The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-04-19
Two-Cent Railway Passenger
Rate Bill Is Passed by
the House.
GOVERNOR TO SIGN PROMPTLY
Some Provisions CT The New Law
May Be Tested in Court by
the Railroads.
Battle Expected on the Davis Bill Ex
einpting Credits from Taxa
tiOn-Representatiye Col
by's Fourth Term.

Lansing. Mich. Anril 1G. - Last
weeks prediction that the two-cent
passenger fare bill, so-caIled. would
be passed by theehouse when reached
on the special order proved to be true
with a vengeance, the bill receiving
more votes than its most enthusiastic
friends had counted on. Not singl
change was made in the bill as it was
passed Ivy the senate The bill will he
promptly signed by Governor Warner
rs soon as ii reaches his desk. The
result, therefor, will be that some
time next September, or. to be exact,
ninety days after the final adjourn
ment of the present legislature, which
is expected to say farewell about June
/, the new schedule of passenger fares
will go into effect on Michigan rail
ways.
Provisions OF the Bill.
'Lest we forget" it may be well to
say that the new law provides Il fiat
two-cent fare on all roads in the low
er peninsula whose passenger earnings
are 1000 or more per mile per am
mum, and three cents per mile on all
lower peninsula roads whose passen-
ger earnings are less than 1920 per
mile. In the upper peninsula fiat
three cent fare will be charged. ex,
cept that for distances Of less than
ten miles charge of four cents per
mile may be made.
Notwithstanding the fact that, as re.
lated last week, the WetmOre bill was
made a special order for last Thursday
instead Of being referred to the rail.
road committee when 1t was received
by the house from the senate, the rail-
road committee Of the former body
gave the railroads hearing early last
week. AT this hearing the companies
set up an entirely different plea from
those made at the numerous hearings
before the senate committee. This
time they wanted the bill amended %
as to make FIVE cents the smallest fare
to be charged; also to authorize an adj
ditional charge OF ten cents where fare
Is paid on train, such excess charge
to be refunded to the passenger at any
ticket Office; TO facilitate business BY
making charges in even figures, such
as 20 cents where regular fare figures
Fl or % cents, and % cents where It
figures "a or % cents.
Substitute Bill Reported.
The house committee reported a sub
stitute bill embodying the above feat
ures and also provision making the
fare ! " cents per mile on roads whose
passenger earnings are in excess Of
$1,000 per mile. The substitute has
thus far not had a peep at daylight
When the special order was reached
last Thursday afternoon one or two cf
Its provisions were discussed and
promptly voted down by an over
whelming vote. The bill, just as It
came from the senate, was then taken
up and passed by vote Of 90 to 1.
Now that the main proposition has
been disposed Of, it is not improbable
that some of the provisions of the sub,
stitute bill may be enacted into law.
There are good reasons for the even
fare provisions. Governor Warner re.
sents emphatically the charge made in
some quarters that the ten cents extra
charge for fare paid on trains with a
receipt redeemable at any ticket Of
fec Is necessary In order to keep the
conductors honest. lie does not be-
leve the conductors Of Michigan are
dishonest. He is inclined, however. ~
believe that this provision would be Il
good thing in the interest of better
service. He would discourage the pay
ment of fares OH trains i'm order that
conductors have less detail work 10
perform i'm connection with collecting
and reporting tickets and fares and
thus have more time to look after
their trains and the safety OF their
passengers.
May Go to- the Courts.
There Is some talk on the part OF
representatives of the railroad com
panies about contesting in the courts
certain of the provisions of the new
law. Whether this will he done. how
ever, remains to be seen. This sort
Of talk is always INDUCED in ut this
stage of the game but ii does not al
ways prove TO he authentic.
The next railroad legislation to be
taken up Is that which provides 70"
state railroad commission OF three
members. To replace the present one
man commission plan. The bill pre-
pared under the auspices of the State
Manufacturers association and the
Grand Rapids Board OF Trade Is pend
ing in the two houses. IL has not vet
been considered by either committee
for the reason that Senator Kinnane,
who introduced II i'm the upper body.
Is collaborating with Railroad Com
missioner Glasgow in the preparation
Of proposed substitute bill. Botp
the regular bill and the proposed sub