The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-05-13
FOLLOW 0. ST..
CO.'SLEADO
PASSES
Willing to Do Its Share But
Objects to Indiscriminate
Issue of Such.
FOLLOWS SHORT LINEs-HEAD

FOLLOWS SHORT LINES-HEAD
Not even in the northern part of the
state may officials of the state of
Idaho ride free on the railroads. A
communication was received Wednes-
day by the public utilities commission
from the assistant to the president Of
the Northern Pacific railroad, stating
that this system takes the same atti-
tude on the subject of giving free
transportation as has the Oregon Short
Line.
Some of the state officials and the
county sheriffs could ride free as far
as the railroad is concerned for the
officials feel the benefits they receive
from the work of these officials would
compensate them for the loss in fares
Since transportation, II issued to one
official, must be issued to all, the rail-
road feels that is too great a burden
to be placed on a corporation which is
paying such high taxes
The letter follows in full:
Railroads Attitude.
TACOMA, May 3.-Referring to the
matter of free transportation to state
officials in Idaho and to county sher-
ifs and their deputies.
L have heretofore explained to the
commission what l surmised would be
the Views of our company on this sub
Ject, and 1t transpires that my surmise
was correct. We feel that there is q
certain class of state officials whose
work may be said to confer a special
benefit upon our company, different
In kind to that conferred upon the
average citizen.
VIII Help Fire Wardens.
For instance, our company owns
considerable standing timber In Idaho.
and when the states fire wardens are
patrolling to prevent fires we consider
that we are receiving a benefit differ
ent in kind from that received by the
ordinary citizen of Idaho and would
be perfectly willing to issue a limited
amount of transportation to fire war
dens and fire patrolmen, II this could
be done without opening up the case
to other free Transportation. The
same applies to a lesser extent to the
various activities of the state along
the lines OF agricultural development
Our company has made cash contri
buttons in substantial amount to
encourage better farming and the
opening up of new farming areas
with the plain purpose of increasing
the amount of our freight revenue
We would for this reason, look with
favor upon the issuance of a reason
able amount of free transportation tc
state officials engaged In this line OF
work. 1t is also true that, in some
instances. we would be benefited by
activities of sheriffs and their depu-
ties.
Must Draw the Line.
Under the law. however, as interpret
ed by the commission, and also by the
attorney general, II we issue free trans.
portation to any state official in Idaho
We must, for this reason, issue 1t tC
all officials who are able to secure
the Endorsement of the commission
We feel that the state should not ex.
pect this from railroad companies. wh<
certainly pay taxes in Idaho at al
high, II not higher. rate than any othel
class of persons.
We have decided, therefore, not t.
issue free transportation to officers IL
Idaho. Yours very truly,
(Signed) GERGE F. READ
Assistant to the President