The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-11
RECORD is HERE.
How Members of the Legislature
Stand.
Expression of Members Con-
corning Two Cent Fare.
BEFORE THE ELECTION
Expressions Secured by United
Commercial Travellers.
Indicates That the Measure
Will Pass.

In response to the request of the
United Commercial Travellers OF
America. expressed at the meeting
of the grand council. of Kansas and
Oklahoma at Wichita last May, a
large number of the members of the
present legislature have pledged
themselves to support the 2 cent fare
bill, introduced in the senate by SEN
ator j. E. Brewer. and the excess
baggage bill introduced by Senator
Hayden.
c. G. Chenoweth. secretary of the
grand grievance committee of the or
ganization, sent a personal letter 10
every candidate for the Legislature
prior to the recent election. asking an
expression from the candidate on the
2 cent fare and excess baggage oues-
tions.
Replies We're received from over 100
candidates, and of these, so were from
men who are now members of the
legislature.
Out of that number. SO expressed
| themselves emphatically in favor OF
the cent fare law, 8 said they were
favorable to 1T, but did not care to
pledge themselves. and three were
| noncommittal Only one T A.
Noftzger of Harper county, declared
that he was opposed to the cent fare
The following is a copy of the reso-
luton sent by the travelling men to
tn. ..yct, candidates for the legislature:
hereas. the United Commercial
Travellers of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan
ana Missouri, have brought before
their legislative bodies and had
adopted and made state law reducing
me railroad fare in these states to two
| cents per mile, and on excess baggage
charges have secured a moderate rate.
whereas, in our judgment railroads
can be operated in Kansas and Okla
homa as as economically as in the
aforesaid states. and
whereas. we believe an iniustiee fs
being done to ourselves and the firms
we represent. by being compelled to
nave SO large an amount of money in
vested. in interchangeab BILE mileage
| books and credentials: therefore be 1T
Z resolved, That this grand council
ADVOCATE that law be passed bv the
/ legaslature making a fat rate Of two
i gents per mile for Kansas and Okla
homa and that excess baggage lcharres
be reduced to a rate of 121l per cent
OF the cost of first class fare per 100
pounds between all points for excess
baggage over $50 pounds, provided
| that minimum charge for excess
baggage when the same does NOT ex-
ceed 200 pounds shall not be less than
"Be it further resolved. That tbIs
grand council and each subordinate
council and all individual members OF
TINS order request the support of state
ana territory senators and representa-
tiVes for the passage of law cover
ing as follows:
1T shall be unlawful for anv rail-
road In Kansas and Oklahoma over
nke mlies IN length. run by steam or
cents per mile passenger fare
II snail be unlawful for any rail-
.odo IN Kansas and Oklahoma over
n, nke nlies In length, run by steam or
electricity, to charge more than 12X
per cent of the cost of a first class
ere ere petween all points per 100
pounds for excess baggage over $50
pounds, provided that the n1infn1up1
cnarge Tor excess baggage when the
same does not exceed 200 pounds shan
not be less than 25 cents.
Respectfully submitted.
" E. Fl. JOHNSON
H. r. HOFFMAN.
C G. CHENOWETH
What the Members Said.
Scme OF the members wrote quite
lengthy letters in response to the re-
quest that they state their post+to,, b
and some of them did A verv rti., srt,stjc
JOB OF sidestepping. The following is
br1ef summary or abstract Of wnat.
appears In the letters. touching the
vital point at issue:
j. d. Flanagan, Decatur county. ar
am heartily in favor of a law fixing
cents mile as passenger fare for Al p
railroads over miles in length"
John d. Brown, Harper county. ssr
am instructed by my county conven-
ton for law making cents per mile
the maximum passenger rate for
adults. with proportionate reduction
for children
F. N. Cole. Edwards county: @6v
impression is that freight rates are OF
equal importance to passenger rates
But my opinion Is not apt to be OF
much importance as the chances OF
my election are not very bright"
I. P. Murphy Halstead Harvey
county: IF it can be shown by YOU
that the rates indicated are Just to ali
concerned, / shall be heartily in favor
of them. I have a warm corner in INV
heart for the travelling men. as 1 was
one myself in my youthful DAYS with
h headquarters in Boston,"
ID. G. Fraser, Clay county: "I am
in favor of cent a mile rate. and
as far as can see at present will use
every influence in the passage of iust
measure that WIFI be a financial bene-
fit to your council,
J: H. Brierly., Cloud county: yes.
L VIII do what Is in my power by ad-
vising and voting to bring these meas
ures about for you"
III. L. Stockton, Coffey county: "I
am instructed by resolutions adopted
at convention to support measure for
the cent rate"
w. w. Padgett, Bourbon county: "I
believe that the railroad earnings in
Kansas will warrant the reduction of
the principles of the constitution or OF
Justice"
A. c. Husey. sedgwick county: "I
certainly am in favor of your resolu-
tions, and If am elected will be
pleased to help in any way 1 can"
s. H. Brandon, Butler county: Il am
on record for the anti-pass and 2 cent