Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-26
At leasi! -Four Of Roads Viii Adopt
2l.2 Gem Fare.
AUTHORIZED BY the COMMISSION
No Mere Tickets at 2 Cents a M 10
After That Date. Except Possibly
en- Norfolk and Western-Speaker
Byrd's Views.

RICHMOND. va, March 25.-lt is
an :H:ured fact thar four OF the hve
railroads which recently got permls-
sion to increase their passenger rates
from two to Two and half cents
vii, nut their new tariffs into opera
ton bv April 1sl. though the Noriolk
and Western may be- somewhat later
i'm doing this. as it has no: yet re-
visy,I its figure in accordance with
the recent decision of the Corporation
Commission.
As all roads have to i've ten days
notice for a change i'll rates. the Nor
lolk and Western cannot possibly get
its new tariff ready by the first OF
next month.
Allowing for all reasonable delays.
however. all of the five petllOnng
railroads ought to begin enjoying IN"
increased revenue by May LIST:
And SO far as the Norfolk and
Western is concerned it needn't hurry.
for until the change is effected me
two-rent rate will continue on its sys-
tom.
The public now that it has begun to
understand the decision. seems to
take the view thai there's no use
"crying over split milk" though tn"
patrons Of the transportation lines
still feel some 3nXiCty to know just
what the railroads will do in the way
OF making concessions touching mile
age hooks
VIRGINIA Disseminated Against.
In n recent editorial in the Win
chester Star. Speaker Byrd. who is
the editor nf the paper. saws that since
the commits ion handed down its de-
c.siOn. Virginia is in a wOr.'" plight
than anv of her bordering sister
States North Carolina. ne asserts. has
mileage books good for use bv bear
err" and West Virginia he the two
cent rate.
Judge Rhea. who dissrnt"d from the
opinion of the other Two commission
ers evidently had these facts i'll Dlind
from the railroads thai they would
allow mileage books of the transfera-
lile sort at two cents.
What he clamored for was LOOK
that could be used by "bearcr-one
free ,frCm limit2'ions such as now pre-
vail.
The present rules. in most cases il
not at all. require the holder of mile
age books 10 present the book to the
station ticket seller just before start
ing on his journey. ard the ticket
seller gives a ticket in place OF the
coupons in the book. This require
ment causes much delay when stations
are crowded or passengers are in a
hurry.
Judge Rhea's Views.
Judge Rhea does not think that the
comm: ssiOn has an yauthOrity to com
pel the railroads now issuing mileage
,bOOks to continue them if they evinc"
a desire to abrOsate this privilege In
thiS view however. he is at vertanc"
with his two associates. The dissent
ing commissioner. At. any rate. han
his opinion prevailed. would have re-
Q'Iired the five roads as condition
rrece lent to the twOcent rate. to OBJ
ligate themselves in the matter or
transferable mileage looks. He would
also have demanded a look Tor mer-
chants. that could have been used in
discriminatclv en- all lines in this
State
The Southern Railway promises TO
issua : 5eO-mile family book at 3 Ia
cents mile. This book. which seems
on- of the ccrtainties Of the future.
can hc used bv any householder and
BIS fnmil. or dependents Certainty
il will he preferable to fiat two
cent rate.
II is said that the Baltimore and
Chic and the New York, Philadelphia
and Norfolk now issur satisfactory
mileage ! oxs and that there is
strong desire for the Chesapeake and
Ohio - make litc cOnce ssiOns. Whefh-
CT this system will do so remains to