Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-14
Representatives Appear Before
Senate Committee to Argue
Against Rate Reduction
PROFITS ARE NOT GROWING
No More Business Proportionate'y
Than Twenty Years Ago and Much Of
1t Done at Actual Loss, Say the
Railway Men-Hearins Not Con-
cluded-ve.tibuIe Measure.
Special to Times Republican.

Des Moines, Feb. 14.-The railroad
men had another round Of it yesterday
before a senate committee considering
the proposed passenger rate reduction,
They gave a more earnest and perhaps
more convincing presentation Of their
side of the case than that before the
house committee last week.
Senator Turner was the only mem
Der who spoke in regard to the merits
of the 2-cent fare bill and he pre-
sented the matter modestly and with
no pretense of statistical information
or elaborate argument. On behalf OF
the engineers and firemen there was a
protest by Patrick and Stednan. Then
the railroad men were given about two
hours.
There was a good representation OF
railroad men-Kniskern, of the North
western; Eustis, Of the Burlington;
Merry and Kenyon, of the Illinois Cen
trial; Wright and Brady, of the Rock
Island; Hansen. Cook and Carr. of the
Milwaukee; Blake, of the Newton
road; Funk, Of the Iowa Falls. and
many others. In view Of the limited
time allowed for argument, statements
by Kniskern, Merry and Nay were fur
nished the senators printed.
James C. Davis, of the Northwestern,
presented the general phase Of the sit
uation for the railroads. He made an
plea for a fair deal for
t.le largest single commercial interest
in the state, one whose success means
the success of the entire state. Our
duty" he said, lis to the companies
whose property is at stake, and to this
committee to give it all the informa-
ton possible, and above all to the peo-
pie of the state, SO that If loss comes
to us and inconvenience comes to them
they will know where to place the re-
sponsibility."
Mr.. Davis declared there had been no
before the people Of the
position of the railroads, and it could
not, therefore, be said truthfully that
the bill should be passed because the
people Of the state have considered the
matter and have decided the question
He pleaded, therefore, that the sena-
tors approach the matter open minded
and that they not consider the matter
closed.
Mr.. Davis explained that while there
had been increase of population in
Iowa there had been still larger .fn-
crease Of mileage and of train serv-
ice, and consequently the railroads
passenger business than they were
twenty years ago. He referred to the
fact that counting the excursion rates
they are now getting about IA cents
a mile for passenger service. He spoke
of the excursion business that would
be cut off and of the general change
in the entire situation. He asked that
all these matters be considered by the
senators.
Mr.. Eustis, Of the. Burlington, de-
clared that Iowa with high intelligence
and wealth travels less proportionate
to population than New York with less
and less average wealth,
and this because it is known that
residents of cities travel more than
do residents of the country. Mr. Eus-
It's referred especially to the reduction
which would be necessary in thru and
interstate business and how this would
reduce the revenues of the railroads
He gave statistics to show conclusively
that on local business in Iowa the
major portion is done at a loss now,
and that great many of the trains
are operated at an actual loss all the
time.
There was discussion by Mr.. Blake
and others, following much the same
line, but the hearing was not con-
cluded