The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-25
sleeping Car Bills.

{ Congressman Fielder Of New Jersey Is
the author Of bill 70 regulate the fare
charged Oh sleeping AMI parlor cars. 3Ir.
Fielder has little hope that this congress
viii give much attention 20 his bill Never
f tael De is watching every opportunity
10 have fl pushed along. He viii even
try ID nave St made rider upon the pool
iHe DID, in order that IT, mey possibly
he ariel through by that measure.
It is almost astonishing to note how
many sleeping car bills. more or less sim
uar 20 the Din % Mr.. Fielder. have been
introduced ln the various legislatures now
in session. a bin introduced in
the New York legislature pro-
poses to make the rate for
sleeping ga. berthe 50 cents each per trip.
without regard T. distance. a Pennsyl-
vauia ttll names 81 as the rate for the
FIRST leo miles anJ % cents for each i0
miles. An Illinois bin proposes to split
Tho present rates in half Another bin
Do tna same state suggests 81 per twenty
four hours as an amply neavy charge for
sleeper service The Illinois Iegislators-
Puilnau's works are in Iuinois-are so
much wrought zap upon the subject of
palace car rates that not less than fifteen
bills on the subject, il IS thought. will be
introduced before the adjournment of the
legislature. Iu Indiana bill proposes to
place tho rate for sleeper service at Is
cents for the frs. 1co miles and 50 cents
Cor each addition 100 miles. In Kansas a
bin 90 knock about % per cent. Off of the
current rate IS pending In Nebraska
eleven bills propose q varied schedule OF
rates ranging from 25 cents per section
peg day Co 81 per day. and even to two.
three or four mills per mile. An Arkansas
bin proposes TO limit the rate to half
cent per mile. In Texas 81 night is the
figure suggested. In the state of Wash
ington a bill proposes to fix the rate al s.
for twenty-four hours. 81 for twelve
hours AMI 90 cents for six hours or less
And there are probably other bills some
l what similar not included in this sum
mary
The Railway Age characterizes this raid
upon cars above the standard OF ordinary
/ coaches as a movement Ito make Sleep
ing and parlor cars intolerable" and
/ charges that the motives behind most OF
the bills are evil or else the advocates
/ OF the bills are moved by demagogy or
/ ignorance People patronize sleeping cars
and parlor cars for the same reasons thas
they patronizo hrst-class hotels-to secure
/ comfort luxury ana comparative privacy.
/ They pay voluntarily the prices charged.
I There are less luxurious railway cars
provided at lower rates, just as there are
cheaper hotels that may be patronized by
persons unwilling to pay the rates charged
/ by hrst-class hotels. No compulsion is
cxerted in either case To pass laws ar
bitrarily lowering the rates for sleeping
[ car service would be TO lower the standard
! Of such service. 1t stands to reason that
companies could not be expected to main
tain for 81 the same service they now
/ charge 50 for. The character of the pa
/ irons Of the sleepers would also be low
/ cred; tho privacy of the sleepers
would be destroyed and crowded
/ cars ana enforced sacrifice of
modesty and self-respect would result
/ frequently. Under these conditions the
I
/ become a horror instead o. a pleasure to
most Of those who now enjoy its al.
/ vantages.
/ There can be little doubt that much Of
/ the agitation against palace car compa-
mics had its beginning in the Pullman
strike last summer and that It is being
worked up by political demagogues who
| play upon the prcjudices OF those who
never use palace cars, and would not
do 50 if the charge was only half dollar
in addition to the regular fare. The
numerous bills referred to. 1t is claimed,
are merely a sop to the populistic spirit
which hates the appearance of prosper
ity and comfort. Still, it is undoubtedly
fact that sleeping car rates are toe
high, and there are arbitrary regulations
which appear to have been made in entire
disregard of the comfort of the travelling
! Duhlfc