The sun., 1908-01-23
FOR 3 CENT PASSENGER RATES
TIE UPSTATE PUBLIC SERVICE
BOARD FAVORS 1T.
II Says tho Extensive Use OF = Cent Mileage
Books Il Presumptlye Evidence That
They Are Sold &C Q PrOnt-CentrRls In
crease OF Rate 60 Albany Condemned.

crease OF Rate 60 Albany Condemned.
ALBANY. Jan. 72-Gensral two cent
passenger rates upon all the steam rail-
roads In this State are foreshadowed by
the annual report Of the upstate Public
Service Commission. just submitted to the
Legislature.
The fact says the commission, that
two cent mileage books are 40 extensively
used and tho continuance Of such books
In use afford a sufficient presumption that
the roads can afford to carry ali passengers
at the same rate to justify exhaustive in
qulry into the facts
The commission feels its existence Is
due TO the two cent fare agitation, and after
pointing out that the abolition OF free passes
must undoubtedly produce a marked in
crease In passenger net revenues adds:
The commission has come to the conclusion
that the use OF the rate OF two cents per mile
in the sale Of mileage books AT lords reasonable
presumption that the company sells such
transportation at reasonable profit: that there
Ia no such distinction between transportation
| under the mileage book and transportation
| under an ordinary ticket as TO alone justify
Q conclusion that transportation by ticket
| cannot be afforded at the same price as by
mileage book that the commission will pro-
coed as promptly as practicable with an In
yssti gation Of the subject OF passenger fares
In this State and ascertain whether it Is just
and proper to make any change in the maxi
mum amount to be charged per mile.
The commission reviews a number Of
considerations which should enter into the
fixing Of a fiat two cent passenger rate and
attempts to show that it is approaching this
subject from an unbiased standpoint. and
yet careful reading Of the report leaves
no doubt that although the commission says
II is going to investigate this bject further
1t already has made up it's mind to report in
favor Of an order for a general two cent
passenger rate. The commission finds that
a large part Of the passenger rates in this
State is at two cents a mile through the sale
and use OF mileage books.
The commission refers TO the suggestion
Of the New York Central that il is to increase
the passenger rate between New York
and Albany from S3.lO to $500 for a single
trip ticket and declares such increase would
be unjustifiable. The commission goes
further and says that the New York Central
should be compelled 20 cut Off certain
arbitrary eXceSses in passenger fares above
two cents a mile which now obtain on
local tickets between certain points on its
lines. This is evidenced by the fact that the
regular fare between New York and Albany
is 50 10, while II a passenger should buy a
ticket from New York TO Poughkeepsie
and then a ticket from Poughkeepsie to
Albany, he could ride from New York to
Albany for s2.67.
Comparatively few complaints Of freight
rates have been presented TO the commits
sion and the great majority OF these have
been settled informally.
The commission says when carriers de-
liberately raise the minimum carload weight
for any given commodity their obligation
to furnish cars for shipment within a rea-
sonable time includes provision of car
in such reasonable time which will permit
the shipment to be made in accordance
with their own rules and not operate to
force a charge for the shipment higher
than that in their published tariffs. Ii is
also added that there is much to be said in
favor OF a minimum carload rate which will
vary with the capacity of the car furnished.
Referring to the policy of the carriers 10
make large increases in rates through
changes in classification, the commission
says TO meet this condition IL may become
necessary to devise means whereby ma
terial advances in rates on inmportat staple
articles and other largely shipped COM
modities may be stayed for a reasonable
time pending necessary investigation, for
it is no more than just that the law should
he effective in operation 10 the extent Of
providing machinery for the prevention Of
wholesale injustice.
In conclusion the commission says that
cCn6lueTeQ bOlelY Win reference TO the
amount Of freight rates the frei ght rates
OF carriers operating in New York State
are, because OF large aggregate traffic,
among the lowest for given distances in
the United States
The commission now EMPLOYS sixty-siN
persons and admits il will require a big
increase in it's fOrCein the near future
An annual inspection is to be made OF the
49, 100 miles OF steam railroad, as well as Of
the hundreds of electric roads in the State
al hs
States share Of eliminating grade cross
ings is recommended and the continuation
OF this work approved.
In discussing the adequacy and eff
ciency Of the steam railroad service the
commission says:
Shippers also often unjustihably hold cars
in their possession. preferring to pay de
murrage charges rather than promptly for
ward or unload their shipments. The statute
explicitly forbds fayOTitism and discrimina-
tion In the furnishing OF the cars, and il is the
duty Of the commission to enforce the statute
In this respect as far as possible. The com
mission has insisted that local traffic shall
be taken care of b. roads chartered by the
State as a FIRST duty TO our citizens. and prac-
tcal and far reaching results have been
obtained in this direction. Delays in the
movement OF cars by carriers after shipment
occur principally at large terminals. These
delays are due partly to administrative in
emclenCy Dy carriers Ot1lcerS ana employees,
but mainly from congestion OF the terminals
with business. Some roads are making
extraordinary efforts to enlarge their ter
minAl facilities at great expense. As TO
freight service. the commission ia pursuing
inquiries and collecting statistics, which are
necessarily yet incomplete. Passenger SER
vice In the case OF a large number of trains
has been found very unsatisfactory and the
public inconvenience and irritatlo can hardly
be overestimated.
The commission has received upward Of
400 complaints against public service cor
porations. Many Of these have been settled
Informally and to the satisfaction of the
complainant without the necessity OF hear
ing or formal order. The corporations
have shown commendabls COOP GRAFTON in
remedyinE grievances and satisfying proper
demands for improved conditions.
The commission says that the total per-
manent additions and betterments to steam
rOa1~ since June 80, 1905, aggregates $751;
OCT $50.
Actress WedS on Eve OF Operation.
CHICAGO, Jan. 22.--On the eve Of an
operation for appendicitis Miss Sarah