The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-17
THREE 2-CENT Fare BILLS
BEFORE HOUSE COMMIT ZEE
Harper Bill
Is the Favorite

CHARLESTON, Jan ~ There ar,
NOV three two.cent rate bills in thu
hands of the committee on Judiciary
The first one was introduced by c. p
Icraig, Of peasants count, the second
by o. B. Harper Of Mason county, ami
the third by Walter Hole, Of Dod
bridge county. The Craig and Hole
bills are very similar. each providing
for a two-cent for on every railroad
in the State, while the bill which Mr.
Harper is the author, contains Q
clause which gives a road, under
twenty miles in length, the right 10
demand and receive for transporta
ton fees, three cents per mile. The
latter bill seems to have found more
favor with the delegates, many Of
whom, although willing to make a
two-cent fare on the trunk lines, are
opposed to placing the same rates or
the short lines of the State. which
they say the State must encourage to
assist them in their fight for exisr
ence against the larger lines.
Mr.. Craig's bill provides for two
cent rate on all the railroads of the
State. with the exception that when
the distance Is less than ave miles
when a charge Of ten cents may be
made. His bill also provides that
railroad tickets are good until used
All three of the bills were introduced
into the house on Monday There
are many legislators who have been
free to express themselves as op
posed to two-cent fare and an In
teresting fight is looked for on the
floor of the house.
Mr.. HOLES bill asks that section So
of chapter 81 be amended and re.en'
acted.
That all railroad corporations or
ganized or doing business in this
State under the laws or the authority
thereof, shall be limited to rates OF
compensation not exceeding two cents
per mile, for the transportation OF
passengers and baggage, which arc
herein prescribed. Except when thu
distance any passenger wishes tc
travel is less than five miles, such
railroad corporation may, in lieu
of the above prescribed rate, make 9
charge Of ten cents for the trans
portation of such passenger and bag
gage.
All railroad corporations shall be
limited to compensation per mile fol
the transportation of any person with
ordinary baggage not exceeding one
hundred pounds in weight: provided
that no such corporation shall charge
demand or receive any greater com
pensation per mile for the transports
ton of children twelve years Of age
or under, than half the rate above
prescribed; provided also, that q
charge Of five cents may be added Il
the fare of any passenger when pail
upon the cars. II ticket might have
been procured within a reasonable
time before the departure of the
train, and II the failure to procure a
ticket was not caused by the tickle,
office being closed or without sufn
cient supply OF tickets, or other ne.
elect of the company.
All railroad companies shall keep
constantly posted in conspicuous
place, in all their ticket Offices, pas
senger and freight depots, well
printed copy of the first, second
third and fourth sections of this act
together with section v of section
SEC Of chapter 81 of the Code of West
Virginia, together with a table of the
distances, between each and every
station Of their road, printed in leg
ible type.
Any railroad corporation violating
any OF the provisions Of this act shall
be guilty of misdemeanor, and on
conviction thereof shall be fined for
each offense. not less than $50 nor
more than $500. The term railroad
corporation for the purpose of this
act shall be taken to mean all corpora.
tions, companies, public carriers or in
dividuals now owning or operating, or
which may hereafter own or operate,
any railroad in this State.
All acts or parts of acts coming
within the purview Of this act and in
consistent Herewith, are repealed.