| OCR Text |
Show ICES FAVOR THERAiLROADS The Two Cent Fare Law Passed by Last Pennsylvania Legislature Declared Unconstitutional. The Railroads Made a Strong But Losing Fight Against the Enactment ef the Law, But Theys Now 8eem to Have the Best of the Argument. Philadelphia. Judges Wilson and Audcnrled, In tho common pleas court on Tuesday, declared unconstitutional tho two-cent railroad faro law, passed by tho last legislature. Tho caso upon which tho decision wna mado will ho at onco taken to tho stnto supremo court, Tho two-cent law was enacted by tho legislature ns a result of agitation during dur-ing tho last political campaign, all par-tics par-tics pledging themselves In favor of such legislation. Tho railroads, led by the Pennsylvania nnd Rending, mndo n strong light ngalust tho enactment, but both branches of the legislature passed tho bill with practically a unanimous vote. Tho act wus to go Into effect October 1. Tho Pennsylvania wnr tho first to attack Its validity, bringing n suit In the local courts to restrain the county of Philadelphia fiom collecting lines for violating Its provision. Tho hearing hear-ing InBted nearly a v.eok and nmong the witnesses wero President McCren nnd sovoral of tho vlco presidents of the Pennsylvania railroad. Tho con-tonllon con-tonllon of tho company was that tho law wns not constitutional, and that the twchccnr rat was llxcd without any Investigation on tho part of the legislature aH to whether tho railroads could mako n lair profit undor tho law, which the ':ompany asserts It cannot do. All other railroads operating In Pennsylvania havo brought similar proceedings In various counties of tho state, but no doclslons havo been rendered, ren-dered, as It la understood that tho Pennsylvania suit will bo mado tho tost caso in tho higher courts. |
