The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-27
TWO CENT FARE.
Both Houses of Legislature on
This Subject.
Senate Apparently FavOrs the
NOftZger Amendment.
FOR MILEAGE BOOKS.
These to Be Sold at Rate of Two
Cents Per Mile.
House Would Have Straight
Two Cent Fare.
FOR MILEAGE BOOKS.

| Both house and senate put in the
greater portion of the morning dis
cussing the 2-cent fare question.
| In the house the debate centers
around an amendment to the Ham bill,
fixing the rate at 2 Y cents per mile
| instead of cents. This amendment is
getting considerable support.
The senate, however. has taken an
entirely different shoot" and is dis
cussing an amendment to the Brewer
2-cent bill by Senator Noftzger. The
Noftzger proposition is to leave gen
eral passenger fares at cents per
mile, but to require the railroads to
sell a 1000 mile mileage book, not in
Interchangeable among different ROADS,
and good only for the original pur-
chaser for a period of one year, for
any railroad in the state, when used
by the original purchaser, for $4O.5O.
Unused portions of the book can be re-
deemed on a basis of 8 cents per mile
for the portion unused.
At present the railroads in Kansas
do not sell a 1000 mile book at all,
and the price of the noninterchange-
able 1000 mile book is $50.
The Noftzger amendment comes
with the endorsement of the railroad
1t is the railroads proposition for a
compromise, and the indications are
that the senate will accept it.
The debate in the house this morn
ing took wide range. and the whole
question of cent fares was discussed.
The house will in all probability pass
a bill fixing the rate at either or 2 Y
cents.
The Fight IN the Senate.
The Noftzger resolution, which was
introduced late Tuesday afternoon,
was printed and ready for distribution
when the senate went into committee
of the whole at about o'clock. with
Senator Blaker in the chair. The de-
bate. without any delay, opened up
fair and warmer.
Senator Noftzger said: ''I want to
reduce passenger rates to the lowest
possible point, but I don't want to
cripple the present passenger service
and I don't want to run any risk OF
preventing excursion rates ana re-
duced rates.
"on the line from Salina to Ellis. I
am informed, the earnings were, dur
ing the past year. 3.6 cents per train
mile. The cost of this service was 90
cents per train mile. This amend |
ment is not an effort to dodge the 2 |
cent fare question; 1t is presented |
simply because think we can't reduce |
rates to cents. and make it good"
Senator Young contended in oppo- |
sition to Senator Toftzger that the |
proposed amendment is unconstitu- |
tional He read a lengthy opinion of
the supreme court of the United |
States in Michigan case to sustain his
position. 1.-The enactment of this |
would have no weight |
tarily adopt it," said Senator Young.
Railroads VIII Accept 1t.
The decision cited by Senator Young
was enlightened further by Senator
Smith. He said the opinion was by a
vote Of to 8, Justice White, Justice
senting. He said the Michigan law pro-
vided for family mileage book. He
thought the Noftzger amendment
would hold good. in his opinion, and
that the courts would not follow their
former decision.
81 understand" he said, that this /
comes to us just as it has I
come to the Iowa legislature, as COM
promise proposition from the railroads.
But the fact that the railroads may
have agreed to put in this mileage
book plan will have no weight with me
N deciding the matter"
at is all very uncertain from a legal
was the verdict of Senator
who spoke next. 'I am
advised" he said, that the railroads I;
nave agreed to put in this mileage
book plan without opposition. If they
10 that the Noftzger amendment will
lot be contested. We know the 2-cent
are bill will be contested. Under
he Noftzger amendment the people
who travel will get the benefit of the
eduction. The people who don't traV-
some people hesitate to accept this
because the railroads agree
o adopt it. For my part if the rail-
oads are willing to do what 1 want
lone. I am willing to accept their pro-
POSITIONS
The senate committee then rose, to /
esume its session at p. m. $
Proceedings i'm the House.
W. Y. Morgan, chairman of the rail-
way committee of the house, returnedj |
he four bills which have been in the l
ands of the committee since early in
he session, this morning acting on a I
esolution adopted by the house yes-
erday and making the discussion of
he bills a special order for 10 o'clock
oday.
The bills were introduced by Repre-
entatives Brown, Ham, Davis and {
and are almost identical as
0 their provisions and provide for 2
ent passenger fare
Representative Davis asked and was
ranted the privilege of Withdrawing f
is bill on the theory that it is almost !,
ientical with that of Representative r
lam which seems to be the one ia
ored by the members. G
Representative Mitchell moved to =
mend the section of the Ham bill =
lacing the fare at cents per mile to Z
Y cents, the other provisions to not T
e affected. In support of his amend a
lent he said: Il do not believe that =
1ere is a crying demand for 2-cent :;
are from those who. are the patrons
f the roads
"One of the arguments which has
cen presented in support of the ,
ther states have passed such a law. II
Might Cripple Service =
What we need is not cheaper pas i
enger transportation but a better and q
afer service and 1 think the people 9