Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-16
RAILROADS DP[EA
FOR RATE RELIEF
PRESENT ARGUMENTS TO STATE
OFFICIALS AND LEGISLATURE
AT DIES MONIES.
PRESIDENTS OF LINES
FILE SIGNED STATEMENT
Present Bill to Committees Of Both
Houses Employing Proposed Ad-
vances in Both Passenger and Freight
Rates-Declare Revenues of Lines in
Iowa Are Insufficient.
speclal 10 Ttrles Republiean.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines Feb ls-The plea CT the
railroads doing business in Iowa for
more revenue on the business secured
out Of Iowa was presented TO state Of
Metals today. 1t IS p new step on the
part Of the railroads. a move 10 so
squarely TO the people and TO ask for
what the carriers believe t. be fair
play ana a square deal.
What is asked is thai steps ne taken
fer increase in the passenger ana
freight tariffs in Iowa
The plea was presented 10 Gov.
George W Clarke and to Lieut. Gov.
Harding and Speaker Atkinson. then 10
Chairman Larrabee Of the senate COM
nitlee on railroads and Griffin OF the
house committee and the joint rail-
roads committee.
The committee Of railroad men in
clude men we'll known n the operating
departments OF the railroads. ana a
formal statement was signed BY the
following:
Hale Holden. president c. 3. & @.
Railroad
W y. Gardner. president. c. s y. ".
Railroad.
A. j. Earring, president c. NJ. & St
P. Railroad.
HI. Nudge, president c. r. I. & P.
Railroad
c. H. Markham president. Illinois
Central Railroad.
These or some Of them and others
= TING
Messrs Groulley, Ashton Huntington
and others, were OF the party mere to-
Gay.
Bill to Be Presented.
In connection with the call upon me
legislative committees the delegation
presented 10 the chairman OF che two
committees copies OF bill which II IS
intended shall De introduced, the pur-
port of which is TO give 10 the railroa9
commission authority over passenger
rates much the same as now exercised
with regard TO freight rates, then ai13
to raise the passenger rates nxed by
law half cent a mile for each class
This would make the lowest maximum
rate ~ cents a mile.
AT the same time petitions con-
rnenced TO come 20 legislators and 70
the railroad commission. from people
out in the state, asking for higher
rates in Iowa
Say Revenue Insufficient.
The formal petition and statement
of the railroad representatives, made
10 the governor and legislature today.
IS as follows:
Your petitioners. the undersigned
executives OF the Steam railroads
serving the people and the state ot
Iowa respectfully represent that the
present freight and passenger .a-ifrs
on local business 10 rot afford reas-
enable compensation for me services
required and rendered and do 10.
permit sucn efficiency in service and
nigh standard Of equipment and MAIN
teaannce as the comfort cow e-,ience
ana safety Of ire people demand.
Iowa IS peculiarly siTUatsd as n 10
cal business. There are 10 large CIT
les or centers Il population The
greatest industry OF TIE state - agri-
culture. Each community produces
surplus and there ia but 2 minimum
exchange % local tonnage eetween
Iowa communities. Local fre.ga- and
passenger traFic is limited il guam
tiuy and 70 shor- hacls.
Iowa has practically -o1E7 niles
of railroad a very large proportion
Of this mileage is COM posed 81 branch
lines upon which the tonnage Is light
and the service expensive. Th+ 2onu-
iation per nile % railroad in this state
Is bug 223 and there are but 20 Deo-
ole in each square nile of territory
This sparcity az population viii -G-
adequately s-Ippor- ne large aggre-
gate OF mileage in the state ami me
ser7-iee demanded % your people at
The present rates O. corn persatior.
In 1907 the Legislature Of Iowa :,
response to a political rather -han an
economical regulation. without any
sort OF detailed investigation. ar5f-
-rarly reduced passenger fares 1917
per cent. Time has demonstrated that
this reduction was below the m ca sure
Of either fair or adequate cornrensa-
tion and that the expense Of the PAS
sengsr service. now required by .hs
authorities Of THIS state. is more than
the income derived on that branch Of
the business. The stimulation and in
creased travel, which Il vas claimed
would result from reduced fares. has
not materialized
iowa is one Of the most prosperous.
il not the most prosperous state in
the union. It's great wealth is evenly
and equitabiy divided among all her
people, and the residents Of this rich
commonwealth are able and should be
willing TO pay fair compensation for
all services rendered.
Thru the public press In a straight
forward and open manner the rail-
roads have tried 10 acquaint the people
with the true situation and that from
4 lack OF adequate compensation they
are in danger of serious financial diff
culties and depreciation Of the
character of the service rendered. We
have every confidence in the desire
Of the people Of Iowa and the officers
Of this great state to treat all inter
ests in it's jurisdiction with fairness
and justice.
I'VE therefore respectfully ask that
proper investigation be made as &c
the reasonableness of our request, and
that this legislature restore to tbs
railroads of this state one-hak Of the
i reduction in passenger fares taker
X from time to time such commissioner
maximum fare in Iowa 2k cents pei
E mile. and further, by granting the Iowa
& board OF railroad commissioners au
thority over passenger fares so tina
fro mtime to time such commissioner,
= can make detailed investigation ant
- Z enter such orders as will ma ifItaiTl
.~te vnoa s,,po of conpep ca fiop az he