The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-17

lower average, AS far: as passes were
concerned, Mr.. Kellogg said he would
be glad to see them abolished. -
om RSree Rls ar whG h1Rns s the
number Of special rates granted by their
company: to conventions, excursions,
students, and. on holiday occasions:
Their average passenger fare he stated
to be lib cents: a mile. The reduc-
tGn RrSGPossa would G9?t the
Meeting lines, than it would saveHto 10
cal passengers. -.
$3.50: Would Increase Traffic. :.
Senator Peterson in his rebuttal ar
gument, said that the excursion figures
cited showed that more people travel
when. there is a low rate: So if the
maximum rate was reduced, more peo-
pie would travel. : The experience in
postal reduction was Of the same char
acter.= = According to the statement. Of
Mr.. Clarke, the roads were carrying
passengers at a loss: This seemed in,
elements. Otherwise the roads, would
| not sell mileage for less than the cost
Of carrying passengers. He read from
| the report Of The Interstate commerce
| commission, saying that attempts to ap'
| portion the freight and passenger ex-
DGQSeS QdQ W pe ~ " O :
impossible to arrive at, it,. Some of
! the reports were read, showing great
| variation The figures read should
not be taken as final.
Somehow or other, Mr.. Peterson said,
! the railroads are making money, either
both. The stocks and bonds. of rail
roads are investments, and they earn
on an average more than the usual rate
| Of revenue on investment. Rates are
paid without competition in this state
and no reduction is made for distance
The companies ought to make the same
A.-E. Clarke said in reply, that it was
common to carry business at loss. The
road is built and operated for only. one
purpose. The trains must be ru1
whether there is much or little business
So as long as the expense Is run9 al :, y =
than not at all. Many Of the cheape,
bulk commodities are carried for less
1.-THE salvation Of railroad corpora.
tions lis in publicity declared Mr.
Clarke: IT have always maintained
that if the companies would come right
to the front and tell the, PUBLIC about
their business whenever some one
better understanding and less trouble
between the railroads and the people. -
-. Ware oross-Exam1nes.
H. Representative A. K. Ware of North.
field asked Mr.. Clarke if giving passes
was not violation Of the interstate
commerce law: ... r...::~e -,
j eyes, technically" replied Mr.
Clarke, "but I will ask the gentleman
if he does not every day unwittingly
j violate some statute or one Of. the. ten
commandments ".-' -. ~. =
Mr.. Ware came back with another
question. eff passes are not given
members to influence their action he
4 said, Hwhy is it they are not sent by
the railroad attorneys until after we are
electedqD ~
~ am much obliged to the gentle
man for informing me as to my duties, .
replied Mr.. Clarke with some heat; :"
j did not know it was my business tc
| issue passes. am not the manager
Of the road ,.E4
I Senator Peterson called attention tt
: the fact that only one road had made
J any statement as to the number of pas
q sengers carried free Mr.. Butler OF
the Omaha said their statement woulc
} be furnished later. Senator Hawkins
said the committee would inquire fur
J ther into this subject. On motion Of
! Senator Calhoun, the committee ther
). went into executive session.