Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-10-07
Nebraska
PASSENGER TRAFFIC
PAYS, SAYS CLARKE
Brief on Behalf Of State Railway
Commission Opposing Western
Roads Argument
ASKS WHY EXPENSE HEAVY
CFrom ) 500 Correspondentl

NEN0H y GNtAAA ANNANHNNAtNAAAsl
LINCOLN. Oct. 6.--(special THAT
passenger traffic earns ala per cent,
while freight as per cent of the cost Of
road and equipment Of forty-six rail-
road systems. is the contention OF
Chairman II. T. Clarke Of the Nebraska
Rnilwauy commission. In a brief TO be
presented before the Interstate Com
merce commission today opposing the
request OF western railroads for an OPP
portunity TO raise their interstate pass
enEer rates from 10 "a cent? a mile
Chairman Clarke and Attorney General
Reed are In Washington this week at
tending and taking part IN the hearing
~ representatives OF the Nebraska Rail-
way commission.
The railroads have attempted to show
that passenger fares arc not earning
their proper proportion OF operating ex-
penses. 1os per cent on book cost Of
road aud equipment they say. while
freight IL earning SO per cent. on the
engine-ton- basis
How n H. Figured.
The Nebraska commission Ia figuring
on the gross-ton-nilue basis, ard claims
hs much right 20 assume that point OF
view - the carriers the other. citing the
sAct that tho interstate commission has
refused 70 recognize the one to the aboli-
tion Of the other.
Chairman Clarke asks the carriers for
IN explanation why they charge 70 per
rent mere for ratio Of expenses Of hand
ling passenger traffic than Of handling
ereight traffic.
Testimony of Powell.
The brief closes with a reference to
the testimony Of U. q. Powell. rate ex-
pert Of the Nebraska commission. given
81 4 previous hearing 20 the effect that
for sixteen years past six roads, opef-
atinE three-fourths OF the mileage In 2
cnt territory. have accumulated a surplus
Of ttia,OOo.oOo after paying tsss. 0oO. 900 IN
forest and s6ib. 900 dividends. These six
lines represent eco miles Of railroad.
Testing Well water.
State Bacterioiogist Wild has found two
samples of well water from Lexington,
Ksb.. ono well in use by school children,
TO be very impure. The city water of
Lexington was found In good condition.
A sample Of water from scribner was
found COOL and another from Sterling was
Very poor.
Corporations Remit.
A hundred and eighteen corporations OF
Nebraska delinquent in occupation taxes
have RENTED TO the secretary Of state
the last three days In reply TO 625 letters
sent out to them week ago. The largest
corporation remittlng was the $. d. Mer-
Ger company of Omaha, which paid the
secretary $SSs. which included more than
500 In DenaltieA. Penalties alone for the
last three days, amounting to Is per
cent OF the taxes delinquent. have totalled
s27s.
Defense of state Treasures.
George w. eBrge and II. II, Wilson Of
Lincoln will defend State Treasurer Hall
in the suit brought against him by Fire
Commissioners Ridgell. according TO an
nouncement made by Mr. Hall today. The
fire commissioner Is suing to force the
treasurer 10 countersign warrants drawn
for salaries Of the fire commission during
September, refused by Mr. Hall on the
ground that the fees OF the office were
not specifically appropriated
Not Enough suffraRists.
State Auditor Smith has query from
q. Macarthur Of Hollowell. Kan, n he
can get 10000 to 10000 slgners ON a Pc
titlon favoring votes for women. The
auditor has answered him, saying Il
cant be did" since there areonly 246.gn
votes In the state, according 20 the figures
from thu last elactfon