The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-16
THAT 2.CENT RATE LAW.

All hN Lave
N The position that a number OF peo-
re- pie take in regard TO the 2-cent rate
- bill, which passed the house fort
n night since, and which is due to be
pl amended in the senate today or Nom
II day, is a trifle out OF the ordinary,
- not to say peculiar. For example.
i, Why should the Fargo Council. U.
C. T.. resolve" in favor OF a 2-cent
\ rate law, when as matter of fact
there is not a travelling man in the
state who is not now favored with that
!, rate. And the same privilege may be
d enjoyed by any citizen. Not only is
there available 2-cent rate, but the
purchaser of Great Northern or
: Northern Pacific mileage-no matter
/ which road issues-may use the same
! on either line That is 10 say, the
mileage is interchangeable.
, You or l, or any one for that mat
/, ter, can go to any Great Northern or
Northern Pacific ticket Office in North
Dakota, lay down 500 and get 5000
miles of interchangeable transporta-
ton for which we pay at the rate of
2 cents mile fiat. There may also
be purchased 5000 miles OF the same
kind of transportation for which SIS
is paid and on which there is given a
rebate of SIS when the mileage is all
used. Here, also. 2-cent rate is af-
forded. Thus the man who travels
much, has all the privileges that are
afforded by eastern lines, where there
is the strongest kind of competition
and ten times the amount OF travel
But the ordinary man cannot use
5000 miles, or 5000 of transportation
in year, You say. Then to him the
railroads will issue a 1000 mile book
at cost of 2 1-2 cents a mile.
The railroads believe the man who
travels several thousand miles in a
year should enjoy better rate than
the man who travels from Grand
Forks to Fargo and return twice. This
man, if he does not buy a 1000 mile
book, must pay three cents mile. A
round trip from Grand Forks to Fargo,
where transportation is not used,
costs s4.7O, this being a Scent rate.
In the enjoyment of 2-cent rate, this
man would pay s31s, or s1.57 less.
The travelling fraternity will not
benefit by the passage of 2-cent rate
law, for the reason it already enjoys
one.
The position taken by the railroads
and this position is fortified and oc-
cupiedIby practically every business
man or FIRMS that the man who in
vests 500 or $50 in transportation
should be favored rather than the man
who buys 50-mile ticket. And more
especially, as travel on many branch
lines is not sufficient, even at a g.
cent rate, to pay for the cost of op-
Grating passenger trains. 1t might
for a mixed train, however That is
to say the man who buys consign-
ment of goods worth in the thousands
should receive better rate than the
man who purchases a thmble or a
pair of stockings.
The probable outcome of the pres
ent rate agitation and the ultimate ac-
ton of the senate upon the house
bill to provide 2-cent rate, will be
compromise by which the rate will
probably be fixed at 1-2 cents. In
such an event it is not at all impos-
sible that the railways may abolish
the present 2-cent rate, which anyone
may now enjoy by the purchase of
transportation in quantity, and make
fiat rate OF 1-2 cents to everyone
alike.
There is this one thing, however,
which the legislature might compel
Of the railroads, and that is to force
them to make all tickets and trans
portation transferable, also to issue
1000 mile and 500 mile books at the
fiat rate of 2 cents mile. When
once company has received its price
for mileage why should it make any
difference who uses the same
The Evening Times believes firmly
that travelling men who thoroughly
and fairly analyze the situation, will
realize that IL rate or even q
cent rate, can be of absolutely no
benefit to them.
After the senate has. amended the