Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1915 — PASSENGER RATE DISCUSSED HERE [ARTICLE]

PASSENGER RATE DISCUSSED HERE

mm .-■«* Monion General Passenger Agent and Other Officials Met Business Men Friday Evemtag., * t F. P, CocfereM, general pa»s sc niger agent of the Monon i*aflroad, accompanied by John Priest, traveling passenger agent; Frank B. Hnmpston, district agent for th,e Indlian'aipolis diatr&Ct and Herbert Wylies, general agenit ot the passenger department, mart a number of business men alt Ifhe 'court house Friday evening and discussed with the nut he piopbritdon of having the present session oi the legislature authorize an dnereaee in the pasteonger rate if roan 2 «tx> 2Va cents. President I>. M. Worland, of the Commercial Oltub, presided and introduced Mr. Cockrell , who presented the case of the railroads in a very effective arid * fair manner. Mr. Cockrell stated that in 1907 the state h'a«d passed a law reducing the rate from 3 cents to 2 cents per mile, a 33 1-3 per eertt reduction. Almoslt immedfiaitely legislatures began to impbse upon the railroads vtar ions requirements that materially increased the Investment and the running expenses of the roads. (Most of the condition's imposed were for (the convenience; comfort and safety of ithe pubbCa but th«?y (were expensive and the revenue of the roads (were cult down. The block signal System grants protection to ,tihe traveling public, but it cost a lot to install and a lot to maintain. Big steel oars .grant protection and elegance, but .they are 50 .per cent heavier to haul. The full Crew tatw caused the railroads to employ more men, as. also did the 16-hour #aw. The boiler inspeotflon law, electric headlights and automatic stokers all cost money and grant Safety and comfort, but their expense Was not been offset (by any finance of increase in revenue. Several iWho were present 'spoke in 'a manner fair to the railroad!* and the general opinion seemed favorajble to the adoption of'•a resolution asking our representatives in the legislature to support the repeal O fthe present Sbcerft law and the dmadtment of a 2Va cent law. It imam decided to 'postpone action until all the pteop'le could .be informed of 'the action and to Wold another meeting on Wednesday nighit, Jan. 13th, vdhea some action will be 'taken. The. Republican will this matter more completely within a few days and in justice to the claim of the railroad* will present (their claim (for the advanced rate. It is hoped that ithe meeting Wednesday evening Whidh Wil'l be held in the couKt house will ‘be largely attended and 'that fa free discussion of 'the project will be indulged in.