Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1909 — NO ODD CHANGE [ARTICLE]

NO ODD CHANGE

WHlbe~ Given on Trains According to a New Law. ’* ’ ' John F. McClure, of the Indiana rail road commission,'' has explained the amendment to the 2-cent fare law which was enacted by the last legislature. Tills amendment provides that when tickets are not bought at stations an extra charge of 10 cents may be made on each trip. There is another provision to the effect that the fare shall be that multiple of five nearest obtained by multiplying the distance by the rate. The question arose as to whether this latter provision should apply on all fares, or merely when fares were paid on trains. Mr. McClure held that it would apply in the cases of all fares. Thte provision will do away with odd. change. For example, if the distance is fourteen miles, the fare will be 30 cents Instead of 28 cents as under the old law. The result obtained by multiplying the distance by the rate would be 28, and the multiple of five nearest 28 would be 30. This would mean a gain of 2 cents for the railroad companies. It the distance were sixteen miles, though, the fare would be 30 cents instead of 32 cents as under the old law, and on this distance the railroad companies would lose 2 cents. It Is said the provision will not serve to increase* or decrease the earnings of the railroad companies appreciably. The effect of this provision will be most noticeable to the man who travels a specified distance many times' each year. For example, if a man traveled the 14-mile distance, roup'd trip daily one year.he would be loser to the extent of sl2 or sls.

Our quondam friend Lawshe, erstwhile “big injun” of the Converse Journal, having graduated from the buckwheat circuit and ascended untd a fat job at the government crib, where he can send out beautiful specimens of job printing at government expense, now remembers his former estate only to give it a thrust under the fifth rib. Lawshe is third assistant postmaster general and is sending ont circulars and samples imploring the public to get their envelopes printed at Washington, apparently forgetting that business men prefer patronizing the home printer. Like all mail order concerns Lawshe'holds out the inducement of bargain prices, but by the time the public defrays all the expenses of advertising Lawshe’s scheme it will be found that the stamped envelope proposition is a snare and a delusion, which is also similar to mail order decoys, except that the latter pay their own printing bills. Lawshe seems to belong to a 'class of fellows whose biggest ambition is to keep their names constantly and conspicuously before the public regardless ot government expense of the injustice done to tradesmen. It would probably have been less costly to have kept Lawshe in the Philippines—if his maintenance must de* pend oh national support.—Monon News.