The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1899-08-05
SUITS AGAINST RAILROADS
TO Compel Enforcement of Railroad
Commission Order-Three Cent
Rate the Contention

AttorneyGeneral Lamar makes
public the following statement
relative to suits being instituted
against certain railroads for re-
fusing to adopt rates prescribed
by the railroad commission:
"On June 20, 1899, the railroad
commissioners directed me to
bring suit against the S. +. & w.
Ry. Co., and the f. G. & P. r.
+. Co., for refusing to put into
effect the three cent passenger
rate prescribed for them by the
order of the commissioners, of
date July Is, 1898.
eff this rate is unreasonable
and unjust 1t would lnfilct much
injury upon the railroad COM
panies to enforce 1t. But if the
judgement of the commission has
been wisely exercised and the
three cent rate is reasonable and
just, then by not putting into ef-
feet the three cent passenger rate,
the railroad companies are lnfiict-
ing great loss and injury upon
the people of Florida.
"The passenger earnings at
four cents per mile, for d given
year, of these two companies,
from the people of Florida who
travel within the state, may be
fairly estimated at 100000. A
three cent rate would be & twenty
five per cent. reduction OF this
amount, and would amount to
$50, 900, during one year alone.
This large sum Of money would
have been in the pockets Of the
people of Florida If these two
companies had, on the 18th day
of July, put three cent passen-
ger rate into effect, according to
the order Of the railroad commits
sion.
"The reduction in amount from
a four cent passenger rate to
three cent rate on the other rail-
roads IN Florida, upon state pas
senger earnings, may be fairly
estimated to be at least one hun
dred thousand dollars. So it may
be fairly stated that if the three
cent passenger rate IS reasonable
and just, then the railroad COM
panies IN this state are taking
unjustly from the pockets of the
people of this state at least d
quarter of q million dollars an
nually. If the commissioners are
right IN their order, the railroads
are very much wrong in their re-
fusal to obey it.
"The great question involved
is this: Do the earnings Of the
railroad companies warrant the
commission in imposing three
cent rate?
fUpon the reports of the rail
road companies filed with the
commission and upon other con-
O., n
year ago, determined that the
earnings OF the railroad compa-
nics warranted the imposition
upon them of a three cent pas
senger rate, which they refused
and still refuse to put into Ctfsct
in this state. Hence the cOmmls-
sion and the railroad companies
are now face to face with most
important and difficult litigation.
"The state is TO win or lose III
the contest. The people are to
save this $3.50, 900, or lose it.
"The railroad companies have
a dozen or more able and inge-
NOUS lawyers in this state in their
employ, skilled by years of study
and practice in corporation law
Besides, they have able genera,
counsel in other states.
cit is believed by the commits
sion itself, that the state viii
have to contest also in these suits
with Mr. Baxter of Nashville
who is one of the most expert
corporation lawyers IN the coun
try. and particularly skilled by