The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-12
Decision OF the Railroad Com
miSSiOnerS OF Georgia

miSSiOnerS OF Georgia
| In the Proposed Equalization and Ad-
justment of Passenger Fares, and
| in the Petition for Establishment of
lst and End Glass Passenger Fares,
Rendered April 10, 1888.
On the End day Of March, 1888, the Commits
| soners issued Circular Ne. 105, notifying the
| railroad companies doing business in the State
| that they would ON the 18th of March, consider
the propriety OF equallzng and adjusting the
| rates OF passenger fares in force, and inviting
| the representative of the companies Interested
TO be present and give their views in reference to
| the action proposed. After partiaR discussion
and consideration of the question, its further
| consideration was postponed TO the 3rd of April,
| at the request of some of the railroad compa-
| MES.
| ton from Rev. W. j. White, stating that at a
large convention of the colored citizens Of the
| State held in Macon on the 25th of January, a
| committee was appointed to appear before us,
and ask that we establish rate for both first
and second class passenger fares on the rail
roads of the State, so that passengers could
! have the option of purchasing ticket for either
! class they chose.
| As this question seemed closely connected
with the one already before us to the ad just
| ment of passenger fares we found il convenient
| to consider the two together. The committee
| appointed by the convention in Macon appeared
betoe us on the Bird of April, and in the pres
ence of the representatives of the railroad com
| panies presented their application, and urged 1t
| in a respectful and forcible manner.
| the following is the decision Of the Commits
| sioners ON these questions;
| 1. After careful and critical Investigations of
the reports made to by the officials of the rail
| roads in Georgia of their passenger earnings from
| 1879 to 1888, the Commissioners are of the opln-
ion that any material change in the status Of
passenger fares for said roads, at this
time would be an experiment not justified by
| the lights before us.
The maxim so generally accepted that ''the
lowest rate that can be said to be just and rea-
sonabe will generally yield the greatest reve-
nue., is no doubt true, but il is problem difficult
to solve even by the most experienced railroad
manager, with the best of expert bookkeepers at
| his command, to know when the approximate
| figure that can be relied on with confidence as
| just and reasonable has been arrived at, and
| after the best has been done, the results must
| be consulted to determine whether the basis is
correct
The experiment of reducing low rate still
| lower is a dangerous one, and great caution
| should be exercised in matter that might re-
| suit niuriousy to both shipper and carrier es-
| pecially when sound reasons for doing so
are by no means apparent
| The reduction of passenger rates, recently
| made by the Western and Atlantic railroad, is
an experiment that perhaps the managers OF
no other road in the State could afford to make.
| We trust that it may be successful.
| The rate charged, while the main factor, is by
| no means the only one, in determining the proba-
| BILE amount OF revenue to be received Tor trans
| portatiOn. Especially is this true in the carry
| ing of passengers. The causes affecting the
| real value of this class of railroad service are
| too numerous and varied to be mentioned in
| this paper The number of passengers carried
| fiuctuates continually depending greatly on the
| prosperity or depression of the business OF the
| section of country from which a particular
road derives its main support. The actual ton
| mage Of the fFeight business of a road, chang
| ing, as it does with the seasons, necessarily
| affects, to a considerable extent, the passenger
| traffic of any road. Aud various other matters
| which readily suggest themselves, not the least
| of which is the expense consequent upon the
loss of life aud limb by accident, render the net
| revenue from passenger earnings an uncertain
| quantity, even in tire make up OF the best equip
| ped aud best managed roads.
| 1t is true that the reduction of passenger fare
| in 1881, by this Commission TO three cents per
| mile, has been an efficient element in bringing
| prosperity to the railroads and their patrons
| but that of itself iS not a sound argument in
| favor of further reduction at this particular
| time. The rate charged previous To the time of
| that reduction, and the inability of the people
| TO pay a high rate, acted to some extent, as an
obstacle to travel, except in cases of dire neces
| sity. The reduced rate has done its full share
| in building up every material interest of the
| people, and has proven beneficial to the rail
| roads
Three cents per mile is a fair rate for good
accommodations. No branch OF business
| of the country is suffering for
lower one nor do we believe
/
| would become more prosperous-a less passen-
ger rate being the only factor laid OF Increased
| prosperity.
Moreover the Commissioners are not unmind-
full Of the fact that most Of the railroads of the
| State have been active and liberal in cooper
ating with the citizens Ia fostering, by extra
trains and low fares. all the enterprises of the
people for the promotion Of their religious,
educational, agricultural, manufacturing and
social welfare, and we seriously question
whether the net re7ruue OF the passenger bust
ness Of the roads Georgia is greater than an
intelligent people are willing u accord them.
Hence the Judgment of the Commissioners
is averse TO any reduction in passenger fares,
either in the general tariff, or by creating new
rate, TO he denOminated second class.
, Neither Circular No. los. nor the petition
of The delegates from the Macon convention,
could have been fairly construed as contem-
plating the consideration of any question what
ever, save that pertaining to passenger rates. in
a strictly financial relation Nevertheless, the
question Of equal accommodations for equal
money, inseparably connected with passenger
transportation, was brought 20 our attention in
the wide range the discussion assumed, and we
feel bound 10 say in this public manner that we
recognize to the fullest extent, the justice Of
this demand, and our duty on "A proper case
made TO see tina. the Law is enforced.
The only way IN which this subject can
properly come before the Commission for con
sderation is by complaint for 'u1tjitst discri1t-
itdftOn." No such case has ever been filed
before ny.
The Commissioners desire 10 say that It Is not
their province TO advise or dictate to the roads
the manner Of complying with the law. The
law itself is as plain as the English language
can make il. and our duty 10 enforce that law
10 the end that there shall be no unjust dis
elimination against any citizen of the State of
Georgia il equally plain.
The law Of the State is as follows:
IAN common carriers Of passengers for hire
in the State Of Georgia shall furnish like and
equal accommodations 20 all persons without
distinction Of race, color or previous condition"
70 emphasize orr convictions, and leave no
ground for misrepresentation on the part OF car
riers we have framed rule on the subject, 10
be known as Rule II Of the Rules governing the
transportation Of passengers, This rule, and
the law under which IL is made viii be strictly
and mpartially enforced by the Commissioner.
CAMPBELL WALLACE, Chairman,
j.. N. TRANIMELL,
ALEX. $. ERWIN,
Commissioners.
A. G. BRIscoE, Secretary
ATLANTA, GA, April 10th, 1855