Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-02-21
HOUSER DEMANDS
TWO CENT FARE
PETITIONS RATE COMMITS sIoN
FOR REDUCTION.
THREE CENTS UNLAWFUL
Secretary of State Alleges That Rail.
roads Are Collecting Too Much
for Passenger Travel and Asks a
Hearing and investigation to De-
termine the Question.
Madison. Feb. IA.

mdulsOuy req. IA.
Secretary of State Walter L. Hous-
er has filed with the state railroad
rate commission a petitior. demand
ing that an investigation be made
and hearings be held by the com
mission toward rendering a decision
for a maximum passenger rate in
Wisconsin of two cents a mile. The
petition against the Wisconsin Cen
trail road is as follows.
I'D The petition of the above
named w. L. Houser respectfully
shows that he resides in Mondovi,
Wisconsin, and is engaged in the
business or occupation of secretary
OF state of Wisconsin:
"(2l The above named railway
company is common carrier en-
gagged in the transportation of per
sons and property by railroad be-
tween points in the state of Wiscon-
sin; and that as such common car
rier said railway company is subject
to the provisions of chapter 81 of the
Wisconsin statutes of 1898. and acts
amendatory thereto, and is likewise
subject to the provisions of chapter
362 of the laws of Wisconsin for the
year 1906;
"(3) That said petitioner, in the
conduct of his business has occasion
to and does frequently travel as a
passenger on the trains of the above
~ ov,,eS "a sl.,ra,, cov,yauv ba+uaov, cta
tons on said line located within the
state of Wisconsin; that he and
members of his family for wnom he
pays fare also ride on said line of
road between stations in said state,
and that he pays a considerable
amount of money to said railway
! company yearly Tor the transporba-
ton Of himself and the members of
his family;
20 That he is usually and Gus
! tomarily charged for such carriage
at the rate of three cents a mile for
each mile Travelled over said road in
Wisconsin:
| "(5l That petitioner is advised
and believes and alleges on informa
ton and belief that such rate of
/ charge is unreasonable and excessive
and Illegal, and that fair rate of
compensation for such service would
not exceed two cents a mile, either
for past or future service:
Wherefore, petitioner prays that
the aforesaid railway company be
required to answer the charges here
in, and that after due hearing and in
yestigdtion an order be made COM
handing said railway company 10
| cease and desist from making the I'm.
reasonable and excessive charges re
ferred to in said petition and that
an order be made by said commits
sion fixing a reasonable rate of com
pensation for the carriage of per
sons between points on the line Of
1 said railroad in the state of Wiscou-
sin and for such other and further
order as the commission may deem
necessary in the premises
The petition is dated the 9Th day
OF February Like petitions are
fled against the Northwestern, Mil,
waukee, Omaha and the Burlington
{ roads.
The rate commission refused to
/ give out the petitions or to make
any statement regarding the matter
other than the following written out
for the r. representatives. of the press;
Several complaints have been filed
with the commission alleging that
the present rate Of charge for carry.
J ing passengers is excessive In ac-
/ cordanca with our usual custom We
have notified the railroad companies
/ In intere5t"