The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-16
Ask for Order Against Interfer-
ence by State Commission.
May Put Increased Passenger
Rates in Effect This Month.
P.U. C. MAY GO BEFORE |. &C.
Santa Fe Plans to Make Up New
Schedule Soon.
An Advance of 6 Per Cent in
Passenger Fares.

Railroads may put the increased
passenger rate schedule in effect, July
26 or 27. In the meantime, tho. the
public utilities commission is expected
to look for relief from the interstate
commerce commissions order thru
court procedure. This course was an
ticipated today when the Kansas roads
filed suit in the United States district
court, asking Judge Pollock for an
order against interference by the state
commission.
The order Friday of the interstate
commerce commission puts into effect
in this state the railroad rates or
dered last year by the federal board.
The court of industrial RELATIONSHIP
ting as a public utilities commission
denied an increase in intrastate rates
following a hearing in Topeka. 1t
granted fifty per cent boost in Pull
man fares as approved by the I. c. c..
but granted so instead of 35 per cent
increase in freight rates.
Effective, August "a.
Under the action of the interstate
commerce commission the new rates
may be made effective on or before
August "a. It is probable that the
passenger rate advance will be estab-
lished late this month-probably July
27-and the freight advance will be
put in operation as soon as new tariffs
can be worked out.
In a statement today. j. M. Connell.
general passenger agent for the Santa
Fe system, stated that the new rates
would be established as soon as pos
sible. He believed the passenger rate
increase would come first-probably
July 27. Other roads will increase
rates at the same time.
Injunction in Federal Court.
Anticipating interference by the
state public utilities commission, the
railroads today sought an injunction
in the federal court. The application
for a restraining order was made to
Judge Pollock in petition filed in
the United States district court in To-
/ Members of the public utilities
commission will confer Monday re-
garding effect of the federal commits
! sion's order. The 1. c. c. sustained
| the railroads In their appeal from the
state commission. Kansas was held
to be subject to the same rate regu-
| lation affecting other states. as well
as rates on interstate passenger and
freight business. The federal COM
mission divided eight to three on the
opinion.
There is a theory in the state house
that action of the Kansas commission
in urging the grain rate case and seek
! ing cooperation of other states re-
; suited in Fastening the interstate
commerce commission opinion. The
case had been before the federal
! commission without action for several
months. 1t was apparently hastily
revived when the grain rate case was
launched.
Two Courses Open.
Two courses seem open to the
state in fighting the rate advance.
One is to contest power and au-
thority of the interstate commerce
commission to fix intrastate rates.
The second is an injunction against
enforcement of the federal commits
sion's order. This avenue may be
blocked thru action of the railroads
today.
1t is apparent that the state failed
I to establish the error of 1892, 1000, 900
claimed by Clyde NJ. Reed, in figures
showing operating revenues. Reed,
who sat as a member of the industrial
court ana is now chairman of the
public utilities commission, dissented
in the railroad rate order. He claimed
revenues of the roads were $192,00O,-
600 in excess of amounts shown by
government experts. Judges Huggins
and Wark failed to agree with Reed
as to this difference in earnings Of
transportation companies and granted
in part, the increased rates sought by
the railroads.