Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-12
WESTERN RAIL RATE
RAISES APPROVED
Interstate Commerce Board Author
ICES General Increases in
Passenger Fares.
SOME ASKED NOT ALLOWED

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-General
increases in passenger fares on west
ern railroads were authorized today
by the Interstate Commerce commits
sion. Some OF the increases for
which the roads asked were disap-
proved, but such as were allowed
will result in an Increase In revenue.
Proposed increase in Illinois. Wis
consin, the Michigan upper penin-
suia, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska.
sasisseuri, north OF the Mlasourl river.
and in Kansas on and north of the
main line Of the Union Pacific from
Kansas City to the Colorado state
line were disapproved, but the COM
mission held that an Interstate basis
OF "a cents per mile was justified.
In Missouri south Of the Missouri river
and in Kansas south Of the main line OF
the Union Pacific proposed increases
were disapproved but an Interstate basis
OF 2,6 cents per mile were allowed
Dakota Rate Approved.
Proposed increases from points within
which new rates were authorized to points
on the main lines in California, Arizona,
Utah. Nevada. Colorado, Wyoming. New
Mexico. Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
were pronounced unreasonable where the
fare would be higher than that con-
structcd on the rate fabric existing TO the
east. A basing rate Of 2h cents a milo
in North and South Dakota and cents
in the states south and west was ap-
proved.
Increases on mileage tickets to make
them 2h cents a mile north OF the Mis-
souri, river in Missouri and on and north
OF the Union Pacific main line in Kansas
were approved. A mileage ticket rate OF
2h cents a mile south Of the same divid-
ing lines was pronounced justified
Increases in fare to the east OF Mich
igan, Illinois. Iowa, Minnesota. Wiscon-
sin. Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas.
based on rates newly authorized in that
territory were pronounced reasonable
Points of Ruling.
The commission held that the evidence
in the case In which nearly fifty roads
were involved and which was part OF
the whole western advance rate case.
showed substantially the following
That since 1900 the railroads have made
substantial improvements In passenger
/ service for convenience and safety at
great expense.
That passenger service conditions do
not permit OF economies possible In the
freight service, and that the increased
costs not offset by those economies which
exist are entitled to consideration.
That passenger service In western ter
rttory Is less profitable than freight serv-
ice and that the existing rates are lower
than those In the south, east and west,
but that there ia some justification for
that
The decision repeats the holdings OF the
recent advance freight rates cases that
the railroads have felt the increased cost
of living. an drecltes that the public has
the right to expect adequate. comfortable
and safe service.
NO Excuse for Waste.
The commission said:
! For such services and facilities the
carriers should be allowed. under reason
able fares, to earn reasonable return
upon the property used in that service.
| Neither competition nor the unreasonable
demands OF the public. however. must be
made the excuse for waste and extrava-
gance in the passenger service"
To avoid confusion of practice the com
mission dismissed all the increases the
railroads proposed and ordered the filing
OF new tariffs. embodying such increases
as were allowed TO become effective.