The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-27
R. F. & P. WANTS
THREE-CENI RATE
Road Will Insist on This Con-
cession, Despite VS..
Decision
COMMISSION TO HEAR
MATTER IN SEPTEMBER
Appeal Will Be Noted to Body's
Action in Similar Case Which
is Termed an lnjus-
tlce.

Otticials of the Richmond. Freder-
icksburg and Potomac nave been as
sured by the State Corporation Com
mission that the roads petition for a
rehearing in the passenger rate matter
filed several years ago. will be taken
up next September following the r.
turn of Judge Prentis, a member OF the
commission. from trip abroad. This
petition asked that the Virginia com
mission rehear its order prescribing
2-cent rate but the mater has been
held ia allegiance up 10 this time, the
road having agreed voluntarily to main
tain O 2-eeut rate until the rehearing
could be had.
BY its order of April q, 1907, the
commission divided the railroads of
Virginia into four CLASSES for which
maximum passenger rates OF gig, J.
and 3 l2 cents per nile were pre-
scribed. The principal roads OF the
State. including the tw, Richmond
Washington lines, fell nto the class
for which 2-cent rate vas prescribed.
Five OF the roads In the dass applied at
once to the federal cour to enjoin this
rate on the ground that 1t was confis-
catory. the final result being that
rate of l2 cents per nile was pre-
scribed for these roads.
Appeal VIII be AIKEN.
The two Richmori W ashiugton
roads. however, did not appeal to the
federal court, preferring to await the
action OF the commisBiol on the re-
hearing of It's order. A Jew days ago.
the body finally acted oH8he petition of
the Washington SouthsrSSone OF these
roads. It's decision befrIg that the road
oh he .,l1 r1,s fe .,f
IL cents per mile instad of cents
per mile. as petitoned. 1t II under
stood. however, that tn Washington
Southern viii appeal fror this decision
to the Supreme Court ofNirginia, and
| it Is understood further hat the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg ina Potomac,
the other Richmond Warrington line
Will ask for maximum cent rate in
the fall. notwithstanding the decision
of the commission regarding the Wash
| ington Southern. Meanwhile 1t is
| stated that the Richmon,. Frederieks-
burg and Potomac will crntinue its q
cent rate.
Claim injustice Wa Done.
! II Is claimed by the Washington
Southern Company that ne recent ac-
ton of the commission Tot only does
not do the company justic but Is much
worse for the public than what the
company has voluntarily offered TO do.
The company claims that its intra-
state passenger business, even at 3
cents per mile. cannot be made profita
BILE, and that at or IL cents per
mile 1t barely pays the cost OF opera
ton. 1t insists. however. that it's In
terstate passenger business Ia so much
greater In volume that 1t would be per
fectly willing and. In fact. has offered
to put In very liberal round trip tickets
at cents per mile between all points
In Virginia and between any Virginia
points and Washington, In addition 10
retaining it's present 2-cent mileage
books, provided only that 1t be allowed
10 charge straight rate OF 3 cents per
mile, which it claims is necessary in
order TO protect it's Interstate business
Virginia Travel viii Suffer.
1t is estimated by the company that
round trip tickets at cents per mile
(good to bearerl. and. in addition
regular 2-cent mileage books and other
Ishort-rate tickets now being main
tanned by the company, would enable
at least 95 per cent. of the Virgins
travel to have the benefit of the 2-ceni
rate without interfering with the gen.
eral interstate business of the company
The company claims. however, that til.
action of the commission in refusing 4
agree to this proposition and in pre-
scribing 81 : IL cent. maximum
straight rate will compel the compan,
to charge l2 cents per mile instead
OF cents to all it's Virginia travei.
r. r. & p in Same Box
Practically the same conditions, 1
is declared. apply to the Richmond
Fredericksburg and Potomac whose of
ticers are the same as those of tn,
Washington Southern. BY way of ex.
PLANTATION, it may be stated that tn,
former road operates from between
Richmond and Quantico while the lat.
ter operates from Quantico to the Pc,
tomsc bridge, from which point train,
are run into Washington over tn.
tracks of the Pennsylvania system.