Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-02-14
Oppose 2-cent Fare

Des Neutrality-suspicious. Of
the railroads appeared before the
house committee on railroads on the
sth and made arguments in opposition
to proposed 2-cent fare legislation.
Former Speaker ]. H. Funk, George
w. Sewers, John Sebastian, w. e
Blake and others insisted that the
proposed legislation would result IN
very seriously Gripping the railroads
particularly the smaller lines. The
railroad men specifically disavowed
the making of threats of any kind,
but they were insistent 1t was a mere
matter of mathematics for they con
tended that the present rates are not
sufficient.
A number of railroad employees or.
CARNATIONS were represented in oppo'
sion to the N ,asure, expressing the
belief that was IS will be reduced and
men Will be thrown out of employ.
ment If the bill passes.
The hearing was on seven bills In
troduced by Representatives Cottrell
Clarke, Teter, and Jones, who offered
a 2-cent mileage and one for a 21a
cent mileage book, DeMar and Gen.
eva.
John Sebastian of Chicago was one
of the conspicuous figures at the hear
Ing. His presence was interesting
at this particular time, as recently he
has visited large number of the
state legislatures in session this win
ter. Vice President Hiland, Solicitor
w. S. Kenyon, formerly of Fort Dodge,
and Capt. ]. F. Merry OF the Illinois
Central railroad were present. Gen
eral Solicitor Hanson of the Milwau-
kee and General Counsel Sewers of
the Hawley roads, Judge G. Fl. Carr
of the Great Western, j. C. Davis OF
the Northwestern, w. d. Eaton of the
Burlington, E. w. Blake of the New
ton & Northwestern, General Auditor
Nay and w. P. Brady of the Rock
Island, ex-Speakcr ]. H. Funk of the
Iowa Falls & Northern, William Ellis
| Of the legal department of the Mil
waukee, who had charge of the rail.
road side in the live stock freight
hearing before the state railroad com.
mission on Thursday; General Traffic
Manager Eustic of the Burlington, and
large number of other prominent
railroad men were in Des Moines for
the hearing.
Judge Carr had charge of the direc.
ton OF the case for the railroads.
For Lower Rates on Live Stock.
Representative Stewart of Wash.
ington county has introduced a bill
to reduce freight rates on live stock.
1t is intended to do away, in part,
with the custom of charging "short
haul rates over that part Of rail.
road lines that lay in Iowa when
in reality the Iowa haul is part
of the long haul. The bill pro-
vides that only a certain per cent,
IS, regulated on the distance of the
schedule rates on live stock as fixed
by the Iowa classification No. Is of
the reasonable maximum rates OF
charge" may be charged by the rail-
road companies. Mr.. Stewart points
out that the rate from the Mississippi
river to POINTS eighty miles west is
lO.26c and from the Mississippi to
Chicago, a distance of about $50
miles, the rate is IL 1-2c, since re-
duced 20 per cent, while the rate to
points in New England is only IS
cents. Figuring pro rata, the rate in
Iowa for the eighty miles should be
cut $3.50 and the object of his bill
is to bring the rate as near the pro
rata figure as reasonable and possi.
BILE where the haul Is continuous.
The bill, therefore, provides that
common carrier of live stock shall not
be permitted to charge in Iowa a
maximum rate to exceed rs per cent
OF the schedule rates on live stock
as prepared by the Iowa railroad COM
missioners, taking effect March l,
1905, on distances of 100 miles or
less, and shall not be permitted to
charge as a maximum rate to exceed
SO per- cent of the schedule rates for
distances exceeding 100 miles and not
exceeding 150 miles and not more
than 80 per cent of the scheduled
rates for any distance in the state OF
Iowa in excess of $50 miles. The bill
was referred to the house committee
on railroads and commerce and will
be taken up by that committee some
time this week.