Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-24
WORLDS EArR EXCURSIONS

Yes. | have few ideas about the
passenger rates &C. the worries far
inodestiy admitted George behAsea.
general passenger agent for the e. =
W. ~. 10 reporter for 1hE HERALD
yesterday. Mr. pehaveu has just re-
turned from the general meeting of
passenger assDts held AZ Chicago ana
vas secretary Of the convention.
"fhers are distlnet plsas ~ TIE consid-
cred. One contsmplates selling round
trip tickets af one or one asa
cae-thlrd fares for the TIP.
The other advises the sale OF
single trip tickets ~ half-fare- There
sre merits and defects IN both schemes-
The round trip scheme 10 what TIE
scslpers ysarn for. In case oil ia
adoption without any other proyisions,
there will be thousands upon thousands
OF return tickets soid 10 the scAisefs,
aud the railroads Will be defrsuded out
OF thousands Of dollars. The single
trip eystem would prevent scaiping,
but the foads would have 10 reduce
rates all along tile line. For instance
II We sold half fare tickets for single
trip from Big Rapids TO Chicago. We
would have 10 make the same rate be-
tween Big Rapids aud Grand Rapids;
and between Grand Rapids and Ira
verse City. The interstate commerce
law expressly forbids any discTimina-
ton. Then the single fare systcm
would throw all the work on the Chi
cago offices. aud 1t 10 doubtful II they
would be able TO handle il.
These are the principal schemes, but
several minor plans have t'een tackled
TO them. For instance, the western
roads want the lines running eaet from
Chicago 10 cell single trip tickets 70
New York Ut half rates. This 10 Tor
| the Australian and also for the Califor-
MIA natives that wish 10 keep gong.
The roads wish them to be able TO 60
ar. .und the world st half fare - an
extra inducement for them 10 visit the
fair. Another plan il TO have the roads
radiating from Chicago issue tickets TO
other points NJ prices that will make II
impossible for the scaipers TO do any
business. This 10 10 be operated In con-
pectlon with the one and one third tAre
scheme.
Now, as for myself, I don't believe in
the reduced rates system from ali parts
of the country. The cry 10 made that
the fares must DO low 90 the working
men can attend. But that is all non-
sense. Take . workingmau up IN
Maine, reduce the fare one-haIf and
can he go any better for THAR No; he
can't get away. II he Is an ord nary
workman il takes about ell he can earn
to provide for his family. IL he ~ an
extra good mechanic his employer
won't let HIM get away for any length
Of time. Take yourself and myself as
illustrations. If We could go TO Tampa
Bay, Fla, for S., we couldn't go; be-
cause We couldn't leave our work. Its
the same with thousands Of men. The
persons that would get the benefit OF
| the reduction would be persons that
are amply able to pay full fare; that
will 60 to Chicago and put up At . $i0
q day house and pay from 81 to $3 ex-
ira for each meal. 1t does not seem
to me that the railroads ought
| to be asked to cut their rates for this
class of people. II they open the fair
Sunday, my idea of taking care OF the
workingmen is this: Run cheap Satur-
day night excursions to Chicago and
return Sunday night. This 10 feasible
anywhere within radius Of 500 miles
from Chicago. We can draw them "a
the fair and back for q cent . mile.
There 10 no extra expense to this
They can take their lunches, zee the
fair for . day, and return In time to 20
to work Monday morning. NO time