The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-14
RAILROAD NEWS.
All Low Fares Are Withdrawn
by Roads,.
No Concessions Until Fights on
2 Cent Fare Are Settled.
PRESIDENTS DECIDE.
Corporations Combine to Push
PRESIDENTS ID
Corporations Combine to Push
War on New Statutes.
Other Items of Interest to
Railway People.

| Chicago, June 14.-At a conference
yesterday of presidents and other ex-
ecutiye officers of the leading railroads
In Illinois and other states, it was
| decided that no special reductions in
| rates shall be made until the courts
have decided whether the 2 cent fare
laws recently enacted are valid.
The presidents of the railroads
agreed to Immediately notify their at
torneys to confer and decide at the
earliest date possible upon the manner
in which test cases shall be instituted
and prosecuted in the courts to de-
termine the constitutionality of the 2
cent rare laws of Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas and Mis-
souri, The general allegation of the
railroads will be that a maximum rate
OF cents per mile is unreasona bly,
low; that it does not give them Cue
compensa ton for the service perform
ed and therefore the laws fixing that
rate as maximum are unconstitu-
tional.
The only big railway systems hav-
ing lines in Illinois which were not
represented at the conference of presi-
dents were the New York Central and
Pennsylvania, but the other lines are
confident they will fully cooperate with
them in the policy of refusing to make
any reductions in rates pending the
decision of the courts as to the con-
stitutionality of the cent fare laws.
A joint meeting of passenger officials
of the lines in the. central, western,
and southwestern passenger associa-
lions was held yesterday to consider
the question of granting reduced rates.
their MONDAY conference solved the
problem for the general passenger
agents, and at their afternoon session
they voted unanimously to cancel the
half rates which have been granted to
clergymen and all other persons engag-
ed exclusively in religious or charita
BILE work, and to refuse all applications
for reduced rates for conventions, ell
campments, reunions, and other events.
Among the applications for reduced
rates was that presented by the Chi
cago Commercial association for its
merchants meetings" here. H. c.
Barlow, executive director, and a COM
mittee of the association asked the
railroads to grant the usual rate of
one and one-fifth fares for the round
trip for merchants coming here TO at
tend the meetings, if the roads decid-
ed to maintain their interstate rates
on the present basis of cents per
mile, and a rate of one and one-half
fares for the round trip if they reduced
their rates to basis of cents per
mil@.
While expressing sympathy with the
plans of the Chicago Commercial asso-
citation, and admitting that granting
the reduced rates to merchants would
result in increased business for the
railroads. as we'll as for Chicago, the
general passenger agents declined to
make. an exception to their new rule
by giving reduced rates Tor mer-
chants meetings. They will not be
granted for similar meetings in other
cities, except by the eastern trunk
lines for merchants meetings IN
New York.
If the courts declare that the cent
fare laws are unconstitutional the rail-
roads will resume their practice OF
making reduced rates, so general pas
senger agents say, but they declare
that it would prejudice their case in
the courts if they were to voluntarily
make reduced rates while contendins
that a basis of cents per mile is I'M
reasonably low.