Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-17
RAILROADS GRANTED
HALF CENT INCREASE
Two Members Of State Corporation
Commission Consent 10 Higher
Passenger Fares.
RHEl OsSENlS FROM OPINION
Decision Does Away With Two Cent
Rate-Major,ty Report Says Course
for Upbuildins Of Various Virgin a
Transportation Corporations.

RICHMOND. VA. March l6.-Th
maximum twoc"nr railroad passenger
rate is 10 20 ana in It's place Virginia
Is Ia have Il hat two ard 4 half cent
rate
So d,,lr,, -" St.,r CORPORATE Il
CommySi"l "hit il l. : morning hand
ed Gown i, np niun il TN" ca*'s OF
the Norfolk a..d w :"In. thrsa'
peakc and On q A''r..l.. Ca line.
S"atnald Ar in" and Southern
m!c.. Eh..l El.d a ii'.-n:iuc o?in'
ion H., ~" : r"' 'inuE \ two and
nn"-tali cont ~: himrm rate j. ''r"as
onanir or just unless coupled with
an aSsnranc" upon the part Il III"
railroads" hat they will put into Of
feet q proper system OF local and IN
t.rchangeahl. mileage hooks at two
cents per mile. so rs 10 reduce tn"
average cost OF transportation.
The views of Chairman Prcntis and
in A tpn-pagc opinion which concludes
with these words:
We need in Virginia more rail
roads. better tracks. more donbic
rack. better stations and NOR" ot
them. better trains and more OF them
New Can;tal mu2t hc supplied II these
needs are 10 be Adequately met aGl
We can only induce this new capt. y
70 s..eh iRr'.:tmcnt hero T. D'rsu'na
course which will attract II to this
Srpt" Our associate fnmnlssIone!
Fh.at links that as condition pr"
cpdcnt to the order contemplated We
should require tn" ralr Dads here in
volyed to give asSuranc" which VIII
guarantee the issuance of certain
mileage books indicated bv him.
AZ to Mileage Books.
We think this unnecessary. re-
cause on all OF the roads except the
Norfolk and Western certain mileage
books are now on sale. and none o.
them can be withdrawn without thu
consent Of the commission. II Is moi
our purpose to allow the withdrawal
CT anv OF the mileage or cOmmutatlOn
rates now in existence. and the Nor
folk ard Western will at once put on
gale mileage hooks at twO-cent rate
These MILEAGE books VIII. we believe
sIfficisn,lv meet the public needs. and
ar" as lihersl to the pubic as in OIL
| sNpu'u w az 49," N''H.'
quiIed OF the carriers.
| "IufiucIced BY the considerations
here II indicated and without under
tak:rg 10 discuss all of the reasons
which MAJ he and have been urged In
favor NJ. :. we'll as against the action
contemplated We have concluded thai
/ the public interests as we'll as tho
interest 81 these railway companies
will be lest promoted by increasing
the MAXIMUM passenger rate In Vir
, GINA 10 two end onehalf cents pet
mile npOn the RAILWAYS whose Deti
tons are before us. This action iFinss
about uniformity between the inter
state and intrastafe rates. and W.
feel assured ina. the increased rate
VIII prove fairly remunerativ" TO thu
carriers.
Accordingly orders emtodNint
these views will he entered
Judge Rhea's Dissenting View.
! Judge Rhea's opinion covers les;
!, than two pages. Says he:
1t is with regret that feel rom
PEELED to differ with my assoc ate upor
the State Corpora ion Commission il
their findings AMI conclusions in ih'
above mentioned cases.
1t would serve no good purpos'
nov 10 enter into any extended di'
! cuss ion O: this matter and ] vii
| therefore briefly saw tina; after a mos,
! careful considera ion Of all the facts
! and circumstances surrounding this
entire subject. do not believe
two and one-half cent maximum pas
scngrr rate per mile is reasonable o'
Just. unless coupled with an assur
aprc. upon IN" par; Of the railroa
ccmpauies With said two and on"
hall cent rate proper system ri
local and Interchangeable mileage
books a. two cents per mile, and such
IS can be conveniently used) 50 as "a
reduce the average cost at tTanspor
, taiion r1r the people 81 Virginia.
Il al further Of opinion that tbs
! ssurans, hc.''' 20 gwen nv the rail
, road conn be!Dg" ar: order Is
entered ~ this commission. making
an increase IN the present PASSENGER
rat5s. or brfore any action - taken
which would terminate IN" present
contract between tho railroad com
ranies and the state authorities fix
ing rat"s pending IN" suits in the
Federal copr's.
, In view Of tho position taken rs
4 fr.~st,,n. IN G.ycotn pacol