The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-21
Struggle Over Measure Will Be
"a Bitter One.
Believed That 1t Will Pass in
the House.
TROUBLE IN SENATE.
That Body May Leave Reduction
to Railroad Board.
Companies Claim Time Is Not
Ripe for Two Cent Fare.


of bills on the subject, has been taken
by either branch of the legislature on
the proposition to compel the railroads
to carry passengers in the state at the
hat rate of two cents mile, consider
:l.e discu- ion is going on among the
members of the house and the senators
over the proposition and even at TINS
early date it is safe to conjecture that
such a measure will not pass the Iesis-
lature. 1t may go through the house
of representatives but it will receive
undoubtedly a knock out blow in the
senate. A good many senators favor
sort of a compromise proposition-the
enactment of a law which will give tne
board of railroad commissioners the
power to reduce passenger rates 70
what they consider equitable basis after
they have made a thorough inVeStlSa-
tion into the matter.
But the two cent fare bill will not die
in the senate without hard hght De
ing put up by those who think that the
railroads in the state generally can af-
ford to carry passengers az this figure
and at profit. Senator ]. E. Brewer
hs in a two cent fare bill which is at
tracing the most attention. 1t cuts the
rate direct from three cents a mile to
two cents. compelS the railroads to carry
children between the ages of six and
the railroad companies from collecting
through their conductors, a ten cent
bonus on cash fares for which a rebate
slip is given. Senator Brewer intends
to get action of some sort on this meas
ure and will make a hard fight to see
that the action is successful one.
Sine the introduction of this bill he
has been the recipient of many letters
from people all over the state which
speak favorably of the measure and ex-
to accomplish the same ends, will pass.
\ number of senators have been talk
ed with about their attitude this two
cent fare proposiEiaQ- They are not
ready to commit themselves at this
time as to the action they may take
when the measure comes UP for final
consideration but the great majority of
those who have been interviewed free
ly express the opinion that the senate will
not act favorably on a two cent fare
bill, and that the best that the senate
will do will be to pass bill throwing
the reduction CT passenger fares into
tie hands of the railroad commission
ers and giving them the same power
over passenger fares that they now
have over freight rates. Ii seems to be
the opinion of these senators that the
new railroad commission will be dis
posed to do not only the fair thing by
the people but also by the railroads.
\ resolution is now pending in the
senate, which was introduced by
Senator Porter OF Montgomery, ana
which if the house concurs in 1t. will
request the board of railroad commits
Eioners TO make an investigation Of the
cost of passenger transportation on
the railroads in the state and report
their findings TO the legislature. SEN
ator Porter says that he introduced
this resolution for the purpose of pro-
viding the members of the legislature
with facts about the cost of the re-
the members of the legislature can act
intelligently on the two cent fare
proposition. This resolution is now IN
the committee on railroads and will
be amended by this committee and fix
ed up so that the railroad commission
ers will be directed to report within a
reasonabl time before the date for
the adjournment of the legislature
When this resolution is reported from
the Judiciary committee it will pass
the senate and probably the house
also
1t is the feeling OF a good many SEN
ators that no matter what this report
of the railroad commissioners shows
that the right way to meet this agita-
tion for reduction of passenger fares
is to place the matter directly in the
hands of the railroad commissioners
Railroad legislation, from the pleth-
ora and variety of measures on the
subject which have been introduced
already will undoubtedly be the para
mount question to be determined bv
the members of the legislature. The
railroad lobby such as has been pre-
valent at other sessions. is conspicuous
by its absence around the legislative
halls this year. A railroad attorney
has stated that the railroads operating
through Kansas have determined to
follow the same course generally that
the railroads of the country did when
the new interstate rate law was pend
ing in congress. The railroads kepr
their attorneys and LOBBYISTS aUav
while this important measure was be-
ing framed and made no effort TO have
It changed according to their wishes.
They decided to let Congress go as for
as it pleased on this proposition and II
1t went too far why the reckoning
railroads running through Kansas
have decided on the same course Of
procedure in regard to the legislation
that the present legislature NAV en-
act. They are disposed to let the peo-
pie of Kansas, through their repre
sentatives in the senate and the house
of representatives. go just as far a.
legislation. and if in doing so anN-
rights are abrogated why the railroads
will go to the courts for relief
There is but one measure pending in
the Legislature that the railroads will
openly fight. regardless of the provis-
ions of some of the bills that have
been introduced. and this measure is
the two cent fare bill. 1t will not be
a buttonholing fight. with all sorts of
promises and considerat tfons offered
like the railroads have been used to
wage in the Kansas legislature. 1t win
be a fight in the nature of education.
The railroads win attempt to show