Arizona republican., 1909-09-11

A signal achievement of the Ari- zona railway commission became of record yesterday. when railroad rep resentatives appeared before it late in the afternoon and announced on behalf of the local Santa Fe lines and the major portion of the local South ern Pacific lines that the request of the commission for a reduction of one cent per mile in passenger rates had been accepted. It was also stated that serious consideration is being given the application of the same reduction to the main lines, but at this time a definite announcement could not be made. It Is understood the considera- tion thus mentioned applies to the Gila Valley. Globe & Northern and some minor branches.
 The lines on which the reduction suggestion by the commission has been made are as follows: The Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix, on which the present rate is five cents per mile, re- duced to four cents; the Bradshaw Mountain railroad. the Prescott & Eastern. and the Arizona & California, on which the present rate is six cents.
 
 Maricopa & Phoenix on which the rate is five cents per mile. reduced to four cents: and the Phoenix & Eastern, between Phoenix and Mesa City and intervening points, on which the same rates have prevailed. subject to the same reduction. Rates between Mesa City and the eastern terminus of the Phoenix & Eastern will, for the time being. at least, remain as they now are.
 The reductions specified will be made effective November 1, or as soon thereafter as it is found possible to prepare new tariffs and attend to the details of the change. The railroads in granting this request of the com mission state that in most cases they believe the traffic thus far scarcely warrants the reductions which they had hoped to make Of their own ac- cord as soon as business judgment suggested the advisability of it. How ever, they have decided to act in &C., cordance with the belief of the com mission that increased travel will ap- proximately compensate them, and further that it will establish a better relationship between the railroads and the commission and between the rail- roads and the people, a relationship that will demonstrate the desire of the railroads to deal with the public as liberally as business judgment will permit, to the end that cooperation Will better develop the sections served. resulting in greater prosperity to both the railroads and the people.
 The facts which the foregoing state ment set forth were consummated yesterday at an impromptu special meeting of the railroad commission at which the full membership of the commission was present, Chairman M. O. Bicknell. Secretary w. P. Nc Nalr and Attorney George Stoneman. Appearing before the board were R. S. Stubbs of Tucson, general freight and passenger agent of the Randolph lines in Arizona and assistant general freight and passenger agent of the southern Pacific; A. E.. Taylor of Prescott, chief clerk in the traffic de- partment of the s. F., P. & P, repre- senting Paul P. Hastings, general freight and passenger agent; and w. S. Goldsworthy, general agent of the santa Fe lines, resident in this city.
 As to whether the suggested reduc- uons from four cents to three cents on the main lines will be made is. as above stated. subject for further con sideration by the railways and the commission. At conference at Chi cago three weeks ago, between Vice President Nicholson and Passenger Traffic Manager Black of the Santa Fe system. and Sims Ely, then chair man Of the commission. the railway officials insisted that their revenue from local passenger traffic in Ari- zona was not profitable at present to