Arizona republican., 1919-03-03
 MAKE STATEMENT
 RE E.P.S.W. RATES

On ETludy afternoon there Was a le- newal in the house of the charges that had been affecting the corporation commission which had been made in the Jerome Copper News and attention was called by Messrs. Francis and Del bridge of the fact that the Fl .Paso and Southwestern Railroad company was charging as fare between Doug las and Tucson on a l30-mile basis while the actual distance between the two points was only 124 miles
 This matter more than any other seemed to have worked up these repre- sentatives who suggested that an in- vestigation of the affairs Of the com mission might be advisable. The fol- lowing statement relative to this mat ter was prepared by the commission and sent to the house on Saturday:
 Hon. Chas. T. Francis, and Hon. Vim.
 Delbridge. Members House of Repre-
 sentatives. Fourth Legislature, Phoe-
 nix Arizona:
 Gentlemen:
 We are informed that some discus sion was had this morning in the house relative to distances on the line Of the Fl Paso and Southwestern Railroad company between Tucson and Doug glas. the rates between these points. and the wage scale of trainmen operat- ing over this division. wherein it was alleged that the trainmen were paid for 124 miles or thereabouts. while rates were based upon a distance of ,l30 miles. and that complaint had been made to the corporation commission of this condition some five years ago, and that no action had resulted.
 There is no record in the office of any complaint of this character ever 1 having been made. nor do the members of the commission or employees of the commission have recollection of any complaint having been filed or made. It is possible that verbal or informal l complaint was made to some member of the commission not now on the com mission, or that a complaint reached our rate department without being re- corded.
 We believe it our duty to advise you ! gentlemen. and the house through its presiding officer if he deems it of sui l ficient importance to make public, that ! the Commission has been active and alert in all matters of this character whether complained of or not The official distance given by the Fl ! Paso and Southwestern railroad in its | distance tariff No. 1415 of December | 12. 1913, is stated to be 124 miles. The l commission early in it's work, required | all railroads to file the exact distances ! between all stations. It has no means | of verifying these but we have ha( no reason to assume that the distance. reported to us are incorrect. Also ! early in it's work, it took up the ques- ton of freight rates and established distance rates. The Fl Paso and South western Railroad company have pub. lished and are observing in it's freigh
 tariffs the exact rates prescribed bl
 us for 124 miles.
 ! Passenger tariff No. 3, effective No
 vember 20. 1912, and still effective provides specific rates between an sta
 tions. Rates are not named or givei
 per mile of road; they are stated il
 definite amounts from and to. or be
 tween all stations and the rates tha
 this company publish and observe fo
 the haul, Douglas to Tucson. is $52C
 which figures Az cents per mile. Othe
 roads in the state charge rates vary
 ing from to 6 cents, but in all case the rates are stated in dollars an , cents between stations and not pc
 mile.
 , Members of the house and other ! who have read our report to the gov l ernor copies of which were placed i , the hands of all members of the legis
 lature, will observe that this commis
 sion issued an order against railroad
 relating to passenger rates, requirin
 in some cases substantial reduction: and that the enforcement of this orde was held up by an injuction issue
 by the federal courts, and the case , still pending. Conclusion of this mat
 ter rests to a considerable extent wit
 the attorney general, but it seem proper to state that so long as the rail : roads are under federal control. or be
 ing operated by the government, 1t wi
 avail nothing to pursue the questio
 of rates in the courts.
 It does not seem necessary to sug ! gest that the commission has nothin . whatever to do with the wage scale C D wages paid employees of railroads.