The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-20
ASKING HIGHER RATES
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CONTINUED rom Page One.J
effect; that the railway companies ac-
ing Of the board, and reduced their pas
senger rate from 3 cents to cents a
mile; that the Nebraska litigation be-
ing now terminated, the railways at
fected by the order of the Kansas
boards are at this time placed in the |
same position as If the order made had .
not been entered.
Wherefore" says each applicant, |
your petitioner prays that it be per-
mitted to restore and put in effect the |
aforesaid statutory passenger rates Of
cents per mile for persons over the |
age of IL years, ana one-half thereof |
for children under the age Of II years"
Missouri Pacific Petition.
The Missouri Pacific company rep
resents in its application that its rel
ceiptS from Kansas tntrastate freight
and passenger business for the year
ending June 80, 1918. amounted to-
was from freight traffic and $751;
26O.06 from passenger traffic; that
the cost Of handling its intrastate bust
ness was $2.8S2.593.S5, of which SILL
743,523.37 was objectionable to the
loss in the passenger department Of
$4O2sz63.31. The showing is even
worse for the year ending June 80,
1914. when the receipts from the COM
ger business amounted to $2.727.-
s4S.2s, Of which $1,529,155.0s was
from freight traffic, and $1,198, 1890
from passenger traffic; that the cost
Of handling its intrastate business was
$3.50, O22.S4, Of which $1,64S,2 62.92
was objectionable to the conduct Of
passenger business, or loss in the
passenger department Of $449,46s.72.
Rock Islands Case.
The Rock Island makes a showing
that it sustains an operating loss Of
$6O,632 on it's intrastate passenger
business in Kansas for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1914. The loss on
it's Kansas passenger business in 1913
was $20,073, showing a heavy slump
in earnings. The figures submitted
show that the Rock Island passenger
business in Kansas. both interstate
one and a half per cent for the 1914
fiscal year, on the taxable value of
its property employed in passenger
service. The Kansas interstate and
return Of two and q fourth per cent
Santa Fe Argument.
The Santa Fee says in its petition
that in 1913 there was q deficit in the
conduct of it's Kansas freight and
passenger business of SIC, 883.27. The
Kansas freight business showed a de-
ficit Of $374,912.12, but the passenger
d
02S.85. which. however. was only two
and one-tenth per cent on the Kansas
investment. The Santa Fee also admits
a profit Of two and seventy-two hum
dredths per cent on express and mail
business in Kansas. but these earn
ings, it is commended, do not cOnst1-
tute q reasonable return on the value
Of the company's Kansas property. On
the Santa Fe's Kansas business as q
whole, the petitioner alleges, there Is
vpatvV
The Santa Fe alleges that in the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1914, its
deficit on Kansas freight and passen-
ger business was even greater than in
freight deficit was $398,2e3.24, but
the passenger business earned a profit
Of $272, 565. IS, which, however, was
only one and seventy-four hundredths
per cent on the Kansas investment. as
against two and one-tenth per cent in
1913. The Santa Fe's Kansas ex-
press and mail business Of 1914 show
ed net earnings of one and ninety-tw0
hundredths per cent, as against two
and sevety-two hundredths per cent
in 1913.
The santa FEES net earnings on pas
senger business and express and mai
business is based on the assessed valu-
alton of its Kansas holdings. The
$I35,44s,744. but of this amount. $685.
61S,420.20 is the value of property
devoted to the conduct of interstatt
business, leaving $49.831. 323.S0 fol
interstate business. The proportion Of
the value applicable to Kansas freight
business, on which there is no return
is $24,597. 03S.59. The proportion ap
plicable to passenger business, OF
which there is q return of only ont
and seventy-four hundredths per cent
is $14,181,586.20. The proportion ap
plfcable to the express and mail bust
ness. on which there is q return o.
only one and ninety-two hundredth
per cent, il 11.O52, 6S9.11.
1t il hardly probable that the rail
roads will be able to secure hearing
at the hands Of the present commits
sion. None Of the members now serv
ing are holding senate confirmation
and Arthur Capper. governor-elect
win have at hts disposal the naminl
OF q new commission when he take
' his oath Of office January IL.