The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-09
GEO. NJ. JACOBS, Presiden..
MYRoN CARLETON LouoH, Editor.
L M. DAVIS, Business Manager.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
TIE SENATE 2.cENr FARE BILL.

A great deal 10 being said Just now
relative TO the TWO cent fare bills be.
fore the legislators for c%onsideration.
It 10 probably a time for thinking rath.
er than for talking as the matter ls a
very Important one. The law makers
ought TO be careful and considerate
and avoid making a mistake, IL pos.
sIbIe. on the whole, the HOLE bill
seens 70 meet the popular demand for
q simple, direct, straight two cent
fare bill, but it must be admitted that
the Senate substitute is not
without merit. II. is Undoubtedly true
that sornc railroads can afford to carry
passengers at a lower rate than 9TH,
ere and II is also true that some roads
may even have TO run at a loss to
maintain a passenger service at the
cent rate. That being the case,
such roads could carry the question
to h courts and numerous cases Of
litigation would follow. Again, at the
present time, the law allows the lat
eraI lines 70 charge more than the
trunk lines, the maximum fare on
trunk lines being three cents, while
the lateral lines may charge from four
to five cents. a new law with a max.
Imum Of two cents on trunk lines and
three cents on lateral lines does not
stem to us unreasonable, especially II
the clause is added which overs lat.
crai lines owned OF eoptroIled by
trunk lines. THE LAW OUGHT TO
BE SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR AND
COMPREHENSIVE, HOWEVER, TO
PREVENT THE ABUSES WHICH
HAVE GROWN UP UNDER THE OLD
LAW. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THE
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD
COMPANY WILL PUT MEN ON THE
WITNESS STAND TO SHOW THAT
THE PARkERs6uRe BRANCH is
NOT A PART OF THE 9. AND o.
SYSTEM, BUT "A SEPARATE ROAD
OPERATED UNDER a SEPARATE
CHARTER AND THAT 1T is AT
PRESENT IN THE HANDS OF A RE.
cErvER AND LOSING MONEY,
WHAT WOULDN'T A RAILROAD
COMPANY DO If GIVEN a LOOP
HOLE ON THE TWO CENT FARE
BILL? That sort of thing must be
guarded against. only such lateral and
short lines Of less than fifty miles in
length as i ACTUALLY UNDER
CONTROL OF CORPORATIONS
WHOLLY AND ABSOLUTELY
APART FRoMsTHE CORPORATIONS
OWNING OR OPERATING THE
TRUNK LINE ROADS OUGHT TO
BE ALLOWED TO CHARGE MORE
THAN TWO CENTS PER MILE. II
the Senate substitute bill is sufficient.
" clear on this point Of ownership
Or control Of the lateral or short lines,
then IL seems 20 US not a bad bill and
Indeed It might be better suited to
conditions In West Virginia a. present
than the fiat two cent bill. There is
said TO be reason In all things, and It
Gems TO U that now Is the proper
time to ponder well this two cent
fare proposition. He is a demaaoaue
Of the rankest type and totally un.
worthy Of confidence who denounces a
nj for Holding an honest opinion dif.
ferins from his own on a question as
~inportant and debatable as the fiat
two cent fare Bit now pending before
the Legislature. THE SENATE AND
THE HOUSE OUGHT TO MAKE Ev.
cry HONEST EFFORT TO GET TO.
cETHER ON THIS MATTER AND
WHEN ONCE A SATISFACTORY
AND REASONABLE MEASURE IS
AGREED UPON, THE PEOPLE WILL
uNouEsTioNARlY BE SATISFIED.
THE LEeisLAToRs OUGHT TO
CALMLY AND coNsloERATELY
THINK ON THESE THINes.v
MIR. RockEEELIER,s e,Ers