The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-09

the same reason, all the theatre-goers in the South, was taken at q melting or the conference committee of the Southeastern Passenger Association, held in the Equitable building yester- day. 1t was decided, so it was re- ported on good authority, that begin- ming Jan. 1. 1907, a change will be made. in the present theatrical tariff, and all theatrical or amusement companies of ten persons or more win be charged at uniform rate of 2 cents per mile, says The Atlanta Constitution
 According to theatrical managers and amusement people, this means a very decided increase over the present rate, and 1t is claimed by the theatrical man. agers that this raise in the rate, will have the effect of cutting down the num- Der of persons in the choruses of the companies travelling through the South. rney ;r1 s, also claim that t will be almost impossible for the big spectacular shows with their great pallets and companies ranging in number from one to three hundred to tour the South, and that Southerners who wish to see this sort of entertainment, will them selves have to spend money and travel to the large cities of the East.
 While as a result of the action taken at the meeting which was held in ex-
 
 will instruct their agents in regard to the increase in the charge for the transportation of theatrical companies, there is a legal side to the question which 1t is claimed may interfere with this new order of things. According to one official fin a position to know, the Interstate Commerce Commission has already ruled that all party rates must be open to the public and that there must be no discrimination or special privileges in favor of any certain class of travellers.
 The test of the legality of this action just taken will be watched with the greatest interest not only by the the- atricaf and amusement managers, but by all play-goers and the public as will If the ruling that his party rate must be open to the public as well as to the theatrical companies, 1t will mean that any number of passengers amounting in number to ten or more bound for the same destination, can purchase one of these party tickets and in this way secure for themselves a rate of 2 cents for transportation.
 At present the tariff under which the theatrical companies operate is 2 cents per mile for all parties of from ten to thirty-flve, S-4 cents per mile for all parties of from thirty-five to fifty, and for all parties numbering over fifty, a rate of 1 1-2 cents per mile. Any company numbering twen- ty-five persons or more Is entitled to an extra baggage coach free, while any company numbering less than twenty i've, charge of 15 cents per mile for an extra baggage coach is charged. IL was reported that so far as the bag gage coach conditions are concerned these will remain the same under the new rate effective January 1, as at present.
 From this 1t will be seen that where companies travel hundreds of miles daily. this new raise in the rate amounts to many thousands of dollars. From the time the question of raising the rate was first started, 1t Is claimed that the managers of the big theatri- cal trust and others have stated that if the raise is placed in effect, 1t will mean the cutting down of the number of persons sent out in each theatrical company It is in this connection that the action taken means so much to the public. For years 1t has been a con stant source of complaint on the part og aly nIavgoers in the South that the companies sent out from New York and tba other big companies have discrim- lnsted against the South in that only nara atiyely speaking, which play m the big cities are sent into Dixie while the price charged at the box-ofhce Is the same as that charged for seeing th" entire company in the Eastern cities.
 If the managers, as they have insist ed they will be forced to do. mean 10 still further cut down the number or osrsons fin the East and in the choruses and pallets, this raise in the rate will hardly prove popular with the public. If, on the other hand. the eommisslon decided that this theatrical rate must also be opened to the public. this VIII ~o far toward clearing up the situation as 1t will mean that any ten persons going to New York from Atlanta. or to snv other point for that matter, may cIrib ogether and with the purchase or party ticket, secure rate of cents her mile. It is also expected that 'n swcb an event much of the general travel between large cities would be along these lines. and that traveling ciubs with the added incentive Of lower rate of fare would become in- stantly popular.