Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-04-22
RAILROADS GET
IN LINE ON FARE
ROCK IsLAND-FRlsco MEETS BUR
LINeToN, OTHERS WILL TAKE
LIKE ACTION.
HADLEY IS WELL PLEASED
Governor of Missouri Considers An.
nouncement Forerunner of Sur.
render by State Roads-Rate
to Be 2K Cents Flat.

~ ANOAA1F GAA9NOANOAh lolCllAl
rairload system will follow the
lead of the Burlington and put
into effect May 1 a 2R-cents-a-
mile fiat rate for passenger traffic in
Missouri. The system will also make
this rate effective in Arkansas.
1t is probable that all of the Mis-
souri, lines will now adopt the 2k-cent
rate. 1t was stated at the Wabash Of
flee Saturday that ut was reasonable
to assume this road will take similar
action, although the matter has not
been definitely decided"
General Passenger Agent St. George
of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas rail.
road said that in order to meet the
competition the katy" would meet
the rate.
Mr.. st. George said he did not know
whether the adoption of this rate
would be more than temporary to
meet existing conditions pending the
final outcome of the litigation in this
state.
B. H. Payne, general passenger
agent of the Missouri Pacific and Iron
Mountain systems, said he would not
know until Monday whether these
lines would make the 2a-cent rate.
1t is generally believed in railroad
circles that all roads will be forced to
meet the rate, since the Burlington.
Rock Island systems have adopted it
Gov. Hadley has expressed pleasure
over the ~Burlington's announcement
and the prospect of the Scent rate be
ing abandoned generally in Missouri
without a court mandate, but he says
there are other concessions he would
like to have made, among them being
a 10 per cent reduction on round-trip
tickets.
Whether the injunction suit, recent.
ly filed in st. Louis by Circuit Attor.
ney Jones, shall be pressed or with.
drawn depends upon the outcome OF
the Burlington's action. 1t is expect.
ed that the 2-cent rate law suit, de,
cided adversely to the state by Judge
Mcpherson at Kansas City, will be
appealed in order that other questions
besides the reasonableness of a 2.
cent rate may be ruled on by the
courts.
HadIey Discusses Action.
In reference to the st. Louis suit
the governor said when news of the
Burlington's action reached him Fri.
day:
What effect this action will have
on the pending suit depends upon
what the other railroad companies do.
THAT suit was based upon the
charge that the IS railroads had com,
bined to fix unreasonable and discrim.
1natory rates. If the Burlington has
in fact abandoned this combination
and establishes rates of its own, it has
relieved itself from the charge which
constituted the basis of action.
Whether the rate it proposes to
charge is reasonable or not could be
determined in a separate suit against
ii, which might be instituted by any
representative of the state. But, If
the Burlington will now proceed to al.
low 10 per cent off on round-trip tick.
cts within the state, as was always
customary prior to the 2-cent fare
laws, it will further contribute to a
solution of the present controversy,
provided, of course, that no lower rate
is maintained in adjoining states sim.
ilarly conditioned for railroad traffic"