The Washington times., 1908-07-21
Plan Campaign Against Rail
road Companies Connect
ing With Washington.
is IMPOSITION
ON BUSINESS MEN
District Of Columbia Unjustly Dis
eliminated Against, Is the
Contention.

An active campaign to bring about a
reduction in the high rates now charged
by the various railroad companies
which connect Washington with the
other parts of the country has been
inaugurated by the Washington Cham
Der of Commerce For a long time the
members of that body have believed
that the District of Columbia was be-
ing unjustly Disseminated against, and
this feeling has now crystalliZed into a
definite move.
The executive committee has taken up
the matter, and is 20 make a careful
study of the problem. Not sufficient
time has elapsed since the committee
entertained the subject officially for a
definite plan of action to be made. but
II is understood that. having been very
deliberate about going into the matter.
the committee will not cease its eff
forts until 1t has brought the campaign
to a successful conclusion.
Situation Is Explained
A preliminary discussion of the ques-
ton was held at meeting Of the execu-
tive committee yesterday. The situa-
ton, as briefly explained, is one wherein
3 cents per mile is charged from Wash
ington to practically all points. whereas
from nearby Alexandria, for instance,
the rate TO any part Of Virginia is only
2 cents per mile.
A man travelling from this city to
Richmond, $50 miles away. would be
charged $3.50. or cents per mile. But
he could 60 six miles to Alexandria for
Is cents, and from there the rate to
Richmond would be only cents per
mile. or $3.50 for the trip In other
words, one can travel from Alexandria
TO any part Of Virginia for cents per
mile, but II one buys the ticket in
Washington the charge is cents per
mile for the entire distance.
This situation is regarded by the ex-
ecutive committee as an absurd imposi-
ton on business common sense. The
executive committee believes that once
the matter has been laid properly before
the public, in a way that will indicate
what it is costing the merchants in the
way of lost trade, there will be a popu-
lar force Of sentiment arise that the
railroads cannot ignore.
Alexandria the Object Point.
Buyers from outlying points make
occasional excursions to a business cen
ter, TO look around and place their
orders, it is pointed out They take
their supplies most naturally from the
places they actually visit, and a great
many people, especially those on the
BluemOnt division of the Southern rail-
way. get no farther than Alexandria
when visiting a particular market. be-
cause 10 come to Washington would
cost them just 50 per cent more pei
mile Business men Of other cities have
often been heard TO boast that Wash
lngton merchants could not compete
with them as long as the railroads
showed the present discrimination as tC
rates
According to statements made at YES
terday's meeting of the executive com
mittee Of the Washington Chamber n
Commerce. il is a matter of fnterstat +,
commerce which enables the railroad,
70 charge the higher rate 10 and from
Washington. 1t is Washington's uOsi
ton between two States. of which m /,
a part Of neither, that affords the rail
roads opportunity for the higher ira n,
rates under interstate commerce laws
Chicago is in the throes of a sdrniIa-
struggle, Its merchants realizing tina
they Wall lose large amount Of bust
ness rom Wisconsin unless the rail
roads lower the rates. Similar circliro
stances or geographical position cause,
a ngnt with the railroads by the n1er
chants of St Louis, and the publ,
Won the fight, as was also the case (,
Cincinnati. -
To Secure Figures and Data.