The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-25
ON A new TACK.
Governor Hoch Wants Freie hit
Rates Reduced.
Board Is Now Preparing a New
Schedule.
WILL ENFORCE ORDER
Use All Power of Office to
That End.
Gives Out Formal Statement of
His Position.
WILL ENFORCE ORDER

Hardly had the railroad companies
lodged the danger of a special session
of the legislature by capitulating on
the 2-cent a mile passenger fare propo-
sftfon when a new danger arose to con-
front them.
There is danger of a special session
unless the railroads submit to the re-
duced schedule of freight rates which
the state board of railroad commission
ers is about to promulgate.
This information is conveyed in 4
statement dictated on Tuesday after
noon by Governor Hoch in which he
says:
when this new schedule is ordered
into effect by the board, every power
which 1 have will be used to see that
it is put into operation"
That is just about the same sort of a
talk that Governor Hoch made when he
was contemplating the calling of u
special session to enact a 2-cent fare
law. 1t does not convey much con-
ISOLATION to the railroads. who sur
rendered the 2-cent fare chiefly to avoid
any freight rate tinkering by the legis-
lature.
The following is the statement given
out by Governor Hoch on Tuesday even
ing, after the official notice of the rail-
roads surrender reached his office:
II am gratified of course over the fact
that the railroads have finally decided
to put in a 2-cent passenger fare IN
this state and thus place the people of
Kansas on travelling equality with
the people of Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa
and other states. The demand for this
was so reasonable and right that it is
still difficult for me to understand why
it was ever questioned by anyone But
if the companies carry out the decision
they have finally reached in this mat
ter, a properly signed copy of which
has just been shown me, it will be my
pleasure to accord them all the credit
they deserve for this wise action anc
then, as have repeatedly said, If they
wish to contest in the court the ques-
tion whether this rate is remunerative
or confiscatory and contest it upon its
merits and not upon any technicality,
well and good.
Their right TO day in court on the
merits of this or any other question
must be conceded by every one who be-
lieves in q square deal. But all techni-
cal quibbles should be eliminated from
the court inquiry. AS governor of the
state l would not feel that my duty
was done in case this order of the board
should be overruled upon some mere
technicality. I believe the 2-cent rate
is sea Sonable and will be found to be
so after thorough investigation by
the board or by a court. The people
will be gratifie6 with this solution of
the passenger rate problem and will
also be gratif1ed to know that the in
eQualities. determinations and exces-
sive charges in freight rates are re-
ceiving careful attention
The board of railroad commission
ers has been for some time carefully
and thoroughly investiga ting these
things and had in preparation new
scheSule of freight rates which will. as
far as possible. remedy these wrongs.
The superficial critics who have found
occasion to find fault with the demand
for a two-cent passenger rate on the
grounds that the passenger rate was
not so important as the freight rate
have not properly stated the situation.
I am in perfect sympathy with the
contention that the matter of freight
rates is of paramount Importance, but
it is always wise to settle one ques-
ton at time When this new
schedule is ordered into effect by the
board, every power which I have will
be used to see that it is put into
operation and relief given the people
along these lines. When this work of
the board is completed and in opera
ton in connection with this reduction
of passenger fare, the railroad situa-
ton in this state will be in a most
satisfaction condition"
Thought no official notice of it has
been given. it is announced by one of
the railroad attorneys that after Oct
5, there will be no more free trans
portation received on the railroad
trains of Kansas, except such trans
portation as is allowed under the anti
pass law. which does not go into effect
until January L.
Mr.. Loomis who filed the official
notice of the acceptance of the 2-cent
fare order, also stated that after Oct
5. conductors on all trains will take up
all free passes offered. and that no
more passes will be issued after that
date Clergy permits. charity rates,
and excursion rates, it is stated will
all be "off" after Oct. ., and people
will be obliged to pay the straight 2
cent fare all the way and all the time