The Globe-republican., 1907-08-29
NO AGREEMENT MADE.
Representative Beeson Makes a State
ment About 2-cent Fare Legislation.

ment About 2-cent Fare Legislation.
The following statement regarding 2
cent fair legislation is made BY Repre-
sentative Beeson and was printed ln
Mondays Topeka CaQItal.
my attention has been called to an
article 10 the Kansas City Times Of
August 2Oih In which the ststemen! Is
made that George w, Kanaval, chairman
Of the Board Of Railway Commissioners
has said that the board would nor make
an order reducing tue passenger fare to
two cents for the reason that con
ference committee Of the last legislature
had entered into an agreement with the
railroad companies TO the effect that is
the companies would not oppose 10 the
courts the enforcement Of the mileage
book law as passed by the Legislature
that there w0nld be no interference upon
the state withithe three cent fare for those
who did not purchase mileage books.
had the honor Of serving on the last
conference committee that was appointed
to deal with the passenger rate question
In the last Legislature. The members Of
the committee were not the same as
those named In the article In the Times.
Those on the part Of the senate were
senators Noftzger and Benson. On the
part Of the House, Representatives Bird,
Gesner and Beeson. This committee
was appointed In the very closing hours
Of the session. The fight had been on
for long time and an earnest effort was
being made TO obtain some substantial
reduction In passenger rates. 1t was re-
allied upon the part Of the real friends
OF the two cent fare that 1t would be i'm
possible In that legislature to obtain the
enactment Of q law Of that character and
they were earnestly desirous Of obtaining
the very best law that could be passed
under all the circumstances. 1t was
apparent when the committee met that
1t would be impossible to, agree upon re-
porting a straight two-cent law, the
senate conferees would not agree to re-
port such measure, but it WAS stated by
one OF the senators that bill might be
passed providing for two-cent mileage
book. This matter had been under dis
cussion and 1t had been asserted upon the
floors Of the Senate and House that law
providing for two.cent mileage books
would be unconstitutional and could not
be enforced. 1t was stated 10 the com.
mittee that the railroad companies would
not object to nor oppose law OF that
character. insisted that II mileage
book law was passed that the book should
be transferable. l. was impossible how
eyer, to secure an agreement providing
for transferable books and the best pos |
sible law that the committee as 1t WAS
constituted could agree upon was the
mileage book law as 1t was enacted.
Partie, representing the railroad COM
panies appeared before the committee
and opposed 2.cent fare and the trans
ferable mileage book, but voluntarily |
stated that they would not oppose the
law as 1t now exists. Neither the ccm-
mittee as an entirety nor any member of
IL made any agreement nor attempted to
make any agreement upon the part Of the
legislature or the state of Kansas, that II |
the companies would not oppose the
mileage book law that an order would
not be made subsequently, by the Board
of Railroad Commissioners reducing the
rate. do not believe that such thing
was thought OF by any member of the
committee and l want to state POSI-
lively that II Mr., Kanaval has any Idea |
In his mind at this time that he Is bound |
legally. morally or otherwise to abide
by such an agreement that be can disa.
buse bis mind Of It at once. for no such |
agreement was made on the part OF the
committee or the legislature. So far as
any action by the committee or the leg |
islatnre 10 concerned, the board Is at
perfect liberty to proceed to give
the people Of the State Of Kansas
the two.cent fare. II was my un-
at the time and l think
1t was shared by all the other men,
bers Of the Legislature that the board was
to be clothed with the power at any time
to make an order Of that character II,
after due examination 1t felt that such
an order should be made.
CHALK BEEsoN.
Dodge City, Kan., Aug, %.