Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1915-02-10

liar. IN rendering UnlS decision, the
Commission took occasion to point
out the precarious financial condi-
tions which have been brought about
by the great foreign war, and which
have added enormously to the form
er troubles of American railroads.
So, too, the commission pointed out
the unremunerative passenger in
comes which obtain almost upon ev-
cry hand, and especially upon the
local traffic within the different
states. If the Commission was cor
rect in its view that the Eastern lines
were entitled to an increase of per
cent in freight rates-and the de-
cision has been applauded in bust
ness circles throughout the Nation
then how much more are the West
ern lines entitled to an increase?
The population per square mile of
Massachusetts is AL, of New York
204, of Pennsylvania ISL, of Ohio
| 1872, while in Iowa it is only 40. In
view of these facts, can there be any
doubt of the justice of the plea made
by the railroads of Iowa at this time?
New York and Pennsylvania.
Four years ago, as Governor Of
New York, Justice Hughes, of the
United States Supreme Court, vetoed
a two-cent passenger rate law enact
ed by the legislature on the ground
that it was an arbitrary procedure
which did not take into consideration
a fair return upon the railroad prop
critics Of that state-and few men
stand higher in the esteem of the
American people than this great jur-
list who did perhaps as much as any
other one man in the country to
break up Illegal and unfair practices
on the part of large corporations.
So, too, the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania held that a two-cent
passenger fare was unconstitutional
in that state because it was essen
TALLY conhscatory. This high court
took the position that capital invest
ed in railroads is entitled to earn six
per cent on fair capitalization and
that the arbitrary enactment of a
two-cent fare rendered impossible
such return upon the lines in
Pennsylvania. 1t also took the posi-
ton that railroads not only have
the right to insist upon fair return
upon both local freight and passen-
ger business, but that it is their duty
to do so in order that one class of
patrons NAV not be compelled to pay
an inequitable rate to make up the
losses sustained in another depart
ment
L. If the arbitrary enactment of a
I.two-cent passenger rate is unfair to
the railroads of New York and Penn.
sylvania, where there are large cen
tiers of population and where the ma
tons greatest density of freight ton
; mage naturally exists, how much
more unfair is such rate in pure,
ly agricultural state like Iowa?
AS result of the action of Gov
ernor Hughes in vetoing two-cent
passenger fare bill, in New York and
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
declaring it confiscatory in that state
the railroads of both New York and
Pennsylvania are today operating un-
der two and one-half cent passen-
ger fare, while in Iowa they are com
PEELED to content themselves with
two cents per mile. In the mean
: time, in further confirmation of the
population figures cited above, the
total population of New York State
! is 9,712,954, in Pennsylvania it is
,107 ,942, while in Iowa it is only
2,222,472. Surely if the great
Pennsylvania System can establish
the fact that it is justly entitled to
two and One-half cents per mile for
carrying passengers, the Iowa roads
with their thousands of miles of eX-
pensive branch lines in a territory
almost purely agricultural and with
no large cities or manufacturing
} centers should have little difficulty
in establishing the justice of their
plea?
All the railroads of Iowa ask is
that the local traffic shall bear it's
just proportion of the expenses of
operation, taxes and maintenance
and in asking this they are pleading
not merely for simple justice, but
upon this depends the character of
service which they will be able to
furnish the public from this time
forward. There is no magic art by
which railroads can perform the i'm
possible in the final analysis
the people get the kind of railroad
service they pay for, just as they do
in other realms of merchandising.
Conditions Must BE Faced.
In his opinion given in the Eastern
Rate Advance Case, Commissioner
Daniels Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission referred to the fact that
the maximum freight and passenger
rates established in many states dur
ing the last few years means that,
with the ever-increasing cost of
operation, the railroads of the coun-
try are facing a condition which
means that they can neither give ade-
quate service to the public or make
such showing upon their properties
: as will enable them to borrow the
millions necessary for future better
ments and improvements. In conclu-
sion, he says it Is situation which
must be faced, not trifled with"
Once more we wish to impress up
on the reader that the railroads
should not be confused with private
enterprises which are able to advance
their prices to meet the exigencies of
the hour. The railroads are bound
hand and foot and can charge no
more than the law says. Suppose that
through some statute the State OF
Iowa should say to the farmer, that
regardless of the cost of production
NJ, tha vnlnmn nj yiald ha chal1 coll