The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-12-20

on all the roads in Oklahoma to show
with amazing accuracy the full ex-
tent of this intrastate traveI that Is
really on interstate Journeys. The
method Of travelling interstate on
intrastate fare is facilitated in Ok
lahoma by the rule that no higher
passenger fare may be charged when
paid to the conductor than is charg-
ed where ticket is purchased
Clements Ruled Adversely.
Commissioner Clements, in decid-
ing the proceedings in the applica-
tion of the railroad commissions of
Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas, all
&c states, for &c interstate rates,
ruled adversely to the complainants.
In the course of his opinion he
touched upon this matter of inter
state trips on intrastate fares in
this manner
| Comparing the seven months end
ing Jan. 81, 1914, in which the fare
was &c, the intrastate passenger rev.
enues of the Missouri, Kansas &
Texas railway company in the state
! of Missouri showed n decrease of
| $24,S55.S3 during the &c fare period
| Other tables were presented, from
| some of which one, and from others
| of which different conclusion might
IA,
that there are so many conditions
determining the extent of passenger
| travel that accurate conclusions can
not be reached from the considera-
tion of any one condition alone. The
outlook must be broad enough to in
clude all conditions before a certain
conclusion can be had. This does
not mean that there may not be the
theory that reduction in the rate
tends to increase the traffic or travel
Population is increasing in the states
here represented, and greater density
of population means more travel.
Periods of prosperity or of reverses
affect the total volume of travel.
The comparison of revenues inter
state and intrastate between the &C
and the Sc periods prove nothing in
favor of the lower fare. This is true
because, as the evidence clearly
shows, "A large number of interstate
passengers do not pay the higher
interstate fare, but buy tickets at &c
a mile to a point in the state near
the border line, then buy an inter.
state ticket or pay train fare for a
short distance to cross the state line. |
and then, when the journey contin- |
ues, they buy another intrastate |
ticket to some point in the second |
state. BY these means interstate
passengers pay the interstate fare |
only short distance, and what ap-
pears in the carriers accounts as |
intrastate passenger revenue would |
under normal conditions, be inter
state"
All the railroads operating Okla
homa are ready to show what has
been done to their interstate bust
ness by making it intrastate. This
they will do by the testimony of
conductors and station agents, train
auditors and special agents, who
have kept accurate account of the
the state line business in manner
that will be conclusive.
Value Of the Plant.
AS to the other factor, the value of
the plant that has been definitely
figured according to the formula that
was indicated in the Minnesota cases
1t will be hOtly contested by the
state when the time comes to go
to trial, but showing on the part
of the Oklahoma railroads is eX,
pected to be such as to justify their
contention that the &c passenger fare
is confsCatory.
or course, courts do not try cases
on the state of public opinion, but
the fact that public opinion has un
dergone change during the years
since the batting of railroads was a
fashion in state house circles may be
assumed to have placed the courts
which are made up of human beings
in more reasonable frame of
mind. In any event the receiver
ships that have been overtaking rail-
roads the showings of losses and in
ability to run the trains that used TO
be run. the lack of accommodations
for passengers and the crowded con-
dtion of coaches, all are facts that
are attributable more to failure of
revenues due to state-made rates
to any other cause. Since 1907, when
the state of Arkansas, Kansas, Mis-
souri,. Minnesota, Nebraska and Ok
lahoma, by constitutional provision. |
statute or railroad commission or
der, established &c intrastate rates,