The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-28
NO HITCH IN HOUSE
Ham Two Cent Fare Bill Passed
By Decisive Vote.
Lively Debate on the Measure
Precedes This Action.
LELAND AND PLUMB.
They Have Exciting Exchange
Over Pass Question.
Final Vote on the Bill Was
90 to 90.

The house of representatives spent
the greater portion of Wednesday in de-
bate on the two cent fare proposition
i and at half-past four passed the Ham
| bill without single important amend
ment by a vote of 90 to 20. Attempts
were made to amend the bill in various
ways but from the first it could be seen
| that the house wanted straight two
| cent fare bill unhampered by amend
| ments.
| A hard fight was made in an attempt
| to substitute the Nofztger amendment
from the senate providing that mileage
| oks should be sold at two cents a
mile. This amendment failed to gain
the strength that its supporters had
| hoped that it would and was voted
down with a large majority to spare.
MFR. Leydig Explains Position.
Leydig of Butler said: Il am for this
bill for 1 think that the time is ripe for
| two cent fare il Kansas 1 am going
| to support the measure because was
| sent down here for that purpose and my
| friends demand it. The argument has
! been made that the interstate traffic
| on the passenger trains is carried foi
! so much less than two cents mile that
the road is realizing but little more
| than that today. This is one of the
| things that 1 am against and think
one of the strong arguments for the
| pa 5sage of this bill.
Trains composed of the finest cars
! the road can manufacture go whizzing
! through the little town in which 1 live
and reclining in the costlfest plush COW
cred seats money can buy are the arts
) tocratic rich of the east and the OPP
ponents of the bill use as an argument
against this bill that the facts that they
ride for less than three cents mile is
reason Why We should not have two
cent fare. With their chins between
. their jeweled bedecked hands they gaze
I from the moving palaces and we stand
and wonder why they should be grant
ed special privileges in railroad rates
over use people in Kansas. 1 am tired
of 1t and 1 want to see something done
to stop it,
S l. Ryan of Brown said: In the
county which sent me down here there
were but two issues. No politics, just
a demand from every quarter for two
cent fare on the railroads and a primary
election law and though this end of the
legislature has done its part we have
neither of them and the session is almost
at an end. Had l not have been in
favor of these measures some other
man who did favor them would have
been here in my place for there is no
mistaking the sentiment of Brown
county" -H
Cunningham of Cowley said: ut is
urged that the two cent fare proposition
has never been Investigated and that it
may prove confscatory. This same cry
was urged against compelling the roads
to carry passengers for three cents
mile when that bill became law but if
you will notice none of the roads have
gone out of business but have grown
steadily ever since and gone on paying
dividends Notwithstanding the fact that
there has been a continual stream of
water running into their stock.
There is but little difference between
us and that seems to be whether the
fare shall be two or two and one-hah
cents per mile. We should be able tc
get together and as for the senate, we
are not responsible to them. We should
act as our consciences dictate, let the
senate and the governor do they like
about the matter. but should not
consider them the vote for this
bill"
Two and = Half Cent Fare Defeated.
The consideration of the amend
ment of Mitchell of Douglas providing
for a two and one-haf cent fare was
then taken up and after a hot debate
continuing until O'Clock was defeat
ed by vote of 81 to As
Vote, vote" came calls from all
quarters of the house and it appeared
for a moment as though the debate
was about to come to close. Leland
of DoniDhan secured the floor and for
the first time took an active part in the
discussion. 81 can't see why we should
DOT vote on the matter at this time
he said. II can not see why all these
speeches are necessary by the friends
of the bill; it does not seem to have
enough opposition to be worth consid-
ering."
AS Leland took his seat the cries of
vote" were renewed from all quar-
tiers of the house including the gal
leries who had grown tried of the
started to put the question when Bird
of Shawnee secured the floor and at
tempted to tack on AN old soldier
amendment providing that members
of the G. A. r. in good standing should
be permitted to ride on half fare tick
cts. This was fought by the author of
the bill on the grounds that such an
amendment would render the bill I'M
constitutional.
Hendricks of Rawlins said: 'T
don't think that the old soldiers are
demanding this bill; they are not OBJ
jects of charity, and l am sure that
this amendment is not made in good
faith but for the purpose of defeating
the bill
Bird was on his feet in a moment
and defended his position by saying:
This bill is introduced at the request
of the post commander of the G. A. r.
and be--ond this am in no wav inter
ested IN the bill"
White of Ottawa who is an old SOL
der, opposed the bill. II am an old
soldier" he said. land am opposed to
this amendment and in favor of the
bill. ! am getting tired of seeing an
old soldier amendment tackled on to
every bill that Gomez W for passa ge
in hopes that it will pull the bill
through
II know that the old soldiers 90
want this amendment declared Lee
land, they voted for it at their last
encampment and 1 for one believe that
they should have the amendment car
ried. 1 don't need half fare as far
as I am concerned but 1 know many
old soldiers who do"
at this time when Plumb of Lyon sta
ted that Leland had said on the floor
of the house two wears ago That he ala