The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-18
E. p. Ripley of Santa Fe Sar-
castle About Freight Advance.
~The Mountain Has LabOred
and Brought Forth q Mouse"
AGAINST THE PASS EVIL
But He Says Reports on Matter
Are "Just Piffle." s
Other Items Of General Interest
in Traffic World.

E.. p. Ripley, president of the Atch
ieon, Topeka & Santa Fe railway,
wrote the following article. which APP
pears in the current issue OF Traffic
World:
have only just received and read
the decision Of the interstate COM
merce commission in the per cent
case. Having sufficient TROUBLES OF
my own" have taken but languid
interest in the case and do not care to
70 into any extended review OF 1t,
especially as II seems to me that Com
missioner Daniels has sufficiently
punctured the majority report.
1t does not require 40 or SO pages
of printed matter to justify the trivial
advance that is granted. Everybody
who knows anything about it, knows
that the merchandise rates in central
traffic territory are ridiculous, and
fraction of what the advance ought to
be- 1t would not be difficult in that
territory to Flick out thousands OF
shipments, the freight charges on
which are not equal to the actual
warehouse cost of loading and unload
ing, making nc allowance either for
hauling or interest on plant. The rea-
sons for this are partly chargeable to
the railroads, but largely also to the
various regulatory" bodies.
Nor did it require so much space to
tell us that the passenger business is
not profitable-we knew that already
but in fairness should It not also be
stated that there has been theory
advanced by Or rulers, and to some
extent accepted. to the effect that the
transportation of individuals freely at
a minimum cost is a public necessity
and a service that ought not to be ex-
pected to pay its full share of operat-
ing expenses? Our respected post
master general says that the United
States mail is such an integral portion
of the state, and Of such necessity that
it ought not to pay on the basis OF
other business. The commission neg
lects to poin. out any way by which
passenger rates may be advanced In
view Of the prevalence OF statute rates
In the states.
The talk about various methods OF
saving in expenses is platitudinous. but
unconvincing to those of us who are
'in it." If there is dishonesty in pur-
chases or improper connection between
business enterprises and railroad d.
rectorates it is just like any other kind
of dishonesty and should be punished
accordingly, but it is not claimed that
these charges are of general applica-
tion-as a matter of fact, they can
safely be denied as applying to any
considerable numbers OF carriers.
Against Passes. 80
As for free transportation, J Rive
long been known as radical, and,
personally, 1 don't care how soon 1t il
abolished. root and branch, but the
figures given in the report as to the
magnitude OF the losses 1t causes are
Just piffle"; most of the deadhead
mileage is that of employees on COM
pany business-much of the remain
der is that of persons who, in the abb
sence of the free pass, would not
travel at all-and the amount Of free
transportation given to those who
would otherwise pay fare is negligible.
The whole document brings forcibly
TO my mind the saying of our old
friend. Sancho Panza:
Whether the rock hit the pitcher
or the pitcher hit the rock, it is ali
one to the pitcher"
Here are a lot of railroads who live
on present rates, to whom the relief
10 Immediately inadequate, and the
commission, after IA months at an ex.
penditure Of money totally out Of pro.
portion to the importance of the case
gives them a fraction of the Fraction
they asked for, accompanied by a ser.
mon upon other and unrelated matters
which are either impossible Of remedy
or unimportant. Verify, ''the' noun.
tain has labored and brought forth 6
mouse