The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-02-23
2-CENT Fare Plan
MAY Be EPIDEMIC
Since Action in Ohio 1t Has
Spread With Great
Rapidly.
MICHIGAN THE PIONEER
Railroads Alarmed, but the Reduction
of Free Pass Grants Will Help
Some-The West
May Follow.

ment for a 2-cent passenger rate IL
the states Of the middle west. which.
was given its strongest impetus by
the action OF the Ohio legislature. has
spread so rapidly and has accumulated
such strength that the passenger traf-
tc associations are fraak to express
alarm. The Central Passenger asso-
citation already is laying plans to check
the growth of the movement. Officials
OF this association say the general
adoption and enforcement of the g
gent fare would cost the railroads
many millions OF dollars annually, and
that In order to make a profit on their
passenger business 1t would be neces-
sary to make higher charges for bag
gage. for chair car seats and for other
comforts of everyday travel.
Michigan was the western pioneer in
rnacting a 2-cent passenger schedule.
1T does not appear that the roads Of
that state have suffered in consequence
of the operation of the law. Rather the
people to such an extent that the rev.
enues have not fallen off. The Michi-
gan law provides for a graded rate
based on the earning capacity of the
railroads. Only those roads whose
earnings equal or exceed $4,000 per
rate of 2 cents a mile. Those whose
revenues show between $500 and
$4,000 per mile are allowed to charge
24& cents a mile, and all other roads
may cling to the OLD rate Of 3 cents
n mile. 1t has been unoffcially stated
that the practical operation of the new
law, which goes into effect within thir-
~ days from the date of it's signing
by Gov. Pattison. will save the people
of Ohio $4,000 600 annually, or almost
us much as is paid by property own
FRS n corporations for the support OF
Tho state pnVnJpJ,oot 81, vTInCn 3-,,-~.
Df course, take no account of the larger
volume of travel that will follow with
he Inauguration of the cheaper rate.
A Roar Went Up. I'll
Two months there was q report
That the Illinois railroad commission
had in mind the matter of reducing
railroad passenger fares in this state
great cutlery from the officials of the
illinois roads. warning the admins
iration that such a reduction of fares
void mean Il virtual confiscation OF
property. and that any attempt to en-
force a cheaper rate than nov prevails
would be resisted in the courts. The
talk of reducing fare Is now revived
md If the railroad commission does not
take 1t up. a bill doubtless will be In
troduced in the legislature next winter,
its success or failure will depend large
ly on the result of the operation Of the
OElO law. II III De SHOWN mat tnaC law.
works no injustice to the railroads, the
argument for such a law in Illinois will
be almost Irresistible.
The railroads. especially those of the
east, are doing a great part in curtail-
Ing the pass evil. The New York Cen
trail, Pennsylvania, Baltimore and Ohio.
Norfolk and Western. Delaware and
Lackawanna and a score of others in
nnd out of the trunk line association
have stricken from the list of passhold-
FRS thousands of national, state. county
md city officials. who FORMERLY did all
meals and sleeping car berths cost
them. Many of them were not ever
charged for berths. Contenders for a
a-cent fare declare that the lower rate
Is made easier for the railroads by the
very fact that SO many passes have
been saved under the new order of
things. The average traveller. they say,
had to pay 3 cents because so many
men in public life did not pay any
Thing to ride.