The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-27

| and safer service than a cheaper fare
| with crippled service. As l understand
| the matter all of the receipts of the
| railroads find their way into a COM
mon treasury and if we cripple the
passenger receipts the service will suf-
Ter and the freight rates will be push
ed up a notch to meet the deficit
caused by 2-cent fare"
Bird AeaiIlst 2-Cent Bill.
I'VE want better service" said Rep
resentative Bird, ,1'and / think that
with such law as this on our statute
book that our service will be so Grip
pied that travel will become a drudgery
dreaded by any one forced to make
trip on a railway train. If this bill
becomes a law l predict that all pas
senger trains. on branch lines will be
taken off and passengers will be COM
PEELED to ride in dirty, unsafe cabooses
attached to the rear of local freight
trains''
''Win you permit me to ask YOU
question: said Representative Stubbs.
DO you mean to state. Mr.. Bird. that
the railroads will cripple their service
and take off passenger trains?''
NO, answered Bird, but you will
force the railroads to reduce operating
expenses. and this will be done by
taking off trains fromsthe branch lines
and reducing the salaries of the en-
ployes
Just as sure as you cut into the
earnings of the passenger department
you will find that you are making up
this deficit in the freights paid by the
citizens of the state
Stubbs Favors 2ACent Rate.
'Sixty-one per cent Of the passen-
ger traffic of the state is interstate
said Stubbs of Douglas, siand L believe
that passengers are now carried at
less than cents per mile taking into
consideration the through rates made
by the railroads and; the excursion
rates which are frequently less than
l cent per mile. The talk of a con-
fscatory rate if this bill becomes a
law is buncomb and there is nothing
to it"
Don't you think" asked Gesner of
Barber, that the railroads will take
off their passenger trains on all
branches if we pass this law?''
NO" replied Stubbs.- "and I know
the board of railway commissioners or
if the board will do its duty
Democrats Opposed to Bill.
Representative Sweeny, member |
of the minority, declared himself op-
he said, Striving TO build UP another
Republican machine in the state and |
great God we have suffered enough |
from the one we now have. This ma |
sentative to congress who would stand
for Roosevelt Republicanism. Did |
you do it? No, you did not. You sent
Charles Curtis to the senate. and
of the railroads., what is he
Stone Differs From Bird.
Representa- tive Stone said: "Just a
few days ago the Commercial club of
this city took action on the 2 cent fare
and decided that they are
against the measure. Their resolutions,
a copy of which was sent TO me, re-
cite that on account of the actions of
myself and my coilea que that six trains
now passing through this city are to be
taken off and run over the cutoff to
Emporia. l think uaey mistaken
but if such is the case ] find all the
more reason why I should vote for
cent fare. I am in favor of calling
heir blum if these trains were taken off
On account of the attitude of myself and
colleague on railroad legislation. The
Santa Fe can save about $S4 each day
oy running their trains and that is why
hey will make the change If they do
Il realize that the cent passenger
are is small matter when compared
With a reduction in freight rates. We
lave made a fight for a reduction of
reight rates and have been fought at
very turn by the railroads. If this
Measure had been permitted to become
law 1 predict that this fight for two
ent fare would never have been made"