The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-25
SHOWDOWN ON RAILROADS.
FIRST VOTE ON THE SUBJECT Is
TAKEN IN THE HOUSE.
BY an Overwhelming Majority an
Amendment TO the Mclean Biii
Fixing Maximum Passengers Rate
NJ 4 Cent? Per Nile Is Rejected.

Srecsal Dssratch to the pos.-FEt allS Seacer.
OLYMPIA Jan s.-RaiIroad legislation
locking 70 the reduction 81 passenger rates
was taken Up and coEss~sred oy the mouse
this morning FOR the first time during TIE
present session. McLeaa's bill. reducing
the maximum fare per mile 10 be charged
b. any railroad within the state, was Te-
ported from the railroad committee with
certain amendments The SESSION OF the
house which had been duh I'D 20 that
moment. was changed II the brESf period
OF Eve minutes into enc OF the most in
teresting since the first day. When the
bill was laid aside il was only after the
members OF the house had been pat on
record on the question OF reduction II
passenger fares.
BY an overwhelming vote the house re-
tsctei an amendment reported BY the
committee which placed the rate al
cents per mile which Is the figure nSw eS-
acted BY the Great Northern and Northern
Pacific. the two most important lines IN
the state. The debate over this point was
brief, but X was animated. While the
members who spoke against the 4-csnt rate
kept their remarks within bounds. IL was
plain that there was a strong under cur
rent OF feeling over the matter and that
On the part OF many members of the house
the belief prevailed that the first oppor-
tunity the Republican majority Of the
house NcAiu De p!aceI On EeCoIo on ti.5
right side of the question, as was done
when the amendment reported by the COM
sniites was voted OF.
Tie bill came from the railroad commit
tee, LaFoile,te chairman. with reeonl-
mendati0n that the fare named in the bill
as the maximum. namely, 35s cents per
mile, be changed 10 cents per mile.
Pratt. OF the committee explained that
this was no reduction upon the Northern
Pacific and Great Northern fares when
had been voluntarily reduced by the COM
panies from To cents Just prior 20 the
meeting Of the legislature. I'VE do no.
propose 10 have the railroads raise these
rates as soon as We adjourn" said Mr..
Pratt, "and more than thai. the commit
tee expects TO report a measure which VIII
adequately answer the demands Of the peo-
PIE OF this state for reduction OF freight
rates The reduction Of half a cent per
mile, as made in this bill. is inconsideraole
compared with the reduction in freight
rates demanded by the people of Eastern
Washington. In reporting the amendment
the committee felt that Il would be q good
means OF disarming the opposition 10 the
reduction OF freight rates.
Eagiehari spoke theoretically against
the adoption Of the amendment. If the bill
Is amended as proposed, said he. III VIII
be no reduction of fares for cents Is now
the maximum rates charged by the Great
Northern and the Northern Pacific. The
people OF my county, the voters OF nay
county. expect a reduction - Or 3tz cents
per mile from this legislature. The issue
was made on this Quest.on-rsiief from the
railroads. This was the issue in the cam
paign, and il now remains 10 be seen
whether or not We will keep our premise"
The roll was called on the amendment.
which was rejected as follows: