Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-07-20
ALLOWS MORE EXCURSIONS
THAN INTERSTATE ACT.
LAND AGENTS SEEK RELIEF
Railroads Discontinue Homeseekers'
Rates Because Of Possible Doubt
Arising Out Of New Rate Commits
sion Law-Permanent Organiza'
ton Formed to Develop Lands.
Madison, July H.

mhulbOIJ jury I''
The railroads In Wisconsin have
discontinued the low landseekers'
and homeseekers' excursion rates,
,basing their action on the new rail-
road rate commission law, the terms
of which are said by Commissioners
John Barnes to be more liberal In this
respect than are the terms Of the IN
terstate commerce law. 1t appears
that the railroad authorities have de.
ciared that possibly they might not
be able TO do under the Wisconsin
law what they are able to freely do
under more drastic measure, the
interstate commerce law.
This set OF facts was developed
yesterday afternoon when more than
60 land agents from all over the state
had a hearing before the rate com.
mission, praying for relief from the
action OF the railroad authorities In
denying them the former excursion
rates for homeseekers.
Commissioner Barnes made careful
inquiry Of the agents present desir-
Ing to learn upon what section or
clause OF the new law the companies
based their action, but 1t was lmpos-
sible to learn this, some agents say.
ing that the railroads had cut off the
rates and gave rs their reason n
doubt or question as 10 their rights
under the new commission law, 9th.
ers saying that the roads merely
wanted the land agents to go to the
commission and get "A ruling on this
doubtful question, and others saying
chat the reason Tor the doubt as to
the right to continue the excursion
rates was involved In section 8 OF the
new law. Commissioners Barnes said
that he did not understand how the
railroads could be thrown into doubt
by that section. Upon inquiry he
learned that the roads had cut off the
rates only for business within Wis,
consin. that they still give the. low
rates for people going from points in
Wisconsin to places out of the state
and to people going from places In
other states to points In Wisconsin,
that Is upon Interstate business,
which comes under the interstate
commerce law and not within the jur.
isdictlon of the Wisconsin commits
sion. He said that section OF the
wisconsin law was an exact copy of
section % Of the Interstate com
MERGE law, except that the W1scon.
sin law Is more liberal ana includes
party tickets, which are not involved
IN the clause OF the Interstate com.
merco law. Mr. Barnes read these
portions of the laws
At this point in the hearing the Wis.
ators began to say that they had
thought tho new Wisconsin law al.
lowed the continuance OF the old
rates and they had been unable from
their reading of the law to know
wherein these rates were outlawod or
rendered Of doubtful legality. One
OF the visitors said he had had a con
Ference with n man who was author.
lied to speak for the Northwestern
'S"'"' VIZ 'hlh tllul IL llb tblnHllS-
sion would make n ruling to the of
feet that the old low rates were al,
lowablo and legitimate under Che new
law the roads would be very glad to
continue them.
Organization Formed.
The presence In the city of SO large
number OF land agents was made
the occasion Of the organization of nm
association for mutual advantage ana
benefit called the Wisconsin Irrigation
ana Development association. The
name was tentatively agreed upon NJ
the early session in the Park hotel
and another meeting was held In the
evening after the hearing before The
rate commission
The hearing In the capitol took The
form of an informal gathering for
tree discussion OF the uues,irn
Among the visitors who took rlrr II
the discussion were q. u. Jonns of
Wausau G X. EllinEson of Hawkins.
David Dobie of superior j, 4. phil,
lips OF Neillsyille. II, S, rairall q.
iron River, j. H. Gates OF Milwaukee.
" NJ Nelson, George W. Lewis and
N, Q. Starks of Madison. Mr. Gates
rs president OF the association AMI
MI, Dohie secretary,