The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-27
Kansas Will Have to Worry
Along Without One.
Santa Fe and Union Pacific
Make Polite RefuSals.
GIVE MANY EXCUSES.
Railway Commissioners "Emer-
gency" Plea Did Not Work.
Question lis Whether They Will
Have Courage to Order One.

| Very respectfully, but very fatty, the
Santa Fe and Union Pacific railways
4 have refused to accede to the request
| OF the state board of railroad commits
! sioners that two cent a mile passen-
ger rate be inaugurated in the state of
Kansas as an emergency rate"
The state board of railroad commits
! sfOners has received letters from N. H.
LOOMS, general attorney of the Union
Pacific. and G. T. Nicholson, third vice
president of the Santa Fe, conveying
| the above information.
The following is the letter from Mr..
Nicholson:
Chicago, July "a, 1907.
Mr.. E. c. Sinner, Secretary Board of
Railroad Commissioners, State of
Kansas, Topeka, Kansas:
Dear Sir:-Judge Smith refers to me
your letter of July Is in which, on be-
half of the board of railroad commits
siOners, you ask the Santa Fe company
to establish AN emergency maximum
two cent passenger rate in Kansas
this emergency maximum rate, to be-
come permanent upon the establish
ment of the two cent maximum rates
III the above named states by the
courts (The above named states be-
ing Nebraska, Missouri and Arkansas.)
This proposition has received our
careful consideration. We can not,
however, adopt it. because We are now
contesting in court the validity of the
two cent laws of various states through
which the Santa Fe passes on the
ground that the 'eduction is unjust and
cOnfiscatOry of our revenues. To vol
UNFAIRLY establish such rate in KAN
sas would invite the argument that we
could also afford to observe the vari-
Gus laws in question.
THE recent legislature of the state or
Kansas, after long and careful cons1d-
Grafton of various bills to establish
two cent passenger fare, finally substl-
fT7nV H.
roads to sell 500 mile tickets at two
cents per mile. This law is now in eff
feet, and is giving good satisfaction to
the people of Kansas
THE Kansas railroads continue TO
make the usual excursion rates for state
and county fairs, exposlt1ons, conVen-
lions, political gatherings, etc. ETC., and
grant reduced rates to clergy ana on
ticl1Iars continue the concessions IN
passenger rates heretofore customary.
This is not true as to the adjacent
states of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Ar
kansas, etc, which have passed two
cent laws. In these latter states the
maximum rate of two cents is also the
minimum rate, and all excursion rates
and other reduced rates OF the cnarae-
ter mentioned are no longer made.
'.The citizens of Kansas, therefore, at
the present time have the advantage
over their neighbors in this matter.
II offer these reasons to the board or
railroad commissioners as satisfactory
grounds for refusal to further consider |
a reduction of passenger rates at this /
''iiie' &c. T. NICHOLSON"
Mr. Loomis says in his communi-
cation:
mir. E. C. Sinner, Secretary. Topeka,
Dear Sir: Referring to your letter
of recent date in regard to putting in |
effect of fiat 2-cent passenger rate IN
Kansas, pending final decision IN
Nebraska and Missouri as TO the vail
dity of such rates.
I'm view of the fact that all per-
sons who travel to any extent IN Ran
sas can get the benefit of a 2-cent
rate by purchasing a 500 mile ticket,
our management feels that it ought
not be asked to prejudice its rights In
the litigation now pending IN other
states as to the validity of 2-cent rate
legislation, by putting a fiat 2-cent
rate into effect in Kansas. Our COM
pany believes that it will be able to
show that such rates are unreason-
ably low and conf1scatory and that
the putting in of such rates upon the
terms suggested by the board would
seriously embarrass it in the litiga-
ton now pending in Nebraska.
would also call your attention to
2-cent rates are in effect all excur-
sion rates have been abolished. Ex-
cursion rates are still granted in this
state, but this could no longer be
done if a fiat 2-cent basis were made
effective.
I'm view of the foregoing circum-
stances and the fact that the matter
has only recently. been given atten-
ton by the legislature, I respectfully
submit that no final action should be
taken by the board in the premises
until a. final termination of the liti-
cation in Nebraska. Very respect
fully, n. II. LOOMS.
1t is expected that the other rail-
roads will return similar answers. No
one will be at all surprised that the
roads refuse to put in this rate. 1t
was what everybody expected The
only question now to be settled is
whether the board will have the cour-
age to order the roads to put in the
2-cent a mile rate. It is the policy. of
the board to settle everything pos
sibIe without formal orders, and it
may conclude that it is better policy
not to start any fight with the rail-