Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-02-01


roads in the state would certainly be
constitutional. The state has the right
to fix these rates on a tair and equable
basis. and after the legislature had de-
cided what that basis was, it would be
an unusual thing for 4 court to inter
vcHe and decide that the Legislature
had acted improperly and without due
regard to the roads interests.
But after all it would not be the
easiest thing in the world to fix very
low uniform mileage rate for Vermont
railroads, compelling each and all the
roads to charge, say, two cents mile
10 all passengers for every mile trav-
elled. No road in the state does that
now, and such a bill would be opposed
by all the railroad interests united,
which, by the way, was not the case
with the other bills. IL would knock
out the mileage book business COM
pletely, for nobody would invest $50
in a book when he could travel Just as
cheaply by the mile on ordinary tick
cts. The mileage brokers would OPP
pose the bill. Many fair-minded peo-
pie would think that if it was neces-
sarY, in order to compel two railroad
companies in Vermont to sell thousand
mile books at 500, that all other roads,
even those that have voluntarily ex-
tended this privilege for years, must
come down to a tWO-cent fiat rate for
all, the effort had better be abandoned.
The companies could make a showing
of the disaster that would ensuc to
them, which might dull the ardor of
many members of the law-makmg
body. 1t is not at all probable that a
two-cent tlat rate could be carried, nor
is iC by any means clear 10 US that il
ought TO be. Two cents a mile is as
low rate as any road in the country |
makes, we think, ANA no one will con |
tend that our Vermont roads can car |
ry as cheaply per mile as roads in pop
ulous sections, sustained by immense |
through traffic and tremendous freight
receipts, like the Boston q Maine, Tor
Instance. The interests of Vermont do
not require that its railroads, when
administered, should be
run at a loss.
But a higher rate than two cents
night, we believe, be fixed with entire
airness. While this would not bring
he recalcitrant roads TO time imme-
lately, it would shortly, in this way.
suppose the legislature were to decree
hat two and one-quarter cents per
nile should be the minimum rate of
ravel, or even two and a half cents.
No road could afford to sell short
ravel tickets on these rates, when it
ould sell a thousand miles for $50.
The difference would be too slight
Is low a rate per mile as we have /
famed would probably not bear oner-
usly on any road. A very large por-
ion of the passenger travel, and
rowing portion, is done by mileage.
While reduction in ticket rates would {
f itself tend to make the ticket system
ne more popular, yet it would not be ,
economy for passengers to do much !
'ayelling on even a quarter or half /
ent difference. While our suggestion |
specific rates may be impractical. !
lie idea is not. Fix by law the fiat
lile-rate at a point so low that roads -
i'll find it more advantageous for
lem to sell thousand-mile books at
20 than to ask more Tor them or to =
ave none ut all, and under the vipor- /
is shaking thus given the boy will \
,me down out of the tree. l