Evening journal., 1907-03-01
Friday, March I, 1907.
FIGHT FOR rwo-cENr FARE.


2 EMARKABLE indeed is the crusade for
A two-cent railroad fares that is sweeping
throughout the country In about a score OF
States bills pending before the Legislatures
fixing the maximum rate at two cents the mile
and in many of the General Assemblies such
measures have passed Ohio led the way year
ago. There the Legislature fixed the two-cent
rate and the railroad companies adjusted them
selves to the new conditions without even max
ing an appeal to the courts. The Legislatures
OF West Virginia and Arkansas have sent two
cent fare bills to the governors for their APP
prevail I'm Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and Penn
sylvania such a bill has passed one branch of the
Legislature. Only in South Dakota, sup
posedy strong granger State has the bill been
defeated Many years ago the grangers start
ed an agitation which resulted in some States
in the West cutting the then existing railway
charges down to three cents a mile After bit
Ter fight the right OF the State TO regulate the
prices to be charged passengers was upheld by
the United States Supreme Court.
The following is a summary OF the status of
the two-cent fare agitation in the States
Arkansas-Passed without giving the railroads
chance to present their side OF the
Indiana-senate bill making a passenger ticket rate
81 ? cents mile ana l-2 cents when collected on
trains passed house final passage certain.
Iowa-Passed house on Tuesday. before rail-
road committee OF Senate may be held there until
tion is taken by railroad commission wisconsin
similar bill now before that commission.
1ninois-Bm pending before House, committees not
yet reported.
Kansas-Biu pending in branch Of Legislature
Minnesota-Pending before the Senate committee
railroads; certain pass
Missouri-House ana senate both passed bills
awaiting conference amendments.
Nebraska--B Bill drafted by joint House and Senate
committee. expected in House to-day. both
houses favorable biz
North carollna-IIouse passed s-cent bnl Senate
considering 10 fare bill.
ohio-Tvo-cent fare bin passed in spring Of 1906.
Oklahoma-Two-cent fare proviso win be included in
the constitution II the plans OF the constitutional con-
yenuon carry
Pennsylvania passed 2-cent bln goes to the
Senate.
south Dakota-Bn defeated.
west virgina--rwo-cent fare bill passed by both
Houses OF Legislature.
MISUNDERSTANDING before the state Railroad Com
mission. Decision not expected within The next two
or three weeks Legislature awaiting report
How the railroads will deal with the problem
OF enforced lower rates is a question. Some Of
them are trying to make the public believe that
the wages OF their employees will be considerably
The managers OF the Western roads
already have agreed to increase freight rates
Perhaps these railroads which say they would
be seriously affected can let the water out of
thein socks and find that even with a two-cent
farsthey viii be enabled TO pay handsome pro-
fits on the actual amount OF money invested
There is such bill pending in our Legisla-
ture What will become OF it? 1T will prob
ably pass the House and will then go to the
Senate to be handed over to the Strangers Com
mittee to meet the fate OF a score Of meritorious
bills which the corporations have ordered their
legislative agents to strange.