Evening journal., 1907-03-01
Friday, March I, 1907.
FIGHr FoR TWo-cENT FARE.

10 EMARKABLE indeed is the crusade for
~ two-cent railroad fares that is sweeping
throughout the country. In about score of
States bills are pending before the Legislatures
fixing the maximum rate at two cents the mile
and in many of the General Assemblies such
measures have passed. Ohio led the way a year
ago. There the Legislature fixed the two-cent
rate and the railroad companies adjusted them
selves to the new conditions without even max
ing an appeal to the courts. The Legislatures
OF West Virginia and Arkansas have sent two
cent fare bills TO the governors for their APP
proval In Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and Penn
sylvania such bill has passed one branch Of the
Legislature. Only in South Dakota a sup
posedly strong granger State, has the bill been
defeated. Many years ago the grangers start
ed an agitation which resulted in some States
in the West cutting the then existing railway
charges down to three cents mile. After Bit
ter fight the right Of the State to regulate the
prices to be charged passengers was upheld by
the United States Supreme Court
The following is summary Of the status Of
the two-cent fare agitation in the States:
Arkansas-Passod without giving the railroads
chance present their side Of tho
Indiana-senato bin making passenger ticket rate
trains passed house final passage certain
Iowa-Passed house Tuesday before rail-
road committee Of Senate may be held there until
tion is taken by the railroad commission Of wisconsin
on a similar bill before that commission.
Inos-Bnl pending before Houses committees not
set reported.
Kansas-Bin pending in branch OF Legislature.
Mnnesota-Pending before the Senate committee on
railroads; certain TO pass
Mssouri-House and Senate both passed bills; now
awaiting conference over amendments.
Nebraska-Bin drafted by joint House and Senate
committee. expected In House to-day both
houses favorable biz.
North carolina--House passed 2-cent bn Senate
considering 10 cent fare bill.
ohio-Two-cent fare bill passed in spring OF 1906.
oklahoma-rwo-cent fare proviso will be included in
the constitution Il the plans Of the constitutional
vention carry
Pennsylvania passed 2-cent bill; goes to the
Senate.
south Dakota-Bin defeated.
west vlrgina--Two-eens fare bill passed by both
Houses OF Legislature
wisconsin-Pending before the state Railroad Com
mission. Decision expected within ;he next two
or three weeks; Legislature awaiting report
How the railroads will deal with the problem
OF enforced lower rates is question. Some of
them are trying to make the public believe that
the wages OF their employees will be considerably
lowered. The managers of the Western roads
already have agreed to increase freight rates.
Perhaps these railroads which say they would
be seriously affected can let the water out OF
their stocks and find that even with two-cent
fare they will be enabled to pay handsome pro-
fits on the actual amount of money invested.
There is such a bill pending in our Legsla-
ture What will become of it? It will prob
ably pass the House and will then SO TO the
Senate to be handed over to the Strangers Com
mittee to meet the fate Of a score Of meritorious
bills which the corporations have ordered their
legislative agents to strangle