Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-09-30
FEDERAL 2.CENT FARE LAW
Congressman Hinshaw Will Introduce
Bill During Session.
MR.. NORRIS ALSO HAS MEASURE
IL VIII Prohibit Railroads from
Charging More for Interstate
Trips Than for sum of
Local Rates.
(From a staft Correspondent.l }

LINCOLN, Sept 29.-CSpecial.) THE p
cent fare agitation is not going to be con-
fined within the different states. but Is 70
be brought up before congress at the COM
ing session. This information comes by
way of the recent republican state conven-
ton, held here from roundabout sources.
which say that Congressman Hinshaw sent
plank on this subject to be incorporated
into the state platform foreshadowing a
bin which he will father for fiat 2-cent
maximum fare for carrying passengers
across state lines from any one point to
any other point in the United States.
The Hinshaw plank was committed to the
care of the delegate from Jefferson county.
which Is Mr.. Hinshaw's home, but failed
to receive favorable consideration, appar-
emily because of disinclnation TO take up
national issues before the national conven-
tion shall have spoken next year. Opposi-
tion is also said to have developed on the
ground that a fiat 2-cent fare for inter-
state travel would make It much cheaper in
many states for through passengers than
for local passengers and would be unfair
to the railroads in states where conditions
are such that even the state legislatures
have not thought it reasonable to reduce
the maximum charge below and cents
per mile.
Announcement from Congressman Hin
shaw that he was to be sponsor for 2
cent fare bill in congress elected the in
formation from Congressman Norris that
he too had been studying the questions
of reduced rates for carrying passengers
on interstate roads. Els attention was par
ticularly drawn by the peculiar result pro-
dueed by the Nebraska two-cent rate law,
a
when the Union Pacific continued to charge
higher rate wherever the haul included a
little jog across the corner of Colorado,
where it cuts up into the western boundary
Of Nebraska. The remedy which Mr.. Norris
has devised is in the form of an enactment
by congress prohibiting railroads carrying
Interstate passengers from charging any
more for the through haul than the sum
nf the locals between state lines included
in the haul This would require the rail-
roads to sell ticket to an interstate pas
senger. charging him no more than he
would pay II he cut his trip up at state
lines and bought tickets at esSh state line
intersection.
Parties discussing this subject here de-
clare that the Hinshaw scheme would force
2-cent fare laws upon every state in the
union, because the legislatures of each
state would without question insist that the
local passengers have as good treatment in
the way of charges exacted as other pas
sengers. The Norris plan, on the other
hand. would not directly affect the iutra-
state rates, but it would make It all the
more important to the railroads to prevent
reductions within the states which would
carry with them reductions on the through
rates. Whether either of the two Nebraska
congressman have their bills already formu-
lated was not disclosed. but 1t is presumed
that they will be ready for introduction
shortly after the session convenes.