The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-09-18
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.

A CcSASW VI Iuc WOCh VI st6tc lckISs
latures during the past year is made
by q writer in the Boston Transcript,
who finds that the subject of rate re-
gulation appears to have been a pro.
mineut issue in many parts of the
country. Most of the legislative as.
semblies have given it attention, some
Of them attempting to solve the pro.
blem by establishing a scale of maxi
mum rates, and others giving rate
making powers to railroad commits
siOns.
According to this review, which is
evidently made by a writer not in
sympathy with such legislation, near.
ly 300 bills have been passed affecting
the railroad interests of the United
States, the most prominent among
them being those that have reduced
the rates of the various lines. There
are 20 states. or nearly half the whole
bunch, that have either reduced rates
on passenger traffic or have taken pre-.
liminary steps with that in prospect.
1t is a radical change all along the
line. The basis of it has been largely
hit or miss. Ohio was the first state
to declare q fat 2.cent rate, and, as
the railroads in the state show larger
passenger earnings since that was
done, other states, without q close ex-
animation OF local conditions, have
assumed that a similar result would
follow similar action.
Indiana has a fiat 2.cent rate. Iowa
makes the rate 2.cents on roads with
gross earnings of $4,000 a mile, q
cents on roads earning $1,000 and 3
cents on roads earning less than that.
This looks like an attempt to supply
a basis adjusted to the strength Or
weakness of the road. But Michigan
has decreed that all roads having
passenger earnings OF $1,000 q mile
shall pay the two.cent rate. Wiscon.
sin bases it on gross earnings of 49,
900 a mile and West Virginia on all
lines over so miles in length.
The 2.cent rate went into effect in
Nebraska last March, with penalties
for violating the statute so heavy that
the road put it into force upon the
very first day it was due, awaiting
final adjudication Of the constitution.
al questions involved by the supreme
courts of the United States. Pennsyl.
v%ania's 2.cent rate law will 60 into ef'
feet Oct. l, although there the tigh,
against its constitutionality is being
waged in the state courts, the only
state where the appeal is to the local
tribunals. In the southern states the
rates have not dropped to what is thu
popular figure in the North, but low
! enough to o sharp controversies
as the country is by this time vel
aw
:. The new public service commission
in New York can make q twO-cen
rate if so disposed. So Ear the new
railroad commissions OF Vermont
Montana and South Dakota. In tn
states north of Mason and Dixon
line, the average earnings per trail
mile are about 20 per cent. highe
than below it. Massachusetts i
l. classed among the ten states fror
J, which similar legislation to that en-
acted in the states quoted is expected
but we do not look for it. The bi
systems here have voluntarily lowere
their rates, and any further adjus'
t. ments that may seem desirable ca
doubtless be effected through arrang,
ments with the railroad commission
ID ers. But what q grist Of special labo
:, has beer accumulated by all this lie.
- ~islatiou for the supreme court of tt
IS United States.