Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-02-21
Strong Argument Presented Against I'm
mediate TWo-Cent Rate
Freight Patrons Must Not Pay Excessive
Charges That Passengers
May Ride Cheapy

Sing this matter the commission calls
attention to the many improvements
in passenger service which have been
asked for by the patrons of the var
ious roads such as new trains faster
trains, new stations, and occasionally
station agents. Some of these i'm
iprovements in service have been or
dered by the commission and have
entered into the commissions analy.
sis of the subject
The commission holds that the alb
sence of reliable statistics as to the
travel leaves this question altogether
too much in the realm of doubt and
uncertainty to warrant any tribunal
in founding a Judgment upon it. Dis
lcussing this question the commission
says:
viii Not Stop Excursions.
We think that a reduction of two
cents per mile would reduce the earn.
ings of this company and of its princi-
pal competitors below the point to
which they ought to be reduced in
Wisconsin. We think a reduction to
two and one-half cents per mile
should and can be made without af-
fecting the tickets that are now usu.
ally and customarily sold below that
figure and that no violent and radical
effect in the securities of the com.
pany will follow 1t Is usually better
to make our journeys by reasonable
stretches than by violent spurts and
it frequently happens that he who
pursues the latter course will fall by
the wayside. We are in all probabil.
| ity journeying toward a twocent fare
in the near or distant future We all
hope that it will come soon and come
without trenching on the rights of
any one. The old maxim, The more
haste the less speed should not be
forgotten, however, even If it has ten.
porarily fallen into inocuous desue-
tude.'"
Special Tickets Not Discrimination.
1t is also held that the selling of
different priced tickets, such as com
mutation tickets, excursion tickets,
does not constitute a discrimination
within the meaning Of the Wisconsin
law. Discussing this the commission
says:
"In going through the entire list of
tickets sold at reduced rates, We viii
find that such tickets were placed on
sale in pursuance of some peculiar
! demand, and that as an inducement
to travel wholesale prices were made
for those who wished to avail them,
! selves of them. If the wholesale
principle as applied to passenger
traffic is wrong and discriminatory.
| it of course should be abolished In
the movement of freight it is not rec
ognized, except as we distinguish be-
tween carload and less than carload
lots 1t is doubtful If distinction
should be allowed between trainload
and carload shipments.
We must deal with conditions as
they have grown up and have become
established. Carriers are not selling
reduced rate tickets to one class of
travellers because they like them bet
ter than some other class that pays a
higher rate. They are doing so be-
cause they believe it to be for their
| best interests financially to do so.
Our own Judgment is that the custom
should not be abolished but rather
that it might, with substantial justice,
to all concerned, be extended. We
are not at liberty to say, If we thought
IsO that any discrimination Is prao
ticed by placing different priced tick
cts on sale provided no discrimina-
ton is practiced between persons de.
string to buy and use such tickets.
THE law itself has said 1t is not a dis.
elimination to do so. Section Of
chapter 1862, laws of 1905, expressly
provides that contained in the act
shall prevent he issuance of mile
age, commutation or excursion pas
sengers' tickets, provided the same
shall be obtainable by all persons ap-
plying therefor without discrimina
ton. or Of party tickets, provided the
same shall be obtainable by all per.
sons applying therefor under Ike cir
| cumstances and conditions; or the
sale Of such tickets as were usually
and customarily sold at reduced rates
prior to June 18th. 1908. provided the
same shall be sold without discrimina,
ton 10 all persons applying therefor
under like circumstances and condi.
| tons"
Wholesale Principle Recognized.
The legislature wisely recognized
existing conditions and provided that