The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-04
, train. All these special rates have

the train. All these special rates have
been cut out"
why don't the roads continue the
policy which has been adopted for the
past 10 years. Of offering inducements
for the purchase of tickets, rather than
by trying to put on a penalty to force
the purchase of tickets?'
That's a question for the manage
.neJ1t to answer replied Mr.. Mckay.
isn't it the purpose of the roads to
put on this penalty for the purpose of
making the 2-cent fare odious in KAN
sas?"
.sUnless they do something like the
plan proposed it will force a still fur
ther reduction from cents mile
eff it has been good business policy
10 make a reduction in tickets pur-
wouldn't it be good policy to continue
that system?" persisted Mr.. Grattan.
mo, sir, because the 2-cent rate is
about the limit, and I doubt whether
the railroads will make a cent under it.
They can't stand any further reduc-
tion.''
Slonecl<er Takes a Hand.
Here J. G. Slonecker, United States
referee in bankruptcy, and attorney for
various corporate interests. got into the
melee.
you have got us down to two cents"
he said to Mr.. Grattan, 'and now you
want to drive us still lower"
mo, but 1 want TO ask YOU this ques-
tion," replied Mr.. Grattan, why, under
the Scent rate did you offer induce
rnents for the sale of tickets by reduc-
ing rates?'
TO get the money" replied Mr.. Sion
ecker.
That's very good reason" replied
Mr.. Grattan. What else?"
Since that is such good reason /
will let it go at that"
"All right. Now, why don't you make
proportionate reductions under the 2
cent rate TO get the money!"
Because there is not enough mar
gin," was the reply.
But don't you suppose" replied Mr..
Grattan, that if you don't offer the in
ducements you will lose enough from
thefts of conductors to more than off
set your saving"'
Joseph Baxter, Santa Fe conductor
from Kansas City to Dodge, was the
next witness, and testified to substan-
TALLY the same things that Conductor
Mckay did. He said that he could col
lect ten tickets while collecting one
cash fare.
w. H. Bissland, assistant general
ticket agent of the Missouri Pacific at
st. Louis, then read a long statement,
showing that the cash fare passengers
were rapidly increasing every year in
proportion to the increase in business.
Railroad Attorneys Disagree.
Mr.. Grattan asked the railroad attor-
neys to state under what law they held
concession asked for.
''You claim through Judge Smith,
said Mr.. Grattan, THAT this railroad
law of 1907 has been repealed by the
Smith has said. He has shown good
deal of the bulldog this afternoon, and
1 want to say that 1 can show just as
much as he can, and will do it if
necessary. If you claim that this law
is repealed, 1 ask you what authority
the hoard IN a the ru1inO 2''
-"I don't claim that the law of 1907
has been repealed said Mr.. LoomiS
of the Union Pacific. II think that
the board has the right to make this
ruling under the same section of the
law that authorized it to order the
fare reduced to cents. 1 think that
if the courts knock out this 2-cent
fare law, the law of 1907 will be in
full force and effect. The law of 1907
merely fixed maximum, and the
board has the right to make any sort
of an order it pleases, up to that
maximum. We want to get all we can
out of the 2-cent fares. We are not
trying to make the 2-cent fare law
odious, and we simply want to get all
the revenue that we can for 2 cents
mile. We want to find out what the
revenue will really be. This board
should not try to force still further
reduction"
Everything is on a ticket basis
now" said Judge Smith. you even
have to have a ticket to get drink in
a Kansas City saloon. know because
I tried it,
ST can't see what right the board
has to provide any penalty charges
for the railroads" said Commissioner
Ryan.
"You seem to have the right to
knock out the law fixing 8 cents as
the passenger rate. You cut the CUTS
out of that law. You can't kill that
law and still hang onto the tail of it,
retorted Judge Smith.
''I believe you should delay action
in this matter" said Mr.. Grattan. eff
you put in this penalty, you should
put it in later, so that the public may
have due notice of what is coming.
You should not take advantage of the
great mass of people who think that
the fare is going to be cents fiat
after Oct. 5. You are defying the law
of the state"
"Why defying the law?" asked Mr..
Loomis.
.'The maximum has been cents,
but the custom has made it elastic,
and the roads have made special rates
below that sum. Now the maximum
is cents but the railroads establish
a new rule. and say that there is no
elasticity about the law. You have
cut out all excursion rates, for ex-
ample
"I don't know of any refusal to give
excursion rates" said Mr.. Loomis.
1--WE want just now to find out the ef-
feet of the 2-cent fare rate
After some further conference, the