The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-07
SOUTHERN TO REDUCE RATES.
President Finley, at Conference
With the State Officials at Co.
lumbia, Agrees to Reduce
Straight Passenger Fares
to 2 1-2 Cent Basis
Throughout the
State.

Columbia, January 3.-South Car
oliaa viii get the benefit, so far as
the Southern Railway is concerned,
Of the reduction in rates made by
legislative enactment in other states
Of the south, but without the turmoil
Of legislative agitation and without
the expense of prolonged litigation.
President ". ". Finley, Of the
Southern railway, at conference IN
the governors Office today; stated
that on April l, 1908, the Southern
Railway would put into effect II
South Carolina the following rates
For straight tickets, 2 1-2 cents
per mile.
For family mileage books, 2 IA
cents per mile:
For l,oOO-mile and 2,oOo-nile mil
cage books, 2 cents per mile.
TIE conference was attended by
Governor A1sel, Attorney General
Lyon, Chairman Caughman, Of the
railroad commission, and Comml5-
sioners Sullivan and Earle on the
part Of the state, and by President
Finley, Vice President Culp, Gener-
al Counsel Thorn and Division Coun-
sci Abney on the part Of the South
ern Railway. The conference was
nei in the Office Of the governor and
was open, being attended by the
newspaper men.
Mr.. Finley, in a conversational
way, put the proposition of the
Southern before the governor, ex-
planning as he went along the rea-
sons for the different rates AID the
reasons governing the railroad in
making this proposition. He explain
ed that the Southern on account OF
the fairness with which South Car
olina had treated the railroads had
a disposition to give the state the
benefit of the reduced rates, and
consequently tt Southern intends,
without compulsion, TO put into et-
feet the rates which it has propos-
ed as a compromise in North Car
olina, Georgia AID Alabama. He felt
assured that the agreement entered
into would be made effective in tnese
states, and perhaps in Virginia also.
The same treatment promised South
Carolina would be given Tennessee,
which has also been liberal IN the
matter of legislation.
The 2 1-2 cents rate will apply to
all Interstate passenger business on
straight fares. The 2 IA cents rate
for family mileage books, which con-
tain the name Of the head Of the
family. will cover books for 500 miles,
entailing a minimum expenditure OF
SLIPS.
The 2-cent rate for mileage books
of 1000 and 1900 miles relates to
individual mileage books, and also to
what are termed mercantile books,
GOOD for members Of a firm or buSl-
ness concern up to five Individuals,
the names Of each Of whom shall ap-
pear in the book.
Rates May Become Inter- State.
All these rates are, OF course, 70
be Interstate, but if the same rates
are agreed to in adjacent states it IS
the purpose of the Southern to make
the same rates Interstate.
Mr.. Culp, vice president and trat-
fc manager, further stated that tor
convenience and facility in handling
business the Southern desires to
make a minimum charge Of ten cents
for tickets, selling no ticket for less
than that amount, and also to sell
tickets in multiples of five; IN other
words, if the rate at 2 - cents com
Is to $2.32, to sell the ticket Tor
$3.50, and if it comes to $2.33 to sell
the ticket for $235. This is done to
save time and trouble in making
change. Under the decision OF the
courts in this state the roads cannot
charge an ex ira bonus for fares pald
on trains, and in order to discourage
this practice the Southern desires to
make an extra charge of ID cents
for fares paid On trains, rs this Is a
matter which gives the road much
trouble.
Mr.. Finley stated to the governor
that so far as the Southern is con-
cerned it does not ask for leglsla-
~tion to make these rates effective,
but Mr.. Abney, when called on by
Mr.. Finley, suggested that leglsla-
ton might be advisable and deslra-
BILE for the reason that there might
l .o,,o 1;Ho,,1+v in anfOrclno the