The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-04
TAKE IT ALL BACK
Railroads Withdraw Application
for the Penalty Order.
Will Not Say What Their Next
Plan Is.
ACT INDEPENDENTLY.
Expected That Roads Will Fix
Arbitrary Penalties.
Board May Be Required to
Make Decision Later.
T INDEPENDENTLY.

railroad commissioners that the ap-
plication had been Withdrawn by the
railroads which was made to the
board yesterday and which sought an
order permitting the roads to charge
a three cent a mile passenger rate, as
a penalty, to travellers who fail to
provide themselves with tickets at the
two cent rate which goes into effect
tomorrow on an order of the board.
This announcement came as some
thing of surprise for there was an
extended hearing on the proposition
yesterday afternoon and the impress
sion was that the board would prob
ably grant the request, made by the
railroads in an official order today.
1--WE have no idea as to what the
railroads propose to do said c. A
Ryker, one of the commissioners, in
making the announcement this morn
ing that the application had been
withdrawn. 1--WE merely know that
the application has been withdrawn.
OFFICIALS of the railroads, including
their attorneys, were not overly taika-
tive on the proposition either, When
asked as to what the railroads intend
ed to do. Some of them salo lnat no
1t is pretty safe to say, however,
that the railroads will go ahead on
their own hook, they deemlng an Or
der of the board of railroad commls-
schedule of penalties in excess OF
the two cent mile rate which they
will charge to persons who traVel on
trains without having PROVIDED tneIn-
selves with tickets.
evidence was taken by the board
Tuesday afternoon, and argument mace
which seemed to impress the board ano
G. F. Grattan, it's attorney, with tne
idea that it was falr proposllMIoi M lI,o enas
the railroads should be allowed to make
an extra charge when the passenger
pays on the train.
Two Santa Fe conductors. w. T. NC
Kay and Joseph Baxter, testltled tnas
their long experience In the business leo
them to believe that unless some pen
atty was provided to compel passengers
to buy tickets before entering the Train,
it would be impossible for conductors
to find time to handle the casn Iare
business Mr.. Mckay said that 80 per
cent of the business would be casn fares-
Mr. Grattan attorney for the board,
had several spirited discussions Win tIe
railroad attorneys, and Judge w. n.
Smith of the Santa F'e flashed out some
rather acrimonious remarks. N. n;
Ioomis stepped in as peacemaker' anu
it was through Mr.. IooInls lnterceSslot
that the afternoons discussion closeu
in very amicable conference over the
best way to bring about the proposed
object. A..
Judge Smith said in opening the dis
cussion: IT want to try to explain 10
the hoard what the railroads desire TO
accomplish This board recently passed
an order which did away with the tnrSe
cent fare in Kansas You repeated tne
railroad law of 1907. Now We ask you
to go further and require persons pay
ing fare on the trains to pay at the
rate of three cents a mile, or at sucn
rate as will make passengers buy tlck-
cts before getting on the tram w 40
not want this rule to apply to any sta
tion where the ticket office is not open
at least 80 minutes before the depar-
tl1re of the train. The OBJECT OF tne
change is to relieve the CONDUCTOR. u
course we could accomplish the same
result by allowing no one 10 sel on
the train without showing ucket, put
this whole two-cent fare is put IN az
an experimental scheme. NOW we want
the right to charge three cents a mile on
cash fares as an experiment. also. II II
does not suit the board, after trlal,
If can be ordered out. The railroads
should be entitled to get all tney can
ont of the two-cent fare system"
commissioner Ryan suggested that
since the proposed penalty was a new
idea. that it should be postponed fcr 81
days. and the railroads try and see nov
the two-cent fare rule "ouio "orh
without any penalty .
You are making too big a matter Out
of this said Judge Smith. You seem
to fear that people will come down
bere and raise complaint if you take
this action 1t isn't an important mat
ter This won't cause a special session.
1t won't take cent out OF ahyoooy
pocket.
smith Proposes Penalty Schedule.
Mr. RYAN stated that unless the rail-
roads would consent to 80 day delay,
he favored going into the merits OF tne
whole controversy, and taking what
ever testimony might be offered.
1--WE coutend,'' said Judge Smith,
.stbat we should be allowed to charge
three cents a mile when the fare is col
lected on the train, or else to exact
nenalty. not to be returned to the pas
senger. ..,,,,t,,
that the purchaser of transportation
from the train conductor should pay,
in addition to the two-cent rate, the
following: .o or
Between $3.50 and $780, 30 cents.
All over $3.50, 80 cents.
Testimony of Santa Fe Conductor.
w p NlcKay,lhe Santa Fe conductor,
was then called, and stated that the
Conductors want it fixed so that pas
sengers will buy tickets before entering
me train I'VE want the conductors
nrotected said Mr.. Mckay, so that
thev will not have such heavy work
that that they can't go through the
train before the next station is reached
..I)id yorr road or any other road ever
before ask this board to protect the
asked Mr. Grattan.
mot in this matter" said Mr.. Nc
.sWhy will it make any difference in
the cash fare proposition whether the
rate is 2 cents or 8 cents a mile?"
because under the cent rate, the
railroads sold many round trip tickets,
excursion tickets and va-ious kinds OF
tickets at reduced rate which induced
peoDIe TO buy tickets before entering