The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-02-12
r. r. RATE BILL.
Bill Which Passed House Fixes Rate
At 21-2 Cents and Revokes Ex-
change System.

\ change System.
The house on Monday passed Mr..
NJ. L. Smith 5 bill fixing the passen-
ger rate at ? 1-2 cents, and providing
that no penalty should be provided
for not buying "a ticket before board
ing a train. The further provision
is made under this bill that where
mileage books are sold the mileage
must be accepted by the conductor
The bill seeks to revoke the exchange
system from (which the travelling men
have been insisting. If the bill passes
the senate the legal rate for passen-
gers will be 2 1-2 cents, and no more.
No penalty is permitted for not buy
ang a ticket and mileage is to be ac-
ospted whenever and wherever offer
ed by the owner.
Mr.. Aver was almost alone On pro-
testing against such legislation, and
on the final vote those who opposed
legislation on rates were teartully
lonesome. The whole discussion ap-
peared to be indifferent, and if there
were any who opposed restrictions
for the better protection Of the rail-
roads in the handling of fares they
were inconspicuous. Mr.. K. P.
Smith wanted passengers required to
buy tickets of some sort before get
tingto a train, but this was defeated.
MIR. Aver Opposes Measure.
The house took up the 2 l-2-eent
rate bill and was about to rush 1T
through when Mr.. Hartwell M. Aver
said it was tune to think well OF what
had better be done. The railroads had
better be allowed a chance, he argued.
IF the law requires the railroads to
lose money on passenger business then
they must take the loss out Of wages.
There are appeals.to do and not to DO
this or that. He Thought these mat
tiers ought to be seriously considered,
and no snap judgment should be TAX
en-. There is a railroad commission
to consider what is fair and just and
proper. The facts show that the rail-
roads spend "a per cent of their gross
income for operations. The 26 per
cent MUST go to dividends, improve
menas, extensions, etc. The railroads
have i'm the last two years been spend
ing 80. and sometimes go, per. cent
Of their gross income. He did not
know if a 2 1-2-cent 9.ate was falr or
not, and had not time TO go into such
an examination as ought to be nee
essary. The matter should be care
fully studied by Those in position to
study the actual conditions. The bill
did not provide any penalty for the
non-purchase of tickets.
Mileage System a Nuisance.
Mr.. Mann thought the mileage sys-
not only a nuisance, but humbus'
The railroads already have their mon
ey. and he saw no excuse tor the
trouble of exchanging the mileage Tor
a ticket. He said it was AN outrage
ito require passenger to go to all this
trouble. ...>
f.. Object Of the Bill.
Mr.. NJ. L. Smith wanted to know
what this State had dome to make
this State have a higher rate than
'anv other State. The present legal
rate is three cents and he wanted to
fix It by statute at 2 1-2 cents. The
railroads of their own accord offered
The 2 I-2-cent rate. 1t was simply re
snonsive ITO what had been done or
forced elsewhere. The railroad, he
! argued, did nothing except what they ;,
had to. The main object Of the bill
is to require the acceptance of mileage
strips. The rate was fixed at 2 IL
cents and all Ire wished to do was to
aegalize The rate.
He was willing for the Act not 10
take effect until April. It is said
there was an agreement between the
State and the commission. It was
never suggested or mtimated that
E|4ttahbene would be any imposition OF the
nuisance as ito exchanging mileage
str;ps for tickets. The first break
was made by ts!!= railroads, and impos-
ing this requ:r sment Mr. Hy''rl~ !, X
said he had absolute confidence =, AL
the conductors ci the Southern rail-
y:a,. It has ali along ben though;
the mileage system was held because
il was alleged ITO be a check on con
a,,cbo but 1t is NOW said the rail-
roads are not suspicious OF conduc