The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-24
RYKER GIVES UP.
Railroad Commissioner Favors a Two
Cent Fare Order. $3.50

c. A. Ryker. one of the members of
the state board of railroad commits
sioners who has held out against the
issuance of a two-cent mile passen-
ger fare order. has surrendered. and
in letter received by Governor Hoch s
ready to make the order desired by
the governor, as soon as the attorney
for the board says the commission
has the power to do so.
Commissioner Ryan has favored tn @
two-cent fare proposition from the
start.
Mr.. Grattan. the boards attorney.
has not only decided that the board
noon filed with the board a formal
complaint made in the name of the
attorney for the board. against the ex-
fsting three-cent a mile fare. This
complaint merely sets forth that there
Is reason to believe that the three
cent rate is TOO high. and petitions the
board to order that 1T be reduced to
two cents.
MI Ryker pulls on the bit a good
deal, and shows strongly that he re-
serts the Interference of the governor,
but he feels just as everyone else does
that the board is out on limb. and
must do what the governor says.
Discussing the proposition from the
standpoint of the board, Mr.. Ryker
stated that they are willing and
anxious to do all they can for the peo
pie OF Kansas ana that they nave Deon
working hard on a thorough inyesti-
cation of the freight question, in an
endeavor to ssreEera an equitable set
Element of hesfretsht rate problem,
which he deems much more important
than the passenger fare question. Mr..
Ryker says the board has been in
specting trackage, for the purpose of
making travel more safe and expedit-
ing traffic by having the tracks put
in better condition.
AS to the passenger rate question
Mr.. Ryker said that the board has
proved by the Investigation that the
put cheap rates in the hands of
tnree-fourths of the people, as three
fourths of the travel in the state is be-
ing done on mileage books. He says
vice Of the railroad attorney appointed
by Governor Hoch who advises that
the ordering in of a flat two-cent rate
is not the thing to do.
The board has supposed that the gov
ernor would approve the course advised
by his railway attorney, in keeping the
state out of a fight with the roads and
teopardizing the mileage book two-cent
rate which is now saving the people so
much money. 1t is the understanding
OF the board, Mr.. Ryker says, that the
two-cent fare question was to rest
where it is until the other states adj
court, and that Mr.. Grattan, the COVER
por's appointee as railway attorney.
had not decided whether or not the
board has power to order in the fat
rate, but advised waiting for the Ne
braska and Missouri decisions.
Mr.. Ryker says that he will will
tngly with the other members of the
board enter into any investigation of
the passenger fare question that seems
advisable and will gladly cooperate
with Governor Hoch in securing for
kansas the cheapest possible passenger
fares, and that the board will be ready
TO order in a fiat two-cent fare and
risk losing all the advantage gained
by the mileage book rate. whenever the
railway attorney appointed by Governor
aoch gives the board his opinions that
they have the power to do so and that
they should make the stem