Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-07-19
GOVERNOR SIGNS
2-CENT FARE ACT.
EXECUTIVE APPROVES MEASURE
DESPITE PROTESTS FROM ALL
PARTS OF WISCONSIN.
PASSENGERS NOT TO PROFIT,
Railroads Will Start Long War During
Which Time Cheap Mileage Books
Will Be Cut OFF.


although he had been deluged with pro-
tests against approving it from publicists
and politicians and economists from all
parts of the state
Slap at Commission.
John Barnes, president Of the railroad
rate commission is in Milwaukee.
Neither Mr.. Erickson nor Mr.. Meyer,
the other members of the commission,
will submit to an interview i'll regard to
the enactment Of the law, but it is known
positively that they feel it as a direct
slap at the commission.
The act goes into effect on August Is
and will apply TO all roads showing d
gross earning Of $500 i mile.
Central Will Fight.
It has been stated that the Wisconsin
Central road will fight the law in the
courts and if 50 will probably block the
enforcement for two or three years In
the meantime the rate fixed by the COM
mission OF ~ cents q mile will be in
effect, but the 500 mile family books for
$40 and the communication rates between
large Centers will undoubtedly be discon-
tinued, so that the rate of fare paid by
the average traveller may be in excess of
that enjoyed since the recent ruling of
the commission.
Two Courses for Roads.
WWC-cent fare laws have been enacted
IN all the surrounding states but the rail
roads have already started legal proceed
ingS to annul them. la Missouri, Illinois
and Iowa they are allowing the 2-cent
fare rate to be enforced for three months
ending with September. During this time
1t VIII be determined whether the roads
can afford to carry passengers for tat
Z-cent fare or not. If not, then the
old rate of ) cents per mile will be re-
instated. In Minnesota the companies
have already instituted proceedings 10
annul the law.
What course the railroads will pursue
as regards Wisconsin is still undeter-
mined and probably will not be definitely
settled for some days. If they class
this state with Minnesota they will I'M
dOubtedly start proceedings at once and
enJOin the enforcement or the 2-cent fare
law. If they class 1t with Iowa and Hi
nOIs they will allow the 2-cent rate to go
into force, for say three months, after
which the courts will determine whether
the amount OF travel warrants the reduc-
ton.
Davidson Defines Position.
Gov Davidson stated his position in
regard to it most positively to 4 number
Ot legislators and newspaper men in his
Office late Monday evening. The bill
was sent TO the executive office that aft
ernOon at about o'clock but he did not
tgtI - w. ~ ~ WIS" ne re-
~ lass ,,otta ~ ', -,
- he was going over and as he glanced it
over he smiled "Ah the 2-cent fare bill, p"
he said and laid it on one side When
asked if he would sign it that he replied
III soft negative. but just before GIcs-
Ahs Tue INC ttIt ni9It ne So 7i, !ii
during which he expressed himself heart
lily i'll favor of the measure.
No Slap at Commission, He Says.
..J,bo r,;Iroa3s" no soid "h,,-o
1,roI,rh+ his all ,,non +hG,"Sair,os
1sa + 1t1 ~ FL oI Ia ~ Go
80 intnrstata trotfr ana renhacl,inS Of
.bao%o@a Mt the state line woujd not
Iva Stoned the Hill Rut the naonla ara
;ndi~nanr ut thn manner in With The
lnnr9ania. have +niind tn comnI[, Win
49, r,;r;+ 81 +ha lrdar Of tho r,to onr,,
1hS ana fbo,, T,,a,l+ this law, - d.
e not regard this law as a slap at the rate
commission. No one has higher regard
for the commission than / have |
would not do anything to hamper their
work But new facts and conditions
have come to light recently | cannot
allow the people of this state who
started all the reform agitation and who
have treated the railroads fairly to be
Disseminated against by the roads.
"Neifher do [ take any stock in the
argument that the enforcement of q >
cent fare will increase the freight rates
/ am confident that the railroads can
carry passengers for cents a mile, yes
even for H. cents or even l cent mile
and yet not increase their freight rates"
Eo,;1,, poo4-, 70 %
0o0f>' ~ w.
If the years before that time had been
taken into consideration the average
earnings would have been much less and
increased traffic since that time cannot
have raised the average for six years
sufficient to warrant a reduction further
than 212 cents. In the event the cent
fare fails the rate in Wisconsin will go
back to 2la cents as the time for appeal
from the order Of rate commission has
expired. The family books. however,
ana the Communication ticket Whlch We're
reconnmonded viii nndonhtediv he viii
Drawn.
VIII. CL.-4,I -:A,.:.