The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1908-02-18
Railroad Officials
Given A Hearing
By Lawmakers
Before Legislative Committees in Regard to Re-
duCtiOn of Passenger Rates.
Colonel Russell Proposes Flat Rate OF Two and One-haf
CentS---AI Others Object

Several days ago the Legisla-
ture passed resolutions inviting
the heads Of the railroads oper-
ating in Mississippi to meet the
Railroad Committees of the two
bodies for the purpose of dis
cussing the question of reduc-
tion in passenger rates. Sever
al prominent officials were pres
ent last Thursday, the date
named in the resolutions, and
were given an attentive hearing
Col. E. l.. Russell, Vice Presi-
dent of the Mobile and Ohio and
of the Southern Railway in Mis-
sissippi was the first Speaker.
He said he knew that there had
been great influences brought to
bear throughout the country, re-
sulting in prejudicing a part of
the public mind against railroad
officials and railroad interests
and added: You can not inn
agine the qualification / feel,
however, in being able to state
to you frankly, that the people
Of Mississippi, in so far as my
self and the railroad interests
which I represent are concerned,
have never yet withdrawn from
me their kind, )nsiderate and,
| believe / can add, their affec-
/ tionate regard. " He said that
his life from the time he was a
young confederate soldier and
during his business carcer was
bound up in the success Of the
people of Mississippi wit. whom
he suffered in their adversities
and reiolced in their prosperity
and triumphs. In view Of the
fact that the Southern Railway
| Company had made concessions
lin Alabama, GEORGIA. North Car
Dina and Tennessee; he and
| President Finley had agreed that
Mississippi was entitled to the
same rates as had been agreed
upon with the governors Of the
states named, and that they had
submitted the plan to the Cover
I nor before any measure was pre-
sented 10 ne legislature.
This plan is as follows;
/. A flat rate of 2As cents per
mile for interstate passenger
travel, provided, that no charge
shall be required to be less than
|, / ten cents, and. in the event that
a charge at the said rate Of 2
cents per mile shall aggregate Z
, sum between two multiples OF
five, such charge may be made
, that multiple of five which i.
nearest, or, in the event that the
; amount is equal distant betweel
= two multiples of five, the com
! panies to be permitted to charg'
? the higher or these two multi
D pies of five; and provided fur
> ther, that an extra charge Of /
> cents may be made against an.
b person boarding a train withou
; a ticket, except at statio
, where there is no agent.
b 2. Two thousand mile books
> intra-state, interchangeable wit
, such other solvent roads of tn
b state as will consent, at tw
b cents per mile, good for the head
, Of firms and employees. not e,
, ceeding total number of FIVE, til
b names to be furnished at til
, time of purchase of mileaa
, book, and entered therein.
, 3 One thousan mile book
> intra-state, and interchangeab
b with such other solvent roads
y the state as will consent, limite
p to one individual, at two cen
p per mile, and good only in Il
q hands of the purchaser. the nan
p Of the purchaser to be furnish'