Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-14
SIX TICKETS FOR A QUARTER.
Why Should Not the Warrington
Plan Work Well in Kan
sas City:

Bas Slty'
Baltimore. Nd. March 1s.-The state leg
islature is having something to do with
street railways. A component part of the
oidtime corrupt and vicious ring of local
politics was made up by the street rail-
ways. Here. as elsewhere. they have run
courts. nominated drunken thieves for
judges and operated gangs to impose on
the public.
The 3-cent proposition has been discussed
some but the present agitation is along
six-tickets.for-a six quarter line. The Post: OF
editoriaiiy as follows:
'sS-tekets-for-a-quarte bill is pending before
the Maryland Legislature. 1t was introduced oy Sen
ator Putze and 1t provides that hereafter tho street
railway companies OF Baltimore shall sell six tickets
for 25 cents. the rate that has for many years pre-
vailed. in the District of Columbia. The Baltimore
companies object to this measure because
tliey belIsvs it means a reduction of their
the largest OF the corporations declares that his
pany is already contributing the municipal treas
than cent each car fare. He asserts that the
compensation for CARRYING passengers in baltimore
city in the United States. He adds. by way OF
ciincher that operating expenses are heavier In Bal
condition of the streets'-and it is notorious that
their normal condition is decidedly unfavorable to
the cheap operation of car lines.
There is to be public hearing at the state capitol
next Tuesday, at which representatives OF the COM
panes propose to submit detailed show
that the Putzei bill would. If passed. work injus-
tice to them. And. II 1t be true that they al
ready taxed to the OF 20 cent OF their
gross earnings so that they actually realize less than
cents on ticket, they would appear to have
good ground for asking the legislature defeat the
measure.
The Baltimore Herald reports an overwhelming
public sentiment in favor of the bill. 1t says. in
effect. that the people believe the corporations
we'll ahord to make the concessions demanded; that
they were earning handsome dividends before con-
solidaion, and that since then the opportunities for
economizin9 have been so vigorously utilized that
there can be no doubt to greatly increased
ings. The Herald adds that before the meas
ure has been thoroughly discussed at Annapolis.
delegates to look upon it favorably. not only as a
just arrangement for the public. but a good
for the companies.
The tax imposed on the Baltimore railways is
called the park tax and the proceeds
pended for the maintenance of the citys beautiful
pleasure resorts may be questionable whether 1t is
better to take cent out Of scent fare for this
purpose than it would be to let the passengers keep
that cent or most OF 1t. by fixing the fare at six
tickets for quarter. II 1t be true that the COM
panies could make handsome dividends in spite OF
the 20 per cent tax and reduction Of fare equal
to 16 % per cent 1t Is evident that the bicycle has
not cut into railroad receipts deeply in Baltimore
as In come other cities. In Washington the wheel
has been decidedly inmica the street railways and
to the livery stables. The increase in the street
car trafc for the last few has not been pro-
portonate to the increase of population. measured
by the standard Of former years. But no COM
munity can be blamed for desiring cheap transporta
tion. and the best way to get II Is to do away with
special taxes the business OF the roads and then
call on them to cut their fare to six tickets for a
quarter. At that rate the residents OF Washington
are able to ride about sixty miles for 25 cents. IL
they care to go that distance in six trips.