The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1907-02-01

| Oui PSOpiC pay
a' they move about engaged in thei
ordinary affairs, for losses incurred
IN taking train load after tram loac
OF pleasure seekers 10 points o
enteitalEment or amusement. O,
land seekers, as they journey tc
distant states i'll abe hope Of 6nd.ue
riches that they could more easily
discover at home.
These things, however, are en-.
tlrel> within the control of the rail
way companies Ii we give them
an opportunity to take two cents
per mile from everyone who rides
upon their trains in Iowa, aud thew
avail themselves of the opportunit,
as they can, their revenue from the
passenger traffic will not be reduced
single dollar; OH the contrary, ac-
cordlng to universal experience, it
will be increased. If on the other
hand, the railway companies, with
the right to demand two cents a
mile from all who travel, find it ad-
vantageous, by reason of ulteritr r
and extrinsic benefits, to reduce
the rates under certain circum-
stances below the maximum, and
thus diminish the average rate &C.
tualiy received, they cannot assert
that the law has done them an in.
justice. l stand fiji mly upon tie
proposition that the travellsrs VIII,
who are now paying three cents pei
mile are paying the fares of othel
travellers VINO are abundantly able
to pay their own; and the burden
IS laid npon the people who are the
least able to bear it. 1t is a dis
termination which caunot be de-
Tended, and which ought not to
continue. 1t will not be forgotten
either, that the prohibition against
pa>ses already in force, and enlarge
ment OF The prohibition of which |
shall speak presently, anu which |
hope will shortly be in force, will
add materially to the revenue of
the railway companies, AID viii.
help greatly in maintaining the
average at or above its present
point.
What l have said has been upon
the hypothesis of strict division
Letween the earnings Of the pa-sen-
ger and freight traffic l do not
concede, io~ever, that the pro-
posdl for cent passenger fares is
20 De tested wholly BY any such
criterion. prefer 10 look at the
earnings of the railroads in Iowa as
a who.e, and if they are found to be
more than the, should be, it is not
very material to inquire whether a
two-ceut passenger Iate will or will
not be, i'll and Of its self, profitable
The chief business of railloacs in
this state IS tue transportation ot
freig nt, aud it clearly appears from
the arguments laid before you last
wiuter tnat they regard passenger
traffic as incidental. and do hot at
tempt to make it the source of any
cons. derable net earning.
(The gove. nor here gives figures
to show the gross and net earnings
Of the roads during recent years,
shows the per cent these earnings
would pay upon the estimated in
vestment, and suggests that they
be used as basi, of inquiry as to
the sdvi>abil ty OF reducing the
fare.)
1 submit these suggestions 10
you to be review,d d by your mature
judgement, aud to be used for the
purpsse IF beginning an inqui y as
to the justice or injuitice of any &C.
ton you may take that will lessen
the income Of the railway companies
whether from the passenger or|
freight service 1t is subject that
invokes high Sense of respousi
bility, and it demands for its con-
sideraticn II all the obligations Of an
Off ia oath. l kLow that you will
examine it, and act upon it Wi h.
out fear, favor. prejudice or op-
preston. For my own part, l am
deeply convinced that a reduction
in the pas>eng rate is tully war
~,