Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-03
Another Move in the Railroad Con-
fict Now Waging.
CUT OF TEE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION
Views Of the Representatives of
Both Interests.
A BOUT OTHER ADS

ence. which lasted until q late hour last
night, the members decided to not only
meet but pass the cut in rates made Tues
day and Wednesday by the Seaboard, and
ordered cut Of almost two-thirds In the
present schedule.
Late yesterday afternoon the Southern
railway Company filed a notice with the
interstate commerce commission of an in
tention to meet the Seaboards cut Of 33 1-3
schedules. and 1t Is expected that in &C
cordance with the decision of the execu-
tive board Of the Southern Freight Associa-
ZION, which was reached at a still later
will be filed today with the interstate
commerce commission by the Southern of
Its intention to pass the Seaboard's cut. so
that the reduced rates may go into effect
as speedily as possible after that Of the
Seaboard's. which takes effect Friday and
Saturday, respectively.
AS the Southern's new schedule cannot be
made effective until after three days no.
the lower figures for either passenger
travel or freight traffic until Sunday The
reduced rate will be about G5 per cent be-
low the present tariff. and will be made ap-
territory of the Southern States Freight
Association which is touched by the Sea-
board Air Line or any of its allied roads.
AS VIII be seen below. the Seaboard prac-
l.
ready announced. and there is no telling
now cheaply people will be able to travel
before the war is brought to close
from inns time on until peace is re-
stored, unless there should be a change
"hlch Is not likely. in the plans of the
managers who are conducting the Sea-
board Air Line end of the war with the
Southern States Freight Association said
prominent official of the first-named
company last evening in Baltimore to A
Star reporter, the Seaboard NAV he ex
pected to force the fighting, and as the
first step in that direction since filing no
tlce or their intention to cut rates on both
passenger and tariff schedules with the
interstate commission they have decided to
comply with the request of the Travellers
Protective Association of America. and will
put on sale. to go into effect tomorrow
n.llage books, covering 1900 miles of tray
Ell. for $40; 1.OOO-mile books can also be
purchased, but the charge for these will be
SIS. or at the rate of 21a cents per mile. as
against 2 cents a mile when the larger
book is purchased
Part of the Plan.
The Seaboard Line people claim that they
decided on this action some time ago and
would have put the new rates into effect
ere this but for the fact that Judge Simon
ton issued his now famous injunction, and
that when the latter went into effect they
were poWeriess to carry out their plans in
the matter.
Since, however, the injunction has been
dissolved they are at liberty to do as they
please in their territory until at least sons.
one gets out an Injunction compelling them
TO again suspend the cut rate schedule
The action of the Seaboard is regarded as
slsnlncant at this time, the railroad COM
riissoners of Georgia have now before
mem petition from the Georgia division
OF the Travellers Protective Association of
America, asking the commission to compel
the railroads over which they have control
to reduce their rates to the figures now con-
ceded to the travelling public NV the Sea
board.
1t has been heretofore understood that the
passenger officials of all the roads in the
south were opposed to granting the con-
eessions asked for as above stated, because
ire roads, as they said. could not stand
the lower rate. and this action by the Sea-
board seems to be playing right into the
hands of the travelling men.
Some OF the Seaboard people. in talking
to a Star reporter this subject said
that for some reason, the cause of which
they were ignorant, the great army of COM
mercial men travelling in the south have
come out in favor of the Seaboard with
both feet and are are doing splendid mis-
sionary work in its behalf, getting both pas
sengers and freight for it.
1t seems that the Seaboard is determined
to thoroughly demoralize both freight and
passenger rates whenever it is In their
power to do so, and it is reported on good
authority that Vice President ST John
has declared that every time an injunction
is applied for the Seaboard Air Line will
reduce the fare 81. 1t is further stated
but not officially, that il the roads in the
Southern States Freight Association meet
the present cut the Seaboard will go be-
low 1t, even If in the course Of the next
week or two the the round trip rate from
Washington to Atlanta is reduced TO $11
for the round trip. good until used.
Effect on Other Roads.
Passenger men connected with lines which
have not yet been brought into the fight
between the Southern and Seaboard say
that radical cut in passenger rates would
hurt roads not in the south, and that a
reduction of 80 cents in the fare from
Pennsylvania railroad alone sJO0,0O0 year.
because a slight change like that would
demOralize rates all over the country 1t
is quite certain, however. that the Penn
sylvania would not be the only line af-
fected, end that the Baltimore and Ohio
and, in fact, every trunk line would be
heavy loser. There are some people
urcharitable enough to say that the Sea-
cause the Pennsylvania to suffer loss Of
revenue, and if it can succeed in disar-
ranging the very carefully adjusted sched-
ule of rates through the south and west it
may be able to hurt the Pennsylvania
against which it has grievance.
Regarding report that the Southern
States Freight Association was preparing a
tariff on basis of 81 80 per cent reduction
to Seaboard competitive points, ignoring
the long and short haul clauses of the in
terstate commerce law, Mr.. St. John die
tated the following statement to his priva te
secretary, who gave a copy to The Star re-
porter:
Il have heard Of that r'lmor, but believe
that the interstate commerce commission
will enforce, in it's own way, law which
demands that no higher rate shall be made
for shorter than for longer haul.
THE Seaboard will obey this feature Of
the law in tariffs to be issued in the future
as in the past. So far as the association is
concerned, and that means the Southern
railway, for it can control the votes of a
majority, we may be compelled to test its
legality in the courts, as the people may
have to test the constitutionality of certain
consultations, purchasers and leases of
railroads IN Georgia and North Carolina a
little later on. for it would seem that pres
ent conditions cannot much longer con-
tinue.
1.-The present disturbances in rates result
from the Southern's efforts to destroy our
revenues and business, after which The re-
suits likely to follow may be easily mag
ired. The responsibilities are theirs, and
the remedy is with them. we shall defend
our property and our rights from an in
tended quiet and subtle attack. from what
ever source it may come. with the same
force and spirit that we would an attack
made openly and boldly, and We will con-