Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-08
TWO CENTS AND No FAVORS
With Adoption Of New Passenger Fares
Combinations Are Abolished.
NEBRASKA AlROADs AcT IOeLIHLR
CIsrgymen, .HOmeseeksrs, EHeuFsiOn-
lists on same Basis with other
Travellers for the Pres
ent at Least.

1tNNAAbA bAltiuoit AAt idiANoNS - -
braka affected by this law, Union Pacific |
Burlington, Northwestern, Missouri Pa
clhc and Rock Island, abolished all
passenger Communication rates In this
state. which include those to home
seekers, clergymen and excursionists and, |
OF course. the interchangeable mileage |
tickets, which sold at 2h cents mile and |
were therefore In excess of the new legal
rate
Asked IL this action was taken in retalia-
ton for what the legislature and supreme
court have recently done, passenger ohi-
cial OF one of the leading Nebraska roads
said;
mot by any means. l viii say this; The
circular setting forth this action was is
sued by our road upon three minutes no.
tice,"
1t was not known, of course, until he had
acted that the governor meant to sign the
bill or let IL become law without his
signature.
statement for Burlington.
For the Burlington General Passenger
Agent wakeley said:
There are odds and ends OF practices
10 be cleaned up. but all the facilities OF
our railroad were used in the effort 70
furnish all agents and conductors of our
lines definite instructions on which to act
beginning 1901 a. M Thursday.
1.-The 2-cent local rate applies as the law
directs, between two stations, both Ut which
are in the state of Nebraska. Half rates
for children. The usual extra fare will be
collected for fares paid on trains. All
mileage tickets sold after March will be
endorsed Not good locally in Nebraska
the idea being that these are tickets sold at
2ia cents a mile, good on interstate ousi-
ness over the Burlington lines west, ana
we do not want our conductors placed in
the position of detaching mileage valued
at 2h cents a mile for Nebraska journeys,
even II the passenger desires 20 use lis
scrip, which would make our road party
to the collection of higher fare in Ne
braska than the maximum scent rate.
Mileage tickets sold prior to March I will
be honored under the old contract, II pas
senger so desires; II not, such tickets will
be promptly redeemed. All reduced rates,
for clergymen, railroad employees, inmates
of soldiers and sailors homes, charitable
rates, or any other form of a reduced rate
order, whether for a state or Interstate
journey, in any portion of Nebraska, have
been Cancelled. All convention rates, home
seekers excursion rates, party rates, either
one way or round trip, applying locally In
Nebraska, have been cancelled, as was an
ticipated."
Big Meeting In Chicago.
Another official, speaking for the roads in
general, said
1.-THE new 2-cent fare law contains 100 or
more details that must be worked out be-
fore we know just exactly where we are,
and II is necessary, in order to properly
perform the task before us, to get out of
the way any possible obstruction to this
law. Hence these Communication rates have
been temporarily abolished today Crhurs-
day.. r. 3d. '"' -:' 'r g.
"a meeting Of the higher officials of the
various roads involved is being held In
Chicago today to determine upon per-
manent course Of action. Those officials
will take up the new law section by sec
| ton and see just where we stand Upon
| their elaboration will depend the perma-
! nency OF the action taken In this circular"
For the Burlington, Northwestern and
Rock Island the Chicago officials will
act at the meeting in that city. For
the Union Pacific, General Passenger
Agent Lomax and Assistant General Pas
senger Agent Fort will act Every road
affected will be represented,
No Interstate Business.
The reduced rates are not to be used for
the present on interstate business for
through fares. The interstate conditions
are unsettled because OF the incomplete
Legislation in neighboring states and II Is
impossible 10 make up rate sheets under
the interstate laws at this time.
Homeseekers' rates for eastern Nebraska
for people going to Oklahoma and Texas
and other points in the south are still in
effect but necessarily the cheap home
seekers rates from eastern Nebraska to
western Nebraska have been cancelled
The fabric of interstate colonist rates
which have been worked out by the rail-
roads will not be changed for the present
The railroads claim this is no retaliation
in any way, but that the law was so en-
acted in accordance with the sentiment
of the people and the legislature
openly expressed in committee meet
ings that the contemplated rates would in
no way make the average rate received by
the railroads less than cents.
Four Hundred Meetings Yearly.
There have been held in Nebraska 400 con-
ventions during each year. such as the
Chautauqua, the state fair, Ak-Sar- Ben, to
which the rate has been less than cents
mile, but this is all changed. The legisla-
ture made cents a maximum rate and the
/ railroads are making II a minimum rate
The railroads claim they are not permitted
TO initiate any favors which will make their
| earnings less than cents a mile.
The railroads claim their position is ex-
actly the position endorsed by all legisla-
| tors who heard the arguments and that the
rate law is doing Just what the railroads
said II would do and what the legislature
said they intended It should do. that all
should pay a 2-cent fare.
| Incidentally the orders Of the railroads
will make conductors scratch their heads
and recall their mathematics. for the de-
| tails OF figuring out mileage on a mills and
| cents basis will be no easy task.
Circular Joined in by Roads.
This is the circular in full which has been
| issued;
| Nebraska Local Fares-Efective 1901 n.
| m Thursday, March Z and Continuing until
/ receipt of printed tarin A6 (which Is now IN
| course of publication; agents will make
/ strictly local Nebraska state fares on asis
| mileage (per working time card), dropping
/ 4 mills or less and using next cent higher
| for mills or more. no fare TO be less than
Example-Where mileage is SIS, rate will
be lie; where mileage Is l0.z rate will be
| ~ cents.
| years OF age and under II years of age will
ALE -