Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-29
Indications Are That the Rail
ways Will Not Fight
Measure In Iowa
SECRETLY FAVOR THE CHANGE
Roads Where Similar Laws Have Been
Adopted Find They Do Not Reduce
Revenues-Rebate Disclosures at "
terloo Getting Mixed With qemae =
ic State Politics.
,ecial 10 Times-Republlcan.

Special to Times-Republcan.
Des Moines, Dec. 29.-Predictions are
being made that the railroads at the
coming session Of the legislature will
not oppose the enactment of a 2-cent
fare bill, which it is now certain will
be introduced. At the last session OF
the legislature when Representative
Sankey, of Decatur county, introduced
a 2-cent fare bill, Richards. of Mis-
souri, Valley. the lobbyist for the rail-
road conductors organizations argued
against the measure on the ground that
the railroads, by getting less for their
passenger transportation would be
forced to pay less to the railroad en-
ployes. Representative Sankey an
swered the argument by digging up the
railroad commissioners reports ant
showing that with the half-fare per-
mits to ministers and other reduced
rates below the 3-cent rate. the rail-
roads at the present time were receiv-
ing but 2 cents a mile for their passen-
ger transportation. He held that the
rich get the benefit of the cheap rates
and the poor man is the only one who
pays the full cents. With a reduc-
ton Of all rates to cents miles, anc
the elimination of all lesser rates, he
argued that the railroads would be ben
Gifted and the poor man would get as
cheap rate as anyone.
It is claimed that under the present
arrangements the railroads get less
than cents a mile and that the pass
being already eliminated and reduced
rates to be eliminated by the 2-cent
fare bill there would be benefit all
around except to the man who has
been riding for less than 2 cents.
Practically every state east OF the
Mississippi river is now on a 2-cent
fare basis, and those who are not on
that basis are agitating the question of
the enactment Of a 2-cent fare law.
Ohio has straight 2-cent fare bill.
Michigan has a graduated scale de-
pended upon the earnings of the road,
the big roads being limited to 2 cents.
In number of states, including New
i OIh anu NEW SldlCS, llO az
ton is likely to be taken because Of
the voluntary reduction of the roads
to cents. In Indiana. Pennsylvania,
Virginia and Nebraska, bills have been
introduced to reduce the fares to 2
cents. In Illinois the railroad and
warehouse commission reported in ia
vor of a 2-cent fare law. In Wisconsin
the secretary of state complained to
the railroad commission that he was
forced to pay cents, which he claimed
was excessive.
At the last session Of the legislature
in the house there were forty members
who voted against tabling the 2-cent
fare bill introduced by Sankey, and la
ter the Chassell $50 family mileage
book passed the house and was killed
in the senate. This vote in the house
may give some indication that there
is sentiment brewing in favor of the q
cent fare law. Further the argument
that 3 cents is needed in order for the
railroads to make money is not having
force, for the Tabor & Northern is los
ing money on 4 cents.
The political side of the recent rev
elations as to rebate paying at Water
loo has not ESCAPED the attention Of the
democratic state organ in Des Moines,
the Democrat Chronicle, edited by G..
F. Rhinehart, of Newton.
1t was disclosed at Waterloo that re-
bate paying was a common thing there
and vast sums have been paid. The
matter appears to have been hushed up
in some way indicating application Of
powerful influences. But the Demo-
craft Chronicle calls attention to the
fact that w. w. Marsh, who wanted
to represent Iowa democracy, is largest
of the shippers into and out of Wat
erloo, and straightway makes guess
that he has had his hand in the rebat-
ing business. In fact, it is limited that
Marsh has received as much as $4,000
year in rebates.
eff this is true" says the Democrat
Chronicle, 'it explains why he went to
Chicago with his man Friday, Chair
man Miller, and both sat in the rail-
road meeting there which protested
against the proposed rate regulation by
President Roosevelt"
Mr.. Rinehart explains thai, of course
the taking of rebates is a hard thing
to prove and it cannot be expected the
accused will plead guilty. However"
he says of Marsh, "his conduct in at
tending the rump rate convention as a
delegate is in perfact harmony with
the receiving of rebates, and it cannot
be explained on any other hypothesis. .
That the harmony movement of 1905
in the democratic party is not getting
along very well is indicated by the fact
that the Democrat-Chronicle refers to
Chairman Miller Of the so-called har-
mony headquarters, as having man
ner with visitors at headquarters lin
solent and over-bearing. proving that
a swell head is incapable of filling a
position requiring real character and
real brains" The plot to have the ma
tional committee fill the vacancy in
Iowa before the democrats of the state
knew what was doing is branded as
"the most infamous piece of treach-
cry that ever blackened the page of
state politics."
A. w. Moore, the veteran newspaper
man, who has the past year and half
been at the editorial head of the Wat
erloo newspaper of which Mr.. Marsh is
chief owner, has returned to Des
Moines. where he will engage in news
paper work.
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