Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-19
TwoCents a Mile

Editor Argus: The debate on this
subject has progressed far enough. and
sufficient testimony has been presented
to indicate some reasonably certain
conclusions. Interest will likely in
crease till a decision is arrived at.
OF course. the railroads will put up
q fight; and they will make n sharper
show of fight in proportion as they IN
derstand the hOpelessness Of their case.
They will do all they can to make the
law unpopular, increasing freight rates.
refusing passes, cutting of excursions,
Gripping the service, discharging en-
ployes, and in every way trying to in
convenience the public. Thus we may
safely forecast the outcome.
We are told that passenger rates
have been for many years on a declin-
ing scale; that they are cheaper in this
country than anywhere in the world,
with better service. The history of the
subject is worth recalling.
My first railroad ride from Chicago to
Rock Island county was in the fall OF
1864. | paid 4 cents a mile in green
| bttt NJ, VOL I'll tlItll ''Ili' " il'lt 'AJ'ib -
cents on the dollar The rate remained
at that figure Gbout 10 years. when the
Scent rate was established in Illinois.
The railroads resisted on the ground
that the state had no Jurisdiction. I'VE
can do what we please with our own.
But the highest court decided against
them, and for over 80 years > cents n
| mill haan la ,,ripn nf
road tickets. If rates have declined We
must look elsewhere.
The Illinois Central has caused, or
permitted TO be published. the state
ment that its income from its passen-
ger business is two and One-seventh
cents 4 mile; and the purpose is IL
show that the 2-cent rate is unjust be
cause the road would have TO carry
passengers at a loss. which would be
equivalent to taking private property
for public use without due cOmpensa
ton"
But the statement proves nothing OF
the kind. There is nothing to show the
cost Of the service, or the profit under
present conditions. Indeed, il would be
almost impossible to separate. only ap
proXimately. the cost of the passenger
and freight service and assign to each
its exact share
But the statement does prove this:
If one passenger-call him A-pays q
Icents, some other passenGer-call him
B-pays l % cents, for both together
Ipay - cents. OF course. b is happy
He don't want roads to carry ut a loss
And here we have the whole situa
ton. The reduced rates of which We
hear so much. come about by carrying
Ia portion of the passengers, perhaps Z
third of the entire number, at cost OF
below. and compelling the others t.
make il up. The amount of the reduC
ton in the average passenger rate pei
mile is the exact measure of the CXten
of this discrimination. And the wOrs
thing about it is that these specia
rates are largely taken advantage o
by well-tO-do people. while people o
small means generally pay the ful
price. This injustice we are up against
Shall il be corrected? That is the Who'll,
. question.
The assertion that the 2-Cont rat'
will bankrupt the roads is not WORT
argument. 1t can be only determine,
by eXperience-by fair trial of tn,
lower rates. If the railroad companie
care anything for public opinion. 70
the good will and confidence of III,
people. they will in good faith accep
the new law. arrange their schedule
SO as to accommodate the business, an,
for 4 year or two try the plan of givin;
every passenger an equal equivalent 70
his money.
The case of the small road runnin:
through thinly settled districts does no
lapply in our state All the branch road
belong to and are feeders for the grea
railway systems. On the basis of mile
> age. it costs more to operate these. bu
the business they bring to the mail
lines amply compensatcs. \ grade