The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-28
AN INTERSTATE 2-CENr FARE

Protests are beginning to go up in
volumes from the travelling public in
| the middle western states over the ac-
| lions of the railroads in charging the
old three cent rate and arbitrarily re-
fusing to put into effect straight two
cent fare between points in contiguous
states where two cent fares prevail
\ within the state boundaries.
| These protests seem to be we'll found
| ed There does not seem to be the
| slightest reason why the railroads
should make folks in Kansas and the
several surrounding states pay three
cents a mile for through tickets be-
tween interstate points. To a few
points in other states along the Mis-
souri, river valley the railroads have
put in two cent fare from points in
Kansas and vice versa. But If one
wishes to buy a through ticket from
poitn in Kansas to a point considerably
beyond the Missouri river line and to
points in Nebraska or Oklahoma a
three cent fare is charged, notwith-
standing the fact that in all of the To-
calities mentioned two cent fares pre-
vail.
Now the average traveller will jour-
ney just as cheaply as possible even
though time be wasted and inconven-
fences incurred. So the practice has
become extensive already for travellers
on interstate jaunts to buy a ticket at
the rate of two cents mile to the sta
ton nearest the state boundaries and
then buy another ticket at three cert
rate to a near point on the other side
of the line, and third ticket at a two
cent rate to the destination. But this
practice involves changes of trains
sometimes at night, and is inconvenient
to say the least. It is so inconvenient
and senseless that the travelling public
will be up in arms against it before
long and will speak with voice that
the railroads will have to heed.
1t does the railroad companies no
good and makes the traveller who is
charged three cents mad when he dis
covers it and the other traveller angry
over the Inconvenience.
Already the authorities in Oklahoma
are considering the advisability of COM
pelling the railroads to establish sta
lions at points on the state lines which
are intersected by RAILROADS so that the
people of the new state can travel as
far as possible for a two cent fare. 1t
is also proposed by the Oklahomans to
compel the railroads to sell tickets from
these state line points at the local two
cent rates in the abutting states.
Probably other states similarly affect
ed will take steps along the lines pro-
posed by Oklahoma. If they do the
railroads will be put to considerable ex-
pense to erect these state line stations |
and maintain them. Even then the |
public will be subject to the inconven- |
fences.
It would appear to be good policy OIL |
the part of the railroads to yield to the |
popular demand and put in straight |
two cents a mile rates for interstate |
trips among the states where two cent |
fares maintain. A two cent fare in this |
section of the country seems to be here |
to stay and the railroads should meet |
the conditions which confront them in |
this particular of interstate journeys. |
If the railroads persist in their inten- |
ton to carry the equity Of two cent |
fare to the courts and should get judg- /
ment that such fare is conhscatory |
and unreasonable, well and good.
But while this question is being de-
by the courts. and it will not |
be settled for a long, long time, the |
railroads would be doing no more than
the sensible thing to put in a two
cent fare for Interstate trips. Such ac-
ton on the part of the railroads would /
forestall additional public agitation
against them. Continued agitations of Z