New-York tribune., 1907-06-20
ALIENS PAY BIG FARES.
INQUIRY ON TO-DAY.
Commission to See If Roads 4gree
to OUercharge Immigrants.

to Ouercharge Immigrants.
An alleged practice among all the railroads
| carrying passengers westward from New York
| practically amounting TO an unjust and unrea-
sonable discrimination in fares quoted to immi-
grants will be the subject of an investigation 10
be held in this city this morning by the Inter
state Commerce Commission. The complainant
in the case is Mr.. Watchorn. Commissioner Of
immigration Martin S. Decker has been de-
tailed by the commission as special examiner TO
conduct the preliminary hearing of the evidence
to be submitted by Mr.. Watchorn and to report
to tho commission whether the railroads have
made themselves liable to prosecution for viola
ton Of the interstate commerce regulations.
Some dozen more witnesses will be exam
| ined at the hearing Most of them. it Is said,
are immigrants who complained to Commits
sioner Watchorn that they were compelled to
pay moro for transportation than friends of
theirs. bound for the same points. These friends
having passed the immigrant stage and having
become tolerably familiar with some OF the ways
of the country were enabled 10 get transporta-
tion with far better accommodations than the
new arrivals
When the matter was brought 10 Commits
sloner Watchorn's attention he Immediately set
TO work and secured lists of the passenger tar
ifs OF the various classes issued by the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company. the Baltimore &
Ohio. the Central Railroad OF New Jersey. the
Lehigh Valley, the Erie. the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna & Western and the Philadelphia & Read
ing roads. The New York Central & Hudson
River Railroad carries no immigrant traffic. but
n comparison of the rates quoted TO immigrants
by the West Shore, to which that traffic is d.
verted. with those allowed 10 immigrants by the
other roads disclosed the fact that none OF the
roads We're making special Inducements in the
matter Of comfort low rates TO get the bulk
of the immigrant traffic on the contrary. the
Commissioner found that there sufficient
confirmation Of the statements of the complain
ing immigrants that they getting a mini
mum Of travelling comforts for about the same
rates that are made 10 first class passengers.
IMMIGRANTS RIDE ON SMOKER
\ study of the regulations and conditions
which Printed the tickets issued by the
railroads to immigrants shows that the only
privilege Is the right 70 ride I'm a smoking car.
For the westward immigration traffic about the
poorest samples Of rolling stock in the way of
passenger cars are selected. and once the immi
grant gets into the at the railroad terminal
he Is bound TO stay there until he reaches his
destinat ton His ticket entities him 10 a seat
but sometimes he is unfortunate in not being in
the vanguard of the heavily laden hordes from
the transatlantic liners, and has TO make of
his baggage or of the floor for sitting
we'll as sleeping accommodations, for no sleeping
car privilege accompanies the payment for
transportation between New York and the des
tination of the immigrant
Few of the immigrants acquainted with
the luxury, real reputed. of the Pullman
chair or sleeping dining cars. Were any so
/ inclined, however. 10 pay for a Pullman seat or
a sleeping BERTH they would be unable to spend
lIt-tl tl,
same rates TO both near and distant points the
ordinary first class passenger who rides in the
day coach pays more and in some cases less
than the immigrant, II is said The first class
passenger also has the privilege of using the
chair or sleeping cars If he pays in addition the
regular tariff charges for these accommodations
One of the cases reported to Commissioner
Watchorn that OF an immigrant who had
TO pay So - for transportation to Philadelphia.
For this amount. in accordance with the usual
stipulation printed on the face OF the ticket. he
was allowed to ride in the smoking The
ticket Furthermore had TO he used within two
days from the date of purchase. For the same
amount, 81 % the ordinary first class passen-
ger between New York and Philadelphia obtains
a ticket unlimited TO the time in which ii
must he used.
Immigrants who want 10 go to Atlantic City
on pleasure or business have TO pay $3 for trans
portation one way. on ordinary trains the first
class passenger. with the privilege of entering
the dining ear, pays no more, ana frequently
during the summer excursions arc run between
New York and the watering place for which
only 50 30 Is charged for round trip.
RATES SAME AS FOR FIRST CLASS
In no case. it is understood, that has so far
come under Commissioner Watchorn's observa-
ton the rates for immigrants from New
York to points further away lower than those
made TO ordinary day coach travellers.
This is the first time that the Interstate Com
merce Commission has been asked to pass upon
the question. Should the evidence presented to-
day by Commissioner Watchorn and the other
witnesses satisfy the examiner that unjust and
unreasonable discrimination has been consist
emily practised against the immigrants by the
railroads. it is likely that the latter will soon be
called upon to defend prosecutions for violation
of the interstate commerce laws
Officials of several of the railroads whose pas
senger tariffs to be investigated, when seen
last night in regard to the alleged unjust dis
elimination of their roads, seemed surprised that
the holding of the hearing known. 1t was
learned. however. that the roads which are men
toned in Commissioner Watchorn's complaint
will be represented at the hearing and that they
Continued second page.
DEWEY'S CLARET OR SAUTERNE PUNCH.