The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-03-11


Hembly why Il has not enforced an
order for a three-cent per mile pas
Henger rate on New Mexico railroads.
has given "a one OF the most COM
plete statements yet made public
covering railroad trafiic conditions In
this state; and one which throws
much light upon conditions confront
ing the roads in their operations In
New Mexico. The report In FUN Is as
follows;
Reply to House Joint Resolution No. \.
To the Honorable Members Of the
senate and House 81 Representatives.
OF he state of New Mexico.
Gentlemen:-
In response 10 House Joint Resolu-
ton No. 4. requesting information
from this commission as To what steps
we have taken, " any. IN the matter
Of fixing a fare OF three cents per
mile, to be charged locally 0y all rail-
way companies operating within the
state Of New Mexico. we are pleased
To have the opportunity to reply there
la, and In this connection we beg
leave 90 submit the following.
Ia the first instance, we desire to
NNhN ~ AANN NAN AAANAAhn vi Nv
FIRST members Of this commission
twiiu are also its present members)
at the general election held in this
state during the month OF November,
1871. We have never received from
eny citizen, taxpayer. individual. firm
or corporation OF the state OF New
Mexico. or any other state. any writ
ten complaint. either formal or in
f.WV..u w.I.Na..u.DN ..W.H..N4m. .U.aa.N
4 the passenger fare 81 four cents per
mile az charged locally by the ma
Jority OF the railroads operating az
common carriers IN the state Of New
Mexico. and 10 any verbal complaints
In the matter were ever made to mis-
commission during the period Of ~
existence. We do not recall them. and
while. az stated. the FIRST members OF
this commission were elected al the
| general election held In the state dur
ing NE month of November. 1911. no
funds were available for the expenses
or maintenance Of the board until the
close of the first session OF the first
legislature, during The month OF June.
1912, at Ahich time our railroad de-
paftment VAS organized, and, not
withsttnding the fact hat no COM
plants whatever had Ocen lodged
, m this commission concerning pas
fclpcr fares locally within the state
of New Mexico, we did, upon OUT own
mutiDr, institute an investigation dur
ing the first part OF July, 1912. or "A
feN days after the organization OF
our rnte department. Of the entire
passenger situation affecting the state
e. New Mckee, and, In view of the
ircat importance Of the matter TO
the interested railroads and to the
citizens Of this state our investiga-
ton necessarily covered "A period of
several months. and not only we're
the fares and conditions governing
them, as applied by the carriers serN-
ing tho state of New Mexico thor
oughiy investigated. but the fares OF
adjoining and other western states
were also taken into consideration.
Railroads. Tor the purpose OF this
communication, may be termed mer-
chants. The only article which they
have for sale Is transportation, and
one of the fundamental and undcrly-
INK principles recognized o. ubscrv-
ed In arriving az the reasouableness
of the price of Uny article or COM
modify Tor sulc, OF the fare or rate
81 "a railroad ar other common car
fior. is the cost OF production. This
well known pinciplc has been Tccug-
nizod, observed and taken fully into
consideration by the interstate com
mcrcc commission and by all state
commissions In the determination of
% basis for the Issuance OF orders al
fcctiug freight rates or passenger
fares throughout The entire union.
Another very important factor en-
teriug into the determination of The
-rcIso1ablcss of "a freight rate or pas
stngcr face b. The density of poprli-
tion and traffic.
4 further very important feature Isl
observed, namely, the wholesale prop
usition. which Is an underlying prin-'
ciple of an business, considered In
not only the United States out In all
civilized foreign countries as well-if
YOU purchase a car Of hour, you will
naturally receive the benefit of "A low
cr price per sack or per hundred than
" you buy "A single sack. If you bus
"a hundred yards uf goods In a dry
GOODS store, you win expect a lower
price per yard than II YOU purchased
a single yard, and 80 on with All other
articles. This principle of commerce
b. too well known n recognized gem
orally Ia require any lengthy COM
ment herein. Railroads being mer-
chants in his sense, In line with the
universal principle of commercialism
just mentioned, naturally grant "A low
81 passenger fare when the trans
p%urtatinn Is purchased In large guam
titles, such as three thousand miles,
Tor instance, than II the pass igor
procured transportation for one hun
drcd miles or less, and what In true
of passenger fares may also be said
of freight rates, ~ We believe that
every member OF our honorable as
Hemblics s. well aware Of the fact that
"a lower rate Is maintained by all car
fiors on carload quantities than a
be obtained on less than carload ship
ments on practically all commodities.
This principle is approved and sane
toned hy an courts and ny the ma
tiunal and all state commissions In the
United states. Ana this feature rs
touched upon herein for h reason
that there seems 20 be some question
~ to why "a purchaser OF "A mileage
o.