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 1-2 Cent Basis
Throughout the
State.

Columbia, January 3.-South Car
oliaa will get the benefit, SO far az
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 w. w. Finley, Of the
Southern railway, at conference in
the governors office today; stated
that on April I, 1908, the Southern
Railway would put into effect in
South Carolina the following rates:
For straight tickets, 2 1-2 cents
per mile.
For family mileage books, 2 ii
cents per mile.
For l,000-milc and 2,OOO-mile mil
cage books, 2 cents per mile.
The conference was attended by
Governor Aascl, Attorney General
Lyon, Chairman Caughman, Of the
railroad commission, and Commits
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 tho South
ern Railway. The conference was
neld 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 the Southern intends,
without compulsion, TO put into eff
feet the rates which it has propos-
ed as a compromise in North Car
olina, Georgia aid Alabama. lie felt
assured that the agreement entered
into would be made effective in these
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 ID 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
$11.25.
The 2-cent rate for mileage books
of 1000 and 1000 miles relates to
individual mileage books, and also to
what are termed mercantile books,
good for members of a firm or bust
ness concern up to five individuals,
the names Of each Of whom shall ap-
pear in the book.
Rates May Become Inter Estate.
All these rates are, Of course, to
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 traf-
fic manager, further stated that for
convenience and facility in handling
business the Southern desires to
make 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 IL cents COM
es to $2.32, to sell tho ticket for
$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 extra bonus for fares paid
on trains, and il order to discourage
this practice the Southern desires to
make an extra charge Of Is cents
for fares paid on trains, as this is a
matter which gives the road much
trouble.
Mr.. Finley stated to tnc governor
that so far as the Southern is coil
cerned it does not ask for lcgisla-
ton to make these rates effective,
but Mr.. Abney, when called on by
Mr.. Finley, suggested that lcgisla-
ton might be advisable and desira-
hn nj I,f