Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-02-21

Ate Wisconsin railroad commission
yesterday handed down a decision Or
dering a reduction of passenger fares
from three to two and one half cents
per mile, and recommending to the
railroads that they issue family mile
age books of 500 miles each inter
changeable between the roads for $40
or at the rate of two cents a mile
The decision goes into effect in 20
days unless an appeal to the courts is
taken
Under this order none of the exist
ing reduced rates tickets is to he
withdrawn. The communication ticket
the excursion ticket, the party, the
round-trip, half-fare, credential mile
age, and home-seekers' tickets. which
have hitherto been sold at low rates
on the wholesale principle. are to re-
main in effect
The order applies to the Chicago,
Milwaukee, & St Paul. Chicago &
Northwestern, and Chicago, st. Paul
Minneapolis & Omaha companies, De
cisions as to the Burlington. Wiscon-
sin Central, Soc" and Green Bay &
Western are to follow soon in sepa-
rate orders. To which of these a
two and a half cent order will be
made to apply is not known, but it is
generally reported that the Burlington
will be required to reduce its rate to
two and a half, while the other lesser
roads will be allowed to continue the
three cent rate unless forced by COM
petition to reduce it.
The decision is exhaustive. both
from the standpoint of legal deci-
sions quoted and facts presented in
support of the order The decision
contains about 100000 words, and
ably discusses every phase of the ar
gument for reduction to two cents
The commission anticipates many ar
guments that might be made against
a two and half cent order. either
by the railroads which oppose any
reduction whatever or by the com
plainants who urge two-cent fare. The
principal part of the decision is de-
voted to the complaint of A. e Buell.
farmer Of Dane county, against the
Milwaukee & st. Paul The decision
against the Omaha IS based upon the
complaint of former Secretary of State
Walter l.. Houser. Mr. Buell. is also
the author of the complaint against
the Northwestern The order of the
commission reads:
The Formal Order
is therefore ordered, that the de-
PENDANTS cease and desst from charg
ing or eXacting from persons desiring
to travel on its lines, between points
within the state of Wisconsin which
can be reached by an intra-state Jour
ney, the rate of fare of three cents
per mile
1t is further ordered, that a maxi
mum rate of not to exceed two and
one-haf cents per mile be substituted
and charged by said companies in
lieu of the maximum rate of three
cents per mile now imposed
For reasons stated in this opinion
1t is recommended that 5OO-mile books
or tickets, good for use by the pur-
chaser or any member of his family
for period of one year from the date
Of sale. be placed on sale and sold by
the defendants herein"
The order is signed by-John
Barnes, B. H. Meyer and Halford Err
ickson, commissioners.
Each Should Pay for Itself.
In arriving at its conclusion the
commission held that each branch of
railroad traffic should be self-support-
ing and made an apportionment Of the
between the passenger and freight
business of the expense of conduct
ing traffic The commission holds
that it is important to the people Of
the state that low freight rates should
prevail. and that there is nc iustifica-
ton from an equitable or an econom-
ic standpoint in weighing the freight
charges with any portisn OF the bur-
dens Of the passenger traffic, even II
II can be done without violating the
Law The commission also holds that
the real question with which the peo-
pie Of Wisconsin are concerned is not
hON ChS"p VI the SCI VICE be per
formed but how cheaply can this
business be done in an adequate
way
Service Must Be Adequate.
Il is held that the law requires the
carrier to maintain adequate passen-
ger service, and that any contemplat-
ed reduction in rate cannot be made
which would materially impair the
adequacy Of the service In discus