The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-05
TWO CENT ORDER.
Will Be Formally Issued Late
This Afternoon.
Attorney Grattan Will Exercise
Care in Its Preparation.
WILL THE ROADS OBEY
General Impression Is That
They Will.
Senator Brewer Makes Amusing
Claim to Credit.

1t is expected that the formal order
of the state board of railroad commits
sloners for the establishment of a fiat
z-cent mile passenger fare in the
state OF Kansas will be issued late this
afternoon. 1t is being prepared by u.
r. Grattan. the attorney for the board.
want to prepare this order with
care, said Mr.. Grattan. land if the at
torneys for the railroads desire to con-
suit and advise with me in the prepara-
tlon OF the order. or make suggestions,
Will give them opportunity to do
So L have tried in handling this case
10 look at the question fairly. and
believe that the railroad companies ap-
preciate the fact that 1 did not desire
to do them any injustice. 1 did not
want to put the railroads in position
where they would have to take this
fight into the courts. You can make
almost anybody fight you if you get
them in a corner and leave no chance
for them to escape. L left the way
open for the railroads to escape a fight
in the courts. and 1 think that they
which 1 presented. Naturally they did
not want to submit to the order with
out strong protest. They made
good presentation of their case, and
that it is the part of wisdom for them
to obey the order of the board
Hoch Is Pleased.
Governor Hoch was much pleased
with the result of the 2-cent fare hear
ing and with the way G.. F. Grattan
will the roads obey the order? ?" ne
was asked.
81 should think they ought to-" re-
piled the governor.
The disposition of the state house
politicians is to recognize the fact that
it was due entirely to Governor Hoch's !
influence that the board of railroad
commissioners took up the 2-cent fare
To-, fe-t-Yx cd afh hn 0r1n a
Governor Hoch not written his sharp |
letter to the board. conveying the |
threat of a special session, it is not |
likely that the board would have taken |
any action. In fact. two of the mem !
bers of the board had openly expressed !
as opposed to any such /
order.
The action of the railroad companies !
in capitulating so completely Is taken
to indicate that the roads, in spite of |
their apparent opposition to the action !
of the board. were really not unwilling |
to have the order made They consid= |
cred that the only alternative of . |
cent order would be a special session |
of the legislature. which would mean |
a primary election law as well as .
cent fare law
Brewer Claims the Credit.
State Senator ]. E. Brewer of Abilene. |
who introduced at the last session of the
legislature 2-cent fare bill in the SEN
ate, came to Topeka yesterday to listen |
to the hearing before the railroad conf
mission, but he arrived too late for the
Mr.. Brewer said:
Il same down to see what the railroad |
were doing with this pro-
position, and I am glad that such de-
.iSiVe action has been taken. The state
ment which 1 gave out concerning the
2-cent fare bill, and the necessity of
having a special session of the legisla-
Eure for the purpose of passing such a
aw unless the railroad commission
would act seems to have stirred them
up some. / am very glad that such ac-
lion has been taken. The people are on
fire in favor of the 2-cent fare PROPOSE
-ion''
S.nator Brewers statement, which he
rays caused the railroad commission to
get busy, was given out in answer to the
charge that he was not in favor of 2
cent fare bill. 1t was charged during
he session that Senator Brewer intro
iuced the 2-cent fare bill merely as
bluff, and did not want it to pass. At
any rate, it didn't pass, and Senator
Brewer was one of those who voted for
he mileage book compromise on the
1nal passage. At that time he made
he following statement of his position
IN the floor of the senate:
II made my fight upon the floor of
he senate for a fiat two-cent passenger
are for everybody, but a majority of
his body has thought 1t wise to amend
ny bill by making it a two-cent mileage
,roposition 1t is my judgment that this
3 only delaying the original measure
md that the fiat two-cent rate is sure to
ome in the near future. However, / al
ways believe that half a loaf is better
han none and as do not desire to deny
ny people or the people of the state Of
Kansas the benefit which they will de-
i've from this two-cent mileage pro-
osition therefore vote, Aye"
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