The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-14

THE COMMISSION CONSIDERING A
CUT OF HALF A CENT.


Representatives of Various Roads in
the State Give their Views on the
Subiect-Gen. Alexander and Mr.. w.
P. Hardee Among the Speakers-Re-
quest of the Colored People for Class
Cars.
r~ATLANTA, GA, March 1S.-The Railroad
Commission held an i'm important meeting
TODAY to consider the reduction Of pnssen-
ger rates to 2ISc. per mile. The following
railroad men were present; Gen. Z. p
Alexander of the Central, Col c. II.
Phjnizv of the West Point railroad, j. L.
TAYLOR and Sol Haas Of the Richmond and
Danville, Edwin Fitzgerald and w. B.
Wrenn OF the East Tennessee, Joseph NJ
Brown of the Western and Atlantic, John
n Dunn of the Atlanta and Florida, W p
Hardee of the Savannah, Florida and West
ern, j. w. Green of the Georgia, Cecil Cab
bett of the Atlanta ami West Point, C. w
Cheers of the Georgia Midland, John Postell
of the East and West and james A. Smith
of the Rome railroad.
WHAT GAVE THEM THE IDEA
Mai Campbell Wallace stated thatsas the
Western and Atlantic railroad had put on a
rate OF 2lac and under, and the West Point
road was selling the same tickets ct the
PC. rate the commission would like TO
know why the other roads could not afford
to DO likewise
Gen. Alexander was the first speaker
He said that the stockholders of tie West
ern and Alta tic railroad did not control IT,
1t was controlled by the lessees. He said
that the reduction made by that road was
an experiment, the success of which had
not yet been demonstrated.
GRIPsACK VS. SARATOGA
He looked forward to the time when there
would be some discrimination in passenger
fares, and the man with a gripsack would
not have to pay as much as the woman who
carries a Saratoga trunk. He thought the
reduction TO Sc rate had increased the
passenger business of the roads and had
been to taeir advantage. The prosperity of
the country, he thought, had also helped to
increase business.
Mr.. Green, OF the Georgia road, sub.
nitted figures showing the gradual increase
of the passenger business of his road since
1881. He thought reduction to a 21$c
rate would result in great loss, as the bust
ness on his road was largely local, while on
the Western ana Atlantic road it was mostly
through business
WANTS FULL TRAINS.
Joseph NJ Brown, of the Western and
Atlantic, said that he had TO run four trains
q day to make connection with the Cincn-
Cinnati Southern and Nashville and Chatta-
nooga, and he thought it better to run four
trains day and fiji them up on a 215c. rate
than TO run three and miss connections.
W f. Hardee submitted some statistics
for the Savannah, Florida and Western
road. He said that while tie population of
Virginia was 81 per square mile, the vari-
Gus railroads of that State charged 3i5c a
mile, and some &C.
AT A DISADVANTAGE.
In South Carolina, where the population
is thirty-three per square mile, the South
Carolina Central and other roads charge
SIC. per mile.
He said that while the Yves ern and At
lantic bad $50 people to the mile, the West
Point road 1,230, the Georgia road OILS,
and the Central 995, the savannah, Florida
and Western railroad had only $50.
In view Of the fact that all the roads were
not ready to be heard further action was
postponed until April B.
REQUEST FOR CLASSES.
A letter was read from w j. White, of
Augusta asking that delegation of colored
people be heard in favor of first and second.
Glass railroad fare. The letter is addressed
to Mr. Campbell Wallace, chairman of the
board. 1t says: "rhe coiored people of
Georgia, at a large convt ntion held in the
city OF Macon Jan. IS last, passed resolu-
tons providing for committee to appear
bsf re your body and request that YOU so
arrange the schedules of passenger fares
over the roads under your jurisdiction as to
have first and second-ciasS rate, allowing
passengers to choose for themselves the
class ticket they will purchase. As Presi-
dent of the convention, and chairman of
the committee appointed for this pur-
pose, | have the honor to request
that we be allowed to appear in person
at the meeting which you are to hold March
ID for the purpose of laying the matter
before the honorable commission. SEEING
that you only invite railroad officials, aud
not wishing to appear as iutruders this re-
quest is made in advance of the meeting so
that any objections you mis- ht have may be
indicated to us. The best colored people of
Georgia regard this matter with the deepest
concern, and we hope TO have at the hands
of the commission not only the privilege
granted of presenting our cause, but ia
vorable action upon the same"
TO BE HEARD
The Secretary was instructed to notify
w. j. White that he and his committee
would be heard April 3.
Commissioner Wallace said that he did
not care to hear from the representatives of
the railroads now, but would like to hear
3: Relative to equal accommodations for
both races. The government exyectS the
railroad to furnish equal accommodations
to furnish them separately would necessi-
tate almost two trains pulled by the same
engine. If they sell first and second class
tickets where would they put the passengers!
There would be serious objections if they
were put in the same car