The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-13
General Increase in Passenger
Fares Within State.
New Order May Raise Rate
Between All Points.
z CENTS A MILE NO MORE
Utilities Commission Figures
Out Blow to Kansas.
Christmas Present for Lucky
Railroads This Year.
TOPEKAHS HARDLY SATISFIED
Santa Fe and Rock Island See
a Disappointment.
Admit That 21a Cents May Be
New Rule Soon.

Kansas is up against a general in
crease in passenger rates and there is
apparently no chance to dodge IL, ac-
cOrding to rate experts employed py
the public utilities commission, VINO
have analyZed the ruling of the inter-
state commerce commission granting
increases in interstate passenger rates
The new order means an interstate
rate increase from cents mile 10
Pa and 2-6 cents In order to uOdSe
discrimination, the public utilities
commission, under provisions OF the
Shreveport ruling. must seemingly
order an increase in intrastate rates
Not in years has Santa Claus been
so kind to the railroads as in the
ruling which the interstate commerce
commission dropped in their stocking
rates case The full text of the ie-.
cision has not been received by the
Katls;zls gnnlTfflssioil.- As aualyzed BY
NJ. a. Chambers, accountant for the
commission, the interstate passenger
rate on the Santa Fe, M, K. & T.,
Frisco, K c. $. Orient, Missouri Pa
cific and all roads south of the Union
Pacific. will be 2 6 cents a mile. On
the Union Pacific, Rock Island. Grand
Island and all roads north of the Union
Pacific, the rate will be "a cents a
mile. Several attaches of the COM
mission have disagreed with the Cham
bers view, asserting that the northern
rate will be 2.6 cents while the south
ern rate will be "a cents.
Break 1908 Agreement
In any event. the ruling means
big shake-up in the passenger situa-
tion in Kansas. 1t means, in the
opinion of persons in touch with the
case. that the two-cent rate agree
ment of 90S is to he no longer recog-
nized. 1t means that the state pas
senger rate case which the commits
sion has kept buried since last spring,
must be reSurreCted and passed upon.
1t means further, in the opinion of
rtNat VafT 1Gal to
crease in passenger rates, means a re-
versal by the federal commission.
Under tn decision of the interstate
commerce commission in the Shreve-
port case. the Louisiana commission
was ordered to make state rates
which would comply with interstate
rates When the state rates were held
below the standard of interstate rates,
the federal commission ruled that
discrimination in favor of the intra-
state passenger was shown. Now Kan
sas faces a similar situation.
May Adopt Zone Policy.
Instead of an established rate
standard for the state. the Kansas
traveller may encounter zone or terri
tory rates under the policy adopted
by the interstate commerce commits
sion in its ruling. The action of the
commission in esta blishing different
rates for roads operating in the same
state, may mean a big change in the
method of esta tablishing western rates.
O.
may pay one rate, while passen-
gers on the Rock Island will pay a
higher or lower rate for the same
haul. Thus a passenger from Dodge |
City to Kansas, City. would pay the
northern rate by using the Rock Is
land, while he would pay the south (
ern rate over the Santa Fe.
Reopen Case in January.
Notices have been served by the
utilities commission that the Kansas
passenger rate case Will be reopened
in January. New evidence will be
taken at that time and it is probable +
that a decision will be handed down :
some time next year. With the fed
eral decision to guide their feet, there
is an almost established opinion that
the commission will be unable to re-
fuse an increase in Kansas.
We may not receive an official
notice for day or two" said H. o. 1
Castor, attorney for the commission !
so it is impossible at this time to dis
cuss all of the details of the interstate |
rates case. It seems however, that
the new ruling means a 2.6 cent rate
south of the Union Pacific and a "a
cent rate north of the Union Pacific.
This view is taken by Mr.. Chambers (
who worked through the western pas
senger rate case when it was on trial ;
In view of the Shreveport decision. a
rate for lntrastate passengers equal to +
ene interstate rate may be forced. That
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