The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-10-05
LIFE ARTERIES
OF THE REPUBLIC
Address to the Convention of Rail-
road Commissioners by Justice
Walter Clark.
Why Railroad Omcials Have Prefer
red to Keep Rates High Even at q
Comparative LOss-Usurpati0n
by Federal Judiciary.

red to Keep Rates High Even at q
Comparative Loss-Usurpation
by Federal Judiciary.
Concluded From Last Week)
In no particular have the railroad
charges been more extortionate nor
more unwise than in passenger rates.
Upon the liberal estimate of 1875 1-16
of toni as the average weight Of pas
sengers paying full fare (above IL years
Of age) the average charge for passen-
gers per mile Is over 30 times, not fre-
Quently so times, that Of freight, not
withstanding passengers load and un-
load Themselves consideration which
far more than compensates for the car
riage of baggage for part Of the passen-
gers. This is peculiarly unfortunate,
for it not only diminishes the revenues
OF the roads, which could fill their cars,
or carry additional cars, without per-
ceptible addition of expense, but it pre-
vents that free circulation Of the popu-
lation which is SO highly educational
and which induces new enterprises
whereby freight trafic is increased.
Wherever reasonable passenger rates
have been tried, the result has been not
only accommodation to the public, but
increased profits to the railways. In
thinly settled Russia, as far
back as 1894, passenger rates
were reduced to three fourths Of cent
per mile for distances under LOG miles,
and lower for longer distances-the fare
for 100 miles being Is cents, and for
1000 miles IS. This paid 80 well that
since then further reduction has been
made which our consular agents report
profitable. In Belgium, workingmen
living AZ miles from their working
places buy weekly tickets, good to go
and return six times a week, for 81 cents
and shorter distances in proportion
a good solution Of the evils of crowded
tenement houses and high rents. In
India the rates were y cent per mile,
which proved SO profitable that recently
there has been reduction to 1-3 cent
per mile. In Great Britain, France,
Germany and Austria travel, equal in
accommodation to our second class.
averages x cent per mile.
Among many examples Of what lower
rates will do in this country, in one Of
the rate wars. passenger rates from San
Francisco to Chicago were reduced
from $120 to $16, with the result that
the passenger coaches were full, carry
ing so passengers. and bringing in 5000
per car. when the haul OF a load Of cat
tie would have been at the usual rates
only 1920 per car.
There are two reasons, possibly, why
railroad managers prefer higher rates
for 1t cannot be on account Of the profit.
One Is they prefer smaller volume Of
business at approximately the Same
proft-the convenience to the public
being counted nil. The other is that
with high rates the free passes have a
greater purchasing power in influence
and in votes, and the same is true Of the
reduced rates they give to drummers,
preachers and others who can influence
public opinion, thus making the pas
senger business q leverage of special
privileges to some and not equal rights
to all.
ADVANTAGES OF LOW RATES.
Judge Cooley, that eminent statesman
and jurist, as long ago as 1892, in his
address before your convention. pointed
out that the railways in most unmistak-
able ways, daily admitted their passen-
ger rates too high. First, he said by the
large number Of persons they carry
tree; then by the number of those they
carry at reduced rates on mileage tick
cts; the still further reduction to min
listers, and the yet further reductions on
all conceivable occasions. Summer
tours, college commencements, political
speakings, excursions, and in the occa-
slonal rate wars. AS that eminent man
pointed out, it will be fairer for the pub
lie II the corporations, instead of MAX
ing so many special rates, and crowding
the people on excursions and other oc-
~~'A0o' "OuAu mdA0 permanent all
the-year-around low rates, with ex-
ceptional rates to no one and no occas-
ion. A permanent rate of this kind of
one cent mile, frst-class, and less for
second-class, would pay the roads bet
ter than the present system and would
give them popularity they do not now
possess, not only by reason Of the mod
erateness Of their charge, but from the
absence Of that air of favor and conde-
scension which attends the granting of
lower rates for special occasions and
the favoritism, or worse, which marks
The free pass and reduced rates given to
individuals. The greater opportunity
given by reduced rates to .laborers to
live out of congested cities where their
theater of work lies, and to raise their
families amid better surroundings would
alone justify the reduction, to say moth
ing OF the greater opportunity to seek
at points where labor is needed against
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