The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-16
?. Dumont Smith Back From
His Trip to China.
Makes Public the Famous 9
Cent Fare Agreement.
SENATOR HAMMETALK
Says Prairies Are Attire for
Reduced Passenger Fares.
Senator Curtis Said to Favor
Sd Term for Roosevelt.

State Senator Fred Dumont Smith
IL back in Kinsley from his trip to the
orient, and will be on hand if there is
any special session business to de-
mand his attention. He has signalled
his arrival by writing a letter con-
corning the alleged 2-cent passenger
fare agreement which it was claim
ed the senate lodge had entered into
with the railroads.
Senator Smith says that he made no
agreement-that it was beyond his
power to make any agreement. But
he also makes public a letter which
he wrote to s. S. Ashbaugh, ex-attor-
ney for the board. in which he de-
clares that the legislature did make
an agreement of the kind described.
This letter follows;
MAY "a. 1907.
as. S. Ashbaugh, Wichita, Kan.
Dear Sir: see it is reported in the
newspapers that you are about to
make a move before the board of rail-
road commissioners for a fiat 2-cent
fare. 1 trust that you will not be pre-
cipitate in this action for several reas-
ons: AS 1t stands now, Kansas has
practically a 2-cent fare, good into
Kansas City and St. Joe, for all who
travel to any extent. In other words
we have secured all the benefits of the
2-cent fare for the great bulk of our
people without any litigation If the
railroads cOnCede a 2-cent rare IN
Nebraska without a fight, then u
should be in favor of our board i'm
mediately putting in 2-cent fare IN
Kansas. If the railroads contest the
2-cent fare law, let Nebraska bear the
burden and expense of the law suit.
While the law suit is pending. We are
holding our 2-cent fare, and when
they get through. If Nebraska wins 1t
will only take thirty days to give US
the benefit of their action. If they
lose, we shall have escaped the bur-
den of the law suits and still nave re-
tanned the benefit of the 2-cent fare
These were the considerations which
induced the legislature to make what
was practically an agreement with
the railroads. This agreement was
made upon the statement that the :
cent fare law in Nebraska would be
contested. If it is not, this agreement
is not binding in good conscience
upon us. If they contest the 2-cen1
fare in Nebraska, / feel that it is
binding upon US, aside from any ques-
lions Of economics or good judgment
of course it is not binding upon the
railroad board, but 1 should not like
to think that when the legislature mas
made the agreement with the rail-
roads which the railroads have car
rfed out in good faith, that any
branch of the government of kansas
should violate that agreement WITH
out good reason Inc oni Scen Te4 tIat
acent fare in Nebraska. Respectfully
yours, +. DOMONI 0NlA H.
Senator Smith also writes to correct
the statement that he opposed the
Getty anti-pass bill in committee OF
the whole and afterwards favored II
on the floor. He says: voted FOL
the Getty anti-pass bill at every stage
of its passage, assisted senator Getty
in framing the preliminary motion;
that secured a record vote and the
adoption of the bill. and finally myself
made the motion which advanced the
bill to the top of the calendar and pu
II on immediate passage Your re
porter on the floor in his writeup a
the time, gave me equal credit witt
Senator Getty for the passage of the
anti-pass law"
senator J. NJ Hamme. of Chas'
county. who was in Topeka a few day
ago. saws concerning the action OF tn
senate lodge in case of specia
session Of the legislature:
Everybody would vote for the 2
cent fare bill. I do not believe Their
would be any opposition. / know tina
my constituents are all for 1.-THE,
would instruct me to vote for 1t,
necessary It's the same way witt
other senators. The praries are afr
for a 2-cent fare. and there is not tn
slightest doubt that the bill woul
pass.
am not SO sure. The people wan
some legislation along that line, blu
they don't know what they want Tn
Stubbs bill. giving Democrats tn
right to vote at Republican prfmar1e
would never do. Some other kind o
bill would have to be presented
Marion. Kan, Sept. let is un
derstood that Judge Dickerson, who
holding federal judgeship in the In
dian territory. will return here and b
a candidate for district judge neg
year Dickerson was candidate fo
the Republican nomination four year
ago. but was defeated by Judge o.
Moore He was then given the ar
pointment in the territory and ha
been an applicant for a permaner
position in the new district to b
created when statehood takes effec
In this he has not been successful, an
when Oklahoma becomes a state h
will be out. of job. He is a brother
ffn-law of Governor. Hoch, and 1t is e1
;pected that he will have the assistanC
of the governor so far as it can b
Efven though. as Hoch lost this couT
ty last fall, it may not go far. TIL
Eighth district consists of Marion