION sam
TO BE ALARMING RAILROAD
COMPANIES
WILL OPPOSE ANY CHANGES
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Has
Prepared a Pamphlet for Distri-
button Among Railroad Men Set
ting Forth Arguments Against
Reducing Rates or Raising Taxes
-OfHciaIs to stand Together.

The railroad companies Are alarmed by
the attitude of the state legislature on the
question of passenger and, freight rates and
taxation. They are said ton feel that unless
they stand together thesIegislators will re-
duce their earnings and increase their taxes
and that between the two. millstones they
will. be crushed SO their dividend having
capacity will be destroyed They have. "a
yet, made no open protest against the hos
tile legislation which ais threatened. but
they are quietly watching DEVELOPMENTS and
wnen the time comes they will be found
standing solidly arrayed against the proposed
measures. >-.. tszr.r, =
The Chicago, Milwaukee, st. Paul Pail
way company mas issued, for private distri-
oution. pamphlet containing arguments
against reduction of railway fares in MIN
-nesota The question is Thoroughly discussed
rom the railway standpoint and it is being
read carefully by all railroad men in the
Any. legislation,'r reads the pamphlet
WHEREBY The railroads are required to
= cents mile whether for the person named
thereon only, or for person named and
members OF his firm or family. which prac-
restrictions, is unjust to the railroads for
three principal reasons: - o'-1 .o'
on the general ground that legislation
naAins any reduction whatever in local
rates of fare is not. warranted -by existfne
conditions. -. - eA1''ins
lon the ground that legislation removing
any OF the restrictions under which. trans
portatlon IS now available on mileage tfckets
or the equivalent Of such-ztiekets. means a
virtual reduction in local. rates for iba
reason that IT throws such Transportation
open to general and indiscriminate' use mak
ing II available by SALE transfer or loan
LOT the transportation Of any person for
any any number OF miles. great or small, in
On the ground that the misuse of tickets
oy transfer or sale to persons who are not
original purchasers, which is termed scalp
ing should not be permitted
On the theory that wholesale rates for
any commodity purchased in large Quantities
are reasonable as against higher rates pro-
po.ssl'ohateiy 1or small quantities, there, is
nothing inequitable in charging the man
VINO travels only ten or hundred miles
IN year, more for each mile than fs
charged eah the large number of men who travel
eacn from 2000 to $1,000 or 60, coo miles a
year. 1t is universally admitted that rail-
ROAD may charge less proportionateIy for a
carload OF freight than for part Of car
ioad; II any other rule were to prevail the
trafnc of the country could not be sue
cessfully conducted, and the principal applie,
WIZ. .4, equal force to passenger transportation
Inc railway companies OF Minnesota nav
annually out of their gross earnings more
than 81 600. Whatever reduces the reye-
nues OF the railway companies reduces the
revenue of the state from this source. II
is in the interest of the state that the gross
earnings Of the railroads shall be as large
as possible. The tax on railroad reyenEe
must come from the people through their
patronage, but coming indirectly the people
are not made to realize that It is tax
upon themselves. Moreover the tax coming
from those who can afford to travel and
pay railroad fare affects principally the we'll
900 class and bears lightly upon the
poorer class. In this respect the state ia
virtually a partner in the railroad business
without assuming any Of the RESPONSIBILITY
or Inability for management and operation
Minnesota now has as good passenger
train train service as any state, in the West The
pubic continually demands more trains and
improved service. Railway operation has
peen reduced to the science of rendering the
pest service for the least money. The point
cannot safely be made to offset reductions
IN rates now authorized by federal and state
laws, and yet a reduction of passenger fares
ana revenue must necessarily compel re-
trains e
ANY material reduction in revenue would
compel railways to reduce wages and pro-
in use, and would check progress and inn
proyement IN that direction.
The absurdity of reduction In passenger
rates In any Western state below uniform
rate OF cents per mile is apparent Official
reports OF the Minnesota railroad commits
sloners will show that not single railroad
IN the state averages anywhere near the 8
cents per mile on it's passenger traffic
The commercial and agricultural inter-
ests of the country require reasonable and
stable rates for the transportation of freight
and passengers Those interests which are all
powerful do not seek or demand unreason-
able or unfair legislation. Other than a few
political agitators there is not env class of
to deprive the owners of railway securities
from securing a fair return upon their in
vestment or would prevent railway employees
and their families from receiving their daily