Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-15
TWO.CENT FARE
LAW ADVOCATED
TT IS BELIEVED RAILWAYS
WOULD NOT. BE INJURED
All Travellers Would be Treated Alike
and Some Would Not Then Be
Paying for Others Tickets
. Continued from preceding page)


and limiting the compensation Of rail-
roads, whether by the states or the
United States, the railroads have
steadily grown in mileage and in
creased in revenue until their excess
sive stocks and bonds aggregate near
ly one seventh of the entire wealth
of the nation. Experience has abund-
antly shown that, with the privileges
granted to tho N by the law, they can
take care of themselves much more
effectually than legislatures and con-
crosses can take care of the people.
Concluding this general review,
come to specific things.
Passenger Fares
!. In my message delivered to the
Thirty first general assembly l had
the honor to recommend the passage
of law that would require railway
companies to sell mileage books good
for 1 900 miles and upwards, at =
flat rate of two cents per mile, good
until used: and | said in that con,
nectlon, IF purchased by the head
of family. there Is no reason why
it should not be used by any mem
Der Of the family; and again, 'The
man who travels little is at present
at too great disadvantage as com
pared with the man who travels
much !"
A bill embodying this recommends
ton passed the House of Representa-
tives, but in the committee Of the
Senate, counsel for the railways con-
tended that it was unconstitutional,
because it authorized discrimination
The argument seemed to be convlnc-
ing, and although I do not concur in
the conclusion, 1 feel impelled to
lay aside the remedy then proposed.
1t must be assumed, therefore, that
If those who travel little are to be
relieved of the unjust burden which
they now bear. the relief must come
through a general reduction of all
passenger fares. There is much rea-
son to believe that. in the Western
country at least, passenger traffic
at the present rates is less profitable
than freight traffic at the present
rates. The representatives Of the rail-
way companies, during the last ses-
sion, insisted that the average actual
rates paid by passengers in Iowa was
no more than two cents per mile,
some Of the roads showing fraction
higher and some fraction lower than
two cents. In making this computa-
eie.i 81 division CT certain large
expenses was assumed, and as I I'M
uerstand it, free transportation was
not included.
This condition has been brought
about by the railroads themselves,
through mileage books, credentials,
and other reduced rates to privileged
classes. When it is remembered that
the vast majority of those who travel
a great deal pay but two cents per
mile, and that the travel of all those
of our people who pay three cents
per mile is necessary to bring the
average up to two cents per mile, the
extent of Gravel which pays less than
two cents per mile assumes tremend-
Gus proportions. Granting, for the
moment, that it would be unfair to
reduce the revenue from passenger
service single penny, it is still man
ifest that the adjustment is hopeless
ly wrong. 1t costs the railway COM
pany just as much to carry pas
senger who has purchased 1000
mile book, per mile, as it does to
carry passenger who has bought a
single ticket for 100 miles; indeed, ]
think tho former costs little more.
for the use of the mileage book en-
tails more expense in the mainten-
ance of extensive bureaus for identi-
fcation, auditing and rebating than
the sale of tickets at stations. The
only advantage derived by the rail-
way company in advance is the in
terest upon the payment in advance,
and this does not warrant any ap-
preciable reduction in the rate.
If the practice of making low rates
for excursions, conventions, meetings
of associations and the like, is I'M
profitable, the railway companies can
easily abolish it. For my part, can
see no justice in the custom which
compels the farmer and his family
or the merchant and his family, as
they go from place to place, either
for pleasure or for business, to pay a
part of the cost of carrying men to
conventions or to gatherings of any
kind; and much less can I perceive
l,a y1ricI f,f lx 4 N
as they move about engaged in their
ordinary affairs, for losses incurred
in taking train load after train load
of pleasure seekers to points Of en-
tertainment or amusement. or land
seekers, as they journey to distant
states i'll the hope of finding riches
that they could more easily discover
at home.
These things, however, are en-
tirely within the control Of the rail-
way companies. If we give them ar
opportunity to take two cents PEI
mile from everyone who rides upon
their trains in Iowa, and they avail
themselves of the opportunity, as they
can, their revenue from the passen-
ger traffic will not be reduced a sim
gle dollar; on the contrary, accord
ing to universal experience, it will
be increased. If on the other hand
the railway companies, with the right
to demand two cents per mile from
all who travel, find it advantageous
by reason of Interior and extrinsit
benefits. to reduce the rates under
certain circumstances below the maxi
mum, and thus diminish the average
rate actually received. they canno
assert that the law has done them ar
injustice. l stand firmly upon The
proposition that the travellers who
are now paying three cents per mile
are paying the fares of other traveller.
who are abundantly able to pay theil
own; and the burden is laid upon the
people who are least able to bear it
It is a discrimination which canno
he defended, and which ought no
TO continue. 1t will not be forgotten
either, that the prohibition agains
passes already in force, and an en-.
Iargement Of the prohibition Of which
shall speak presently, and which
hope shortly will be in force. viii
add materially to the revenue of tht
railway companies, and will hell
greatly in maintaining the average
ut or above it's present point.
What I have said has been upor
lho hypothesis OF q strict division be.