The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-17
WILL NOT OPPOSE
RATE LEGISLATION
Attitude of the Railroads Com
unicated to the Legislature
Yesterday.
A BILL FOR RICHMOND
SENATOR kiRkMAN PRESENTS
MEASURE MAKING 1T POSSIBLE
FOR CITY TO AID REID Memoir
iAL HOSPITAL.
(5y Demas S. coe.)

(6y DemaS ). Coc.)
Indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 1e.-T'he
railroads will not wage battle against
Through the voice of Samuel Pickens.
attorney of the Pennsylvania railroad
the attitude OF the railroads. at least
as 1t is at this time. was communi-
Gated TO the senate committee on rail-
roads this afternoon.
The railroads will not fight the
two cent fare bill' said Attorney
Pickens TO Senator Crumpacker
chairman of the committee on rail
roads, but they do ask that the mea-
sure. II enacted into law. shall have
proper safeguards thrown about it,
The safeguards to which Attorney
Pickens alludes are nothing more or
less than provisions which will re-
qulre patrons of railroads TO purchase
tickets or else suffer a penalty in the
way of paying a two and a half or a
three cent rate If they offer cash
fares aboard trains. The railroad
companies claim that they do not
want this provision III order to place
a burden upon travellers, but they in
compel patrons To buy tickets. many
will get aboard trains and offer cash
fares which would be great incon-
venience TO the company. They don't
mind the lower rate of fares, but they
do mind the cash fare system. There
are numerous legislators, however,
who take the stand that two cent
fare must be a two cent fare and that
there must be no difference between
the rate for tickets and the rate
aboard trains. Senator Crumpacl.sr
and other members of the senate rail.
road committee were disposed to be-
lieve that the railroads were entitled
TO hearing on the subject and also
were OF the opinion that there might
be good reason why the higher cash
fare provision might be embodied.
~
The plea for a constitutional con-
yention in Indiana, which will enable
the state to broaden its platform -
If indeed ii is in real need of broad
ening, may be realized. Senator VIII
Wood of Lafayette today presented Il
bill which provides that on the first
Monday in next August there shall he
purpose of selecting delegates to a
constitutional convention. The num-
Der of delegates shall correspond with
the number of senator's and represent
tatives in the general assembly of the
state and this would give WAYNE
county delegate for the county
alone, another Jointly with Union
county and another Jointly with Fay
cite county There will be a total of
80 delegates. According TO the bin
by Senator Wood the constitutional
convention will be held in Indianapo-
lis within the chamber of the house
OF representatives, beginning on the
first Monday in next October.
= J. X
Senator Kirkman's bill introduced
at the request of the trustees of Reid
Memorial hospital, Richmond which
legallzes an appropriation for main
tenance which the city council may
make, was introduced today Sena.
tor k1rkman endeayored to rush tho
Dill through the senate by asking that
the constitutional rules be suspended
and the bill placed on its passage.
There were objections to the pro.
unfriendly feeling toward the meas.
ure which is designed solely 10 meet
conditions at Richmond. but because
1t was regarded as dangerous pre-.
cedent to permit bills of this sort to
De rushed through. Senator Kirkmaii
Withdrew his motion and the bill
come up in the regular way. This
evening the public health COMMITTEES
to which the measure had been refer.
req, held special meeting and an
proved the bill. Tomorrow morning
1t will be reported to the senate and
recommended for passage Unless on
position should develop the bin will
pass the senate early next week and
when 1T reaches the house it will he
looked after by Representative Ratliff
and Elliott The bill was drawn up
by John l.. Rupe of Richmond.
<xH
In the house today the attempf OF
Representative Elliott. of st. Joseph
county to push his anti-lobbyigt bill
failed. Elliott wished IL 10
be considered Immediately and asked
that the constitutional rules be sus-
pended. The leaders on both sides
ridfculed Mr.. Elliott intimating that
there certainly was no need of hur.
rying the measure unless there were
members of the body who were afraid
they would be corrupted by the lobby
lists before they left the canitol build
ing. The bill viii have to take its
turn the same as other measures
The lobbyists are smiling. Despite
the fate of the Elliott bill II is recog-
nized by most persons without the
legislature if not by those within
that there is need for a stringent lob
byist law. Should the attempt to re
strict privileges end in failnre they