The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-19
TWO CENTS A MILE.

The railroad companies of Kansas
seem to be dead set against fiat two
cents mile passenger rate. A very
large number of the members of the
legislature are apparently convinced
that two cent rate is not al present
Warranted in Kansas and would be
unjust to the companies. There is
also widespread belief that if the
state undertook to now enforce a two
cent rate that the railroads would go
into court and suspend and defeat the
rate on the ground that such a fiat
rate would not bring reasonable re-
turns to the passenger department.
So far as this paper is concerned.
we believe it would be better for the
present legislature to drop further leg
islation on the two cent business. Our
position is justice to the public with
cut unfairness to the railroads. but if
the two cent legislation be abandoned
the railroads in Kansas should agree
to do what the railroads have already
done for Iowa, Missouri and Ne
braslSa: that is. put in force two
thousand mileage book at two cents
mile good on all railroads. This would
give the commercial travellers, the
long distance, or frequent, traveller,
the two cent rate without injustice to
the companies.
The railways of Kansas must spend
millions of dollars on tracks. equip
ment and systems for the prevention
of accidents. The numerous wrecks
of the last few months show that
money must be poured out literally by
the companies for Improvements and
safety appliances. There will be less
excuse and more incentive for these
large expenditures if further consid-
Grafton of the proposed two cent fare
be abandoned as above indicated.
The railroad companies have made
some good points which have evident
ly appealed to conservative members
of the legislature who realize that
Kansas with a population of about
twenty people to the square mile can
hardly expect a straight two cent fare
when Ohio with over five times the
population has only recently secured
this rate.
The freight proposition is an entirely
different one and the Kansas legis-
lature knows full well that it must do
something specific and definite to secure
reductions and supplement the power
of the board of railroad commissioners
under the existing law. Many of the
freight rates of Kansas are indefensi-
BILE and excessive. The companies know
that certain tariffs are beyond reason
and will stand reductions of ten, TWEEN
ty, thirty and possibly fifty per cent.
While Kansas is short on population it
is long on products. The grain rate is
peculiarly unjust and yet Kansas sup
plies more wheat for shipment than any
other state and more wheat than the
railroads can handle
If the present legislature secure a
primary measure which will be a real
primary law, cutting out all conven-
tions. passes a reasonable maximum
freight BILL enacts an antipass law
which will take the railroads out of
politics to large extent and make a
few other changes in fair railroad legis-
lation along lines already advocated in
both house and senate, it will have ac-
complished as much as the public
should demand in this direction and
need not handicap the railroads in ex-
penditures universally demanded for
safety in travel and facility in traffic |
The railroads complain, proba bly, with |
reason, that the present antirailroad |
agitation is injuring their credit and
making it difficult to obtain funds to |
meet needed Improvements. Kansas |
has no desire to cripple the railroads !
All that the people ask is fairness. In |
fact, Kansas cannot afford to do any |
thing that will cripple the roads. The |
state itself is too much dependent on |
them and railroad financiers can rest |
assured that the people will not tolerate |
any unfairness towards them if the |
'oads themselves will show disposition
% be fair The average legislator wants
% be fair and the railroads can afford
% be.
If the two cent rate chip be removed
rom the legislative shoulder. perhaps a
solution of the transpor-
alton problem may be more readily
cached.