Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12
Both Sides Heard
on Low Fare Bills
Iona House Committee Gipes
Hearing on Seven Proposed
BiNs-Legislatipe Gossip
Des Moines Bureau Of
The Ottumwa Courier,

Des Moines Bureau of
The Ottumwa Courier,
Des Moines, Feb. 8.
The legislature heard its first argu-
ment on the proposal to reduce pas
senger fares in Iowa on Friday after
noon, the house committee devoting
four hours to the subject. Seven bills
were under consideration, all involv.
ing reduction Of fares. Authors of the
bills, especially Cottrell, DeMar, and
Jones, We're permitted to explain their
bills, after which representatives of
the railroad trainmen spoke then the
railroad representatives presented
their arguments.
Mr.. Cottrell. author of the first Of
the bills, presented an array of Stats
tics which forms the basis for the
demand for reduction. These figures
We're general in character, showing
briefly that in the past dozen years
the mileage of the roads in the north
western group increased but liz per
cent, while the stocks of the same
roads Increased 33 per cent, the bonds
81 per cent, the gross earnings 81 per
cent, and the net earnings 104 per
cent. There had been reduction in.
the ratio of expenses to gross earn.
! ings, and at the same time an enor.
nous increase in dividends actually
paid and surplus accumulated. 1t was
upon these facts that the argument
! for the reduction in rates was based.
On behalf of the employees, repre-.
sentatives of the firemen, conductors
and engineers. protested against any
reduction, on the ground that 1t would
mean reduction of train service and
consequent loss of labor for the men.
One strong point made was that Il
asmuch as 2-cent fares are proposed III
South Dakota, wisconsin and Mime
sofa and other similar legislation in
| nearby states therefore Iowa ought
not to Join in reducing the earnings
of the roads.
| Judge Carr, of Des Moines, had
charge of the presentation for the rail
roads, and General Manager Nay of
the Rock Island presented the basis
for the railroad argument. He was
followed by a number of other repre-
sentatives Of the roads. The conten-
ton of the companies is that a reduc-
ton in the income from passenger
business must of necessity result in
reduction o fthe service and that the
public will be the chief sufferers. 1t
was shown conclusively that much of
the passenger business is done at a
floss now.
4 Sedate senator's and pompous repre-.
septatives have not forgotten summer
days of the boyhood times, hence a
4 legislative committee has come nobly
to the defence of the "old swimming
hole" which so much delights the small
j boy.
The appeal heard and needed came
from the wards Of the state at the sol
diers' orphans home Because of the
drowning of one of the boys last sum
mer the board of control has forbidden
4 the boys to battle in the small creek
which runs near the home. The boys
have felt grieved over this ruling, and
an appeal was made to the Legislative
visiting committee, which in report
placed on file takes the side Of the
boys as against the board.
I'VE would recommend that this
rule be withdrawn" says the report
"and' the boys be given the pleasure
of this natural swimming place rathe,
than that the state should go to tbs
expense of putting in an artificial
swimming place. AS we recall oul
own boyish Impressions this swim
, ming hole in the creek would be one
of the greatest pleasures after all"
Upon the adoption OF this repor
and tie coming Of warm weather tht
!. state board will undoubtedly restore
i to the boys their inalienable right t.
patronize the ''old swimming hole"
Tie visiting commi lee repor
praises highly the work done at thi!
, home for orphans and refers to it q,
"a really wonderful place. The re
port recommends that the board MAX,
!. efforts at all times to place the chill
dren out in good homes and thus t,
make room for many others in thu
state who need the care of the home
The visiting committee which re
ported on the school for the deaf re
5 commended reversal Of the order o
the board of control abolishing tn,
! department Of domestic science. Thi
Ills declared by the committee to b.
! extravaganza in trying to be economi
I zeal, and the department should b.
. re-instated so that the young womel
i ATTENDING the school may have TIL
y opportunity Of learning something tina
= will enable them to earn living. TIL
committee also recommended that tn
manual thaining department be put Il
competent hands; also that pupils VIII
? are county charges remain the entir
5 year.
J. The report on the soldiers HON
approves all that the superintendent
/ asks for the appropriation needle
: amounting to $4,000. The committe
was especially impressed with the, fin
y management Of the hospital and tn
: building for old people.
The committee which visited the MI