Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-28
Public Nor Railroad csrpaPs|pns
arc Satisfied With Ticket Decision.
CONCESSIONS ARE aADE TO BOTH.
Decision !" c. 3. g a. Brings to the
Front the Whole Question Of the
Conditions on Which Limited Tick,
eta are Issued.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. GA
question Of serious Importance TO the
travelling public has been passed IN.
on by the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission The decision, or ruling. of
the commission, while 1t is In a meas.
ure concession to the public and
to the railroads. Is likely 10 prove
inadequate to meet the exigencies of
such situation ia often arise In the
case of travellers.
Several months ago ono of tho In.
terstate Commerce ,Commiasionero 70
ceived letter from n passenror ,,e-
ciai Oh the Chicago. Burlington and
0u,ncy railroad inquiring whether.
,, inc interstate commerce act. n
limited passenger ticket could be ex.
,ended by the line issuing the ticket.
III response. the commissioner wrote
tnat the extension OF n limited ticket
Would be n violation of the law. and
mat u could not be done legally.
IN the routine work OF the com.
mission. inquiries of that kind con
s.anuy are being received by tho sev.
eral commissioners and the replies
uhey may make TO them are called
administrative rulings" Such mi,
insa! are not ordinarily passed upon
e. the opinions of the comuissloncr
VINO replies to the inquiry.
In this particular case the passep.
Ger oihcials of tho G. y. and O. rail.
road doubted the legality OF tho ra,I.
ing They. therefore, submitted Tho
question to their general counsel, Ar.
yer mature consideration. the attor.
neys decided that the ruling was er.
roneous and advised tho .officials 10
extend the time Of limited ticket
provided that satisfactory excuse
was presented by the purchaser and
holder OF the ticket They pointed
OUT for instance. that the holder Of
the ticket might be taken sick and
% unable to travel within the >tine
OF the ticket; and that 1t would no
manifestly unjust, in such circun,.
stances. to compel him 10 lose bis
fare. 'ose n'S
Inc attitude of the c.. B. and q
became. naturally. common know.
iedse. among other lines and they
Drought the question again to the, ~.
tention of the commissioner. After
careful consideration. the commits.
Sioner issued n formal ruling. s,per.
sedinE the administrative ruling. and
providing that a limited ticket may
DE extended In the case of slcl;nnes
OF the holder. The ruling also nro.
vides, that tickets held bv members.
ol tho family of the person sick or
OF attendants Of that person a,so.
may be extended. The commissioner
says that this concession, must ha OK.
ecuted In good faith by the railroads
and warns the carriers that no ad.
vantage must t.e taken OF II 10 the de.
triment OF competing lines Tt'l
This decision has brought to tho
front the whole question of. the cou.
dition on which limited tickets nre
issued. Many railroad lawyers main.
tain that the conditions upon which
limited passenger tickets are sold are
wholly within the power of tho rail-.
road Issuing them: and that any eY.
cuse acceptable to the railroad Off.
Gals for the extension of the time
limit on ticket is legal. The com.
mission does not view the matter In
tnat way. maintaining that line s.
likely to take undue advantage Of
such a privilege.
1t is known that some railway, line
have determinei to contest the All.
thority of the commission TO ,placa
such restrictions upon them In tho
Issuance of limited tickets. and II Is
not improbable. that the question in.
volred will have TO be. eventually,
threshed out In the courts.