Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-08-22
.INEQU|TABLE
AND PARASITIC
SAYS RATE COMMISSION OF RAIL.
ROAD METHODS,
CUT IN PRICES ORDERED
Substantial Reduction and Other
Changes Compelled as Result of
StreVeler's COMPLAINT Against
Short Road Owned by w. D. Con-
nor-HeId to Be a Common Carrier.
Madison, August. l.

1hduISon, August II.
lnequltaoIy and socially and eco
nomically parasitic" is the language
which the railroad rate commission
applies to the practice of the Mara
thon County Railway company in a
decision rendered yesterday. This
rebuke by the commission was dis
pensed in discussing the practice of
the company of carrying shipments of
less than carload lots free of charge.
The road is also ordered to carry logs
at $3.50 and $3.50 instead of SIS and 81.
The present charges are held by the
commission to be excessive. The
complaint bringing this matter to the
attention of the commission was filed
by Nicholas Streveler, a resident of
Marshteld, who was sergeat-at- arms
OF the assembly during the session of
1905. The railroad is owned by w D
Connor, lieutenant governor. The
syllabus of the decision, prepared by
the commission, is as follows:
"A complaint against the Marathon
County Railway company, alleging
that the respondent railway company
has failed to provide cars, to accent
less than carload freight for shipment,
to file tariffs for freight and passen-
gers, to provide adequate stations,
and complaining that the rate of SIS
and 81, respectively, for carloads of
logs and similar forest products is
unreasonably high, and that the re-
spondent should own several stand
ard box cars, establish regular train
schedules and provide for the through
billing or rating of freight.
Held, That the Marathon County
Railway Co. is a common carrier, and
therefore subject to all the provi-
sions of the railway commission law
aud other statutes of Wisconsin re-
lating to railways and that, in conse-
quence of this, the present practice
of the respondent company of carry
ing passengers and less than carload
freight free of charge is in contra
ventiOn of sections 4 and of the
railway commission law, which re-
quire it to publish and file tariffs Gov
ertng all branches and classes of
traffic, and to carry no traffic free, ex-
cept as provided in the law. At pres
1nt the carload business is charged
with the additional expense of con-
Quoting the less than carload and pas
senger business, which is held to be
unlawful negotiable and socially and
economically parasitic The present
rate of S. and 81, respectively, for
carload shipments of logs is found to
be excessive, and the rate Of $3.50 and
$3.50, respectively, per carload is sub
stituted therefor.
cit is further held, that the re-
spondent company should not be COM
PEELED to acquire standard box cars
and to erect additional stations, but
arrangements for the joint use Of the
G.. & N. w. Ry. Co. station at STRAIT
ford are recommended; that respond
ent should publish and observe a reg.
ular train schedule for, at least, one
day in each week; that the C.. & N.
w. Ry. Co. is directly concerned In
the matter of through billing and
through rates, and said company not
having been party to thse proceed
ings, no order can be made with ref
erence thereto although the commits
sion will take the matter up informal
Iy with the two railway companies In
terested."