The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-02
The Two-Cent-Fore RiIIs.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
l see by the papers that Mr.. Ford, gem
eral passenger agent of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, is TO appear before the railroad
committee of the Senate Feb. to argue
against the two-cent fare bills. No doubt
he will argue that if a two-cent fare bill
becomes law the railroads will be forced
to reduce the wages of all employees; that
no new equipment can be bought for years
TO come; that the roadbeds will have to
be neglected, thus making them unsafe for
travel; that the railroad unions are OPP
posed to a two-cent fare bill; that the rail-
roads are doing a great work in the devel-
opment of the country and should, there
fore, be fostered and not legislated against;
and so on ad infinitum. Nov, it viii, be
remembered that several years ago this
same Mr.. Ford allowed it to be announced
in the papers that he was in favor of a
straight tWo-cent rate on all the Panhandle
lines. This threat was for the purpose of
bringing some ether railroads to time, no
doubt, but it was hailed with delight by
the general travelling public and came very
near to being an accomplished fact 1t
Will also be remembered that the New
York Legislature passed two-cent fare
Dill several years ago, and that the New
York Central railroad fought the bill with
all its immense influence; but to no avail.
The New York Central brought forward the
same arguments that Mr. Ford will bring
before the Senate committee. After the
tWo-cent bill became a law. did the New
York Central carry out its threat and re-
duce the wages of its employees? Did it
take off a number OF its trains? Did it
continue TO use old equipment for years?
Did It permit its roadbed to deteriorate?
10 all these questions the answer is en-
phatically, no. On the contrary, as | know
from having been III New York for a num-
Der of years Immediately after the two
cent fare bill became law, the Central Was
forced to increase the number cf trains
Oh account of and to accommodate the in
crease in travel 1t was compelled to buy
new equipment. In short time the COM
pany put on the celebrated train the En-
he the finest and fastest regular train in the
world The company spent thousands and
thousands of dollars in improving tracks,
putting in heavier rails, building elegant
new depot3, etc, and the New York Central
stock IS quoted to-day at 135. [ ask Mr..
Ford and the members of the present In
diana Legislature does this look like the
railroads would so to the 'bow-wOWs from
the\eftect of a twO-cent fare rate?
Mr.. Ford cannot successfully refute the
assertion that with the rate at cents per
mile the passenger traffic would increase to
such an extent that il would more than
Cverbalance the reduction. The time has
come for a straight two-cent rate. The
travelling public wants it and is in favor
of such tWo-Cent fare bill.
The writer has no ak TO grind. He is
not a railroad man. He is not q candidate
for anything. He is simply a common,
everyday plain citizen of Indiana, who
thinks he knows what the people want
viii this Legislature give US a two-cent
fare law? CITIZEN.
Indianapolis Feb. !.