Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-03-12
REDUCTION OF PASSENGER RATES.

| VIII De considered by the railroad
Commission within few days.
In the North and West several
States have reduced the passenger
rates recently, either to two or two
and half cents. It would seem
that the movement for lower rate
is about to become general and
that within the year every State
Will either reduce rates similarly
or have an agitation under way
looking to that end.
There is undoubtedly a very
strong feeling throughout Georgia
in favor of lower rate than here
tofore charged. Therapid growth
of the State in population, and the
consequent increase in travel, has
led to the belief that reduction
of the rate from three to two and
half cents will work no great
financial hardship on the railroads,
but that the loss per mile on the
individual passenger carried will
be more than made up by the in
crease in travel brought about by
lower ta1iff. Such is claimed to
| have been the result in other
States.
A reduction in the passenger
rate to two cents, we cam OF help
feeling, is uncalled for and would
work an injustice to the inVestors
in railroad securities. Complaints
are continuously made as to the
imperfect service of the railroads,
of the poor condition of their
rights of way, and of inferior
depots and coaches. With a
radical reduction in the passenger
rate of one third it would pro-
badly be a hopeless effort here
after to bring about improvements
alongssthese lines. Railroads have
rights, the same as other business
enterprises, and while it may be
true that they have not at all times
measured up to their responsible
ties and duties to the public the
actual conditions do not warrant
any such cut in their income as
would result from the reduction
asked for in passenger rates. A
reduction of the rate to two and a
half cents is as far as the Commits
sion should go,or is likely to go, at
! this time.
What the people of Georgia
really want, we would judge from
the current comments, is a better
service, rather than cheaper,
trains that keep better schedule
and are freer from the element of
danger that has been so strikingly
! present in travel throughout the
country of late. This is really far
more important than the little saw
ing that, would come to theaverage
Individual by reason of reduced
rates. The travel that is done by
the vast majority of people is,
after all, on a much lower rate
than three cents. Untold thous-
ands avail themselves of special
rates granted at intervals through
out the year, land more particularly
the very low rates in force to
hundreds of resorts during the
summer season. Those who travel
to any extent already have two
and a ha cent rate, with inter
changeable books. 1t is not i'm
probable that the railroads would
accept the probable reduction to
two and half cents, while cut to
two cents would undoubtedly be
fought in the courts.
1t is far better to take slice
Of cake rather than none at all.
If conditions really warrant any
reduction in the rate it would be
far better to press for drop of 4
half cent on the mile and secure it
than endeavor to make radical
cut in the rate such as the Union
requests and tie the Commission
up in a.long litigation.
/ Hartman is frpOuentlV referred