Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-22
INCREASE IN PASSENGER FARES
WOULD COST PEOPLE OF STATE
s5,ooo,o 900 ANNUALLY.
LEGISLATORS COMMEND
METHODS OF RAILROADS
Putting Question Direct to Legislature
Considered Proper-RaiIroads circu-
lating For Presentation Large Num-
bers Of Petitions-other Legislative
News.
to rimes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Feb 22.-On Tuesday
next the railroad committee will take
up and consider the memorandum left
by the delegation of railroad heads and
the bill offered, and will decide whether
the committee as such will introduce
the bill. II this is done then dates will
be set for joint hearings and the rail-
road men will be invited to present in
detail their reasons for desiring an in
crease in the passenger rate in Iowa.
In the meantime, so it is understood,
. the railroads VIII send IN large num-
bers of petitions that are now being
signed up all over the state. in which
the residents of the state ask the pass
age of the bill which looks to an in
crease in the passenger rate to az
cents q mile. These petitions are be-
ing circulated in clubs and AT places
whore large number of railroad en-
ployes are living.
100000 Annually Involved.
The revenue Of the railroads from
passenger business in Iowa last year
was upwards Of s2o,ooo,0o and the
average rate per mile was 1893 cents.
The increase to % cents a mile would
therefore mean an addition of over
5000, 900 TO the revenues of the rail
roads doing business in Iowa on the
Iowa business alone. The very great
Importance Of the issues involved is
generally recognized by the legislators
and there is desire to get at the matter
as speedily as possible if there is to
be determination as TO whether this
additional revenue is needed.
Prior to the adoption of the 2-cent
aulile law IN Iowa the reports showed
a revenue Of about S1T000,ooo on the
Iowa business. The average rate then
received was about "a cents a mile
On all hands. among legislators and
state officials, there is communication
for the r2i,road men in coming direct
to the legislature and openly asking
for what IS wanted, and disposition
to We the requests Of the carriers the
same consideration that the carriers
have always in the past given bills be-
fore the legislature There seems TO
be no desire here to deal very largely
with railroad questions and many Of
the bills introduced viii be disresarded.
Legislature Provides Money.
While this matter Of the proposed
raise in passenger rates is under con-
sideration, members Of the legislature
are also engaged in FINISHING the
sinews for the fight TO prevent undue
exactions IN freight and passenger
rates. by furnishing the railroad com
mission with the money needed to
carry on The fight The Thirty fourth
/ and Thirty-fiftb general assemblies APP
propriated for the use OF the commits
sion in defending interstate rate
cases. The hght is going on merrily.
/, But if proper defense is 10 be made
more money is needed The senate
railroad committee has placed on the
calendar bin appropriating $4,000
( for the immediate use Of the commits
sion in paying its share Of the cost
Of defending the western advanced
freight rate case. The commission has
made report on what il has done with
the money in the past and has stated
4 frankly what it is desired shall be
/ done. The commission is a unit in this
I matter and INC work of preparing
/ cases IS going on with vigor.
Commission Issues Statement.
The members Of the Legislature were
furnished with the following statement
by the railroad commission.
Regarding the appropriations
made for the handling OF matters
touching Interstate rates. the genera
assembly two years ago appropriated
$4,000 for the biennial period. which
was added TO surplus of about 81, 00t
/ held over from the previous period
making & total of about $4,000 for thu
use Of the commission. The legisla
tors are entitled TO an accounting o
this fund to know how it has been ex
pended.
with the expenditure thus possible
we have succeeded in Obtaining TIL
first general revision of Iowa inter
state freight rates in the history o
the state This revision is Of ire
rnendous Importance to the industrial
development of Iowa. Over 50 pc
cent Of our freight traffic is interstat
in character. This revision affect
over 5000 articles and applies to owe
1000 towns in Iowa, and many thou
sands of other towns in eastern an
western portions of the United States
/ am authorized by the commission t
state that we believe similar appro
priation should be granted to the com
mission for the next biennial perio
with a moderate increase to care 70
he volume Of work to be performed i
interstate matters.
Would Impede Commerce Board.
But in addition to this there is an
other matter to which the attention c
the legislature should be called. TIL
interstate commerTte commission
making a valuation of all railroads j
the country. which will DE at the basi
Of all freight and passenger rates, bot
state and interstate, during the com
ing generations.
THE railroads are the sellers c
, transportation; the people are the buy
/ ers of transportation. The comnissio
will decide the issues involved in rat
controversies ard take into considera
ton the valuation OF the railroad prop
erty. The railroads are making elah
crate preparation to see that their sic
Of this matter Is thoroughly and eS
haustively presented. A person or trif
unal called upon to decide any matte
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