Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-01-16

stantially similar conditions on state
traffic in the neighboring states OF
Illinois and Iowa, where these rates
are regulated by law.
2. The interstate rates in Wiscon-
sin are genrally higher than the rates
in Iowa and Illinois.
3. The rates charged on traffic IN
wisconsin, on the whole, yield a gross
| income to the railroads considerably
above the amounts required for all
operating expenses, for the main,
tenance Of property, and for fair IN
terest or profit on the cost of the
roads.
4. The railway companies are guilty
of gross determinations in favor Oh
certain shippers, and their dis
examinations as between favored
| shippers are likewise rankly unjust,
| resulting in the upbuilding OF
monopoly, controlling production and
| markets alike.
Wisconsin Rates Excessive.
All figures submitted to you with re
spect to railway earnings are taken
from the various reports issued by
the railway companies.
Significant as the foregoing rate
comparisons are standing alone, they
become still more pregnant with
] meaning when considered in con
nection with the enormous earn
ings of the railroads. In fact, the
earnings of these corporations better
| determine whether the rates charged
are reasonable than any rate com
parsons which may be made.
The interstate commerce commits
sion in a special report last spring,
stated that in 1900 about 240 articles
in the freight classification used in
! Wisconsin were raised from lower to
higher classes, while only II reduc-
tons were made. These advances are
still in force, and changes made since
] have operated to increase the rates.
| The commission also stated that for
the country as whole the advances
in rates from 1899 to 1908, when APP
piled to the traffic Of the latter year
means an increase in the revenues OF
! approximately $155,O0O,O0O.
The railroads are entitled to re
ceive from the public a reasonable
profit, interest or return upon the
| capital invested in conducting the
business in which they are engaged
If legislation were necessary to insure
this, it would be the duty OF the
legislature to pass, and of the eXecu
| tive to approve, such legislation. An
analysis of the earnings of Wisconsin
/ railroads taken from their own re
ports presents facts which cannot fai,
to produce profound impression up
on the people of this commonwealth
and urge every member of this legis
lature forward in the discharge of his
duty.
Consolidation and Discrimination.
1t must be apparent that the railway
companies not only have the power
to maintain their present high rates
but to increase them at will. Com
petition can no longer be relied upoI
to afford protection. 1t was nevel
operative excepting at competitive
points, and then only at intervals
But even that frail check has beer
effectually removed. The railroads O
the country have been organized
through a system of consolidation
which has united all interests am
effectualy stifed all competition
Under this new order of things tn
railroads of the country are merge
into six great systems, controlled b
six groups of men, each group prac
tically controlled by one individual.
Out of total of 100000 miles 0
railroad covering the country we hav
: today 178,307 miles controlled by ST