Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-06
ROADS PLAN FOR NEW RATE
VIII Meet Conditions Of Tws-osnt Pare
When Il Goes In.
RESERVE Right TO FIGHT TIN COURTS
Not Probable That Contest VIII BE
MADE as the Law Involves
Too Many severe
Penalties.

The Burlington and Union Pacific rail-
roads, as we'll as others converging In Ne
braska, are preparing TO meet the condi-
lions Of the new law reducing passenger
rates to a level Of 2 cents a mile and be-
coming effective Thursday at least The
Burlington, through General Passenger
Agent wakeley, yesterday reiterated It's
original position as stated in The Bee
Monday evening, that while II would adopt
the new rate temporarily. It did not preju-
dice the rights or intentions of its attor-
neys TO combat the law IL deemed ad-
visable later.
Too Many Penalties.
One Of the railroad attorneys was asked
why the railroads did not get out sweep
ing Injunction against the law being put
into effect II IL was eminently unjust to the
roads
Because so many penalties are at
tached" was the reply.
'That is the cause of the delay in fight
ing the rate, II they are going to fight II
at ALL" said man who follows the trend
of railroad affairs. ''They had enough OF
penalties IN the tax cases and in this case
there would be penalty attached to each
case in which they refused TO sell a mar
a ticket for cents q mile II that was the
law as made by the legislature. They
have 10 wait until the law is in effect fol-
a time and then try to make a case from
the showing Of their earnings"
Gerrit Fort, assistant general passenger
agent Of the Union Pacific, said the mat
ter was entirely in the hands Of the lega
department OF that road.
1--WE have been preparing tariffs ant
rates as fast as our clerks and the printers
can get them ready and will comply with
the law II II goes into effect Thursday
morning. This applies only to state rates
as Il will take up thirty days to line VI
the interstate rates to make them comply
with connecting and interested roads and
after that thirty days notice is required
from the Interstate Commerce commission
Union Pacihc's Course.
The Union Pacific is sending out cir.
! cular letter to all its Nebraska agents tell
I ing them TO use the 2-cent fare for all Ne
braska local business, computing on tht
working time card mileage between the
points within the state. This is the bes
that can be done at present. owing to the
emergency clause of the bill, which pre-
vented the proper publication Of the tariff
by wednesday. The printed tariff will bt
sent OuL AdlcEs us HOOn AB II Cdn Db Adt
from the printer This will care for the
strictly .ltra-state business. The matter
Of interstate business presents a much more
complicated problem and will be a long time
in its working out.
Should Iowa adopt the 2-cent fare an
other complication will be presented. II
fact. every rate in the United States will
have to be revised by the Nebraska roads
IN order to make their tariffs conform t.
the new law and base the Nebraska pro-
portional on the 2-cent rate. For example
the rate to Denver Is now figured at
cents on the short mileage, which is tn,
Burlington. This brings the one-way rat.
10 t16.s5. Under the 2-cent rate the fare t.
Denver becomes Sass, difference of $3.50
what the Figures show.
Here is table that has been prepared al
an experimental showing Of how the Law
will affect through tariffs and the revenu,
20 the Union Pacific from passenger bust
ness:
Statement showing present rates from
rates concluded on basis of cents per mi
Pacific revenue which the adoption OF tn,
-1=5----Ez-
=