The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-21
hich the passenger business is depen-

V hich the passenger business is depen- dent.
 H. F. Smith, traffic manager of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis, lessee of the Western and Atlantic rail road, presented some figures to show what the loss would be to that line as fe- suit of reduction to two cents The Western and Atlantic would have to haul over 90.000 passengers more every year to make the same revenue.
 MT Smith said when the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis took charge of the Western and Atlantic railroai Il found passenger rates of 21a cents and less. Upon a showing that there had been no increase in the earnings and oSasr facts the railroad commiss permitted the Nashville, Chattanooga nd St LOUIS to put on the general rate of cents per mile.
 It was stated that when the passenger rate was reduced by the Wc=tern and At lantic and the revenues fell off ST 0cO the first year. the wages of the Co.dactors, engineers and other employees were not reduced
 Would it be the policy of the Western and Atlantic to cut the wages of It's employees if this reduction were made! Chairman Brown asked.
 It is the policy of all corporations to keep operating and other expenses Wlthln their income,' MT. Smith replied. When that income is reduced the employees are usually the first to suffer
 Never Had Request.
 S. H. Hardwick, passenger traffic mana ger of the Southern railway, in making reply said in the course of an experience of twenty five years he had never had request from any of the railroads patrons for such a reduction in the passenger rate as this. The proposed reduction amounted to B 1-3 per cent in the pas senger rate, to overcome which it would require an increase of 50 per cent in busi- ness In fact, it would require greater increase in business than this, because of increased expenses, he said-an in- crease, indeed. of about 65 per cent, which he did not believe the commission or any one else would claim could be secured.
 It would naturally mean fewer trains. less expensive trains and not so good service as the people are now being given. MT. Hardwick concluded by presenting a statistical argument to show why a 2-cent rate would be unjust to the rail- roads and would not enable them to make a fair compensation.
 There was a colloquy between Chair man Brown and MT. Hardwick, during which 1t was brought out that the popua- ton had greatly increased in Georgia since ,Ee three-cent rate was made in 1881. being reduced from four cents; also that expenses of operation have greatly increased. The wages and salaries of the emflnyes were about the same.
 Fsrr h Vice President J. NJ. Culp, of the Southern railway, called attention to the fact that while the population may have doubled since the rate was reduced to three cents, twenty-five years ago,
 it was also fact that the railroad mile age in Georgia had about doublSd in the hat hp | much more mileage. and the proportion of population to mileage remained about the same
 Prominent Men Present. Among the railroad officials present and participating in the hearing were: J. M Culp, Washington, traffic manager Southern; T. M. Emerson, Wilmington N. C., third vice president Atlantic Coast Line first vice president of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, Louisville; c. B.. Compton, Louisville, traffic manager of the Louisville and Nashville; c. l.. Stone, Louisville, general passenger agent of the Louisville and Nashville; s. H. Hardwick, Washington, passenger traffic manager of the Southern; w. H. Tayloe, Washington, general passenger agent of the Southern; Major J. F. Hanson, Macon, president of the Central of Georgia w. A. Winburn, Savannah. first vice president Of the Central of Georgia; A R. Lawton, Savan- nah, second vice president of the Central of Georgia J. c. Halle, Savannah. gen eral passenger agent of the Central; c. B. Ryan, Porthmouth, Va, general pas senger agent of the Seaboard Air Line; w. H. Christian, Atlanta, assistant gen eral passenger agent of the Seaboard Air Line. H. F. Smith. Nashville, traffic man ager of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St Louis Ranway w. J. Craig, N,ilmng- ton. N C.. general passenger agent of the Atlantic Coast Line; Genera l Manager Legg. G. F. & A.; General Passengef Agent Aston of the G. F. & A; c. Rhodes, Macon, general passenger agent G. S. & F.. J. P. Billups. Atlanta. general passenger agent Atlanta and West Point road; J. c. Beam, Jr., district passenger agent of the Southern c. A. Wickersham, Atlanta, president Atlanta and West Point road; C. E. Harmon. Atlanta, gen era, passenger agent Western and Atlantic road: J. G. Hollenbeck. district passengei agent of the Louisville and Nashville road
 Robert L. Coldng of Savannah repre- scented the organized and unorganized labor interests.
 Below are the names of the official rep