The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-25
.R.,F, &P. MAY ASK
FOR HIGHER RATE
Remainder of System Now Ex-
pected to Petition for 2 i-2
Cent Charge.
CHANGE IN EFFECT JULY IS
Judge Rhea Held Out for
Cent RI te- Alexandria
Situation Unchanged.

Now that the Washington-So Southern
Railway hos obtained permission to
increase its passenger rate from 2
cents to 2i1 cents per mile, and since
lit seems evident that there is no hope
for limit of cents. 1T Is confidently
believed that the Richmond, Freder-
icksburg and Potomac will come in and
petition for raise to maximum OF
21z cents. There can be hardly a
doubt that the request will be granted,
since the interests of the two roads
are identical SO far as earnings are
concerned. and the state Corporation
Commission in Its opinion on the
Washington Southern case. says plain
ly that 1t Is satisfied there Is no suffi-
cient reason why 1t should be forced
to do It's intrastate passenger business
at smaller rate"
This means that the entire Richmond.
fredericksburg and Potomac system
would be allowed to charge a maximum
of 2ls cents to passengers on all It's
interstate business The road is vir-
tually one running from Richmond to
Washington and the small connecting
lines from Acquia Creek to Quantico
would, of course, be made party to
the proceedings. This would put the
system on the same basis with the
other leading roads of the State-the
Norfolk and Western. the Chesapeake
and Ohio, the Southern, the Seaboard
Air Line and the Atlantic Coast Line.
Rhea for 2-Cent Rate.
II Is presumed also that Commits
sioners Prentis and Wingfield would
again agree to the increase. and that
Commissioner Rhea would dissent.
The latter holds out for the e-cent rate.
having dissented when the order was
issued in March 1909, allowing the
roads named above to increase their
rates from cents to az cents.
The Washngton-S Southern did no,
ask, in the recent proceedings. for
y cent rate. but applied for restc.
ration of the old rate of cents a mile.
The hearing of the matter was held
in the last days of November, 1909. at
which time 1T was stated that the
principal reason for the change was a
desire to get cents as the share of
the road in the proceeds of the sale
of through tickets between the North
and the South. A large majority of
the income OF the system comes from
interstate business.
In addition, conductors We're put on
the stand to testify as to the loss and
trouble caused by the Alexandria sit.
uation. Persons travelling northward.
Tor example, buy tickets to Alexandria
at the 2-cent rate, and then nav cash
rare into Washington at the 3-cent in
terstate rate. This necessitates an adj
dftional trip through the train, with
the result, said the conductors tina,
frequently a complete circuit could no.,
De made in the short time required.
ana fares We're lost as R consequence
This is obviated now by allowing the
fny-f n NF al 1n1t
Washington at the time of taking I'm
the ticket, after inquiring from the
passenger If he is going to the capital
city.
Works Both Ways.
travelling south, the passenger buys
ticket at Washington for Alexandria.
and pays the conductor the cash fare
to his destination at the 2-cent rate.
For this the conductor gives a recent
charging 10 cents moro than the cor
rect amount, which sum is refunded
within thirty days by any ticket agent
of the road in Virginia
Under the new ruling. this situation
VIII, of course. remain UNCHANGED
Ihc passenger will continue to buy in
trastate tickets at the 1-2-cent rate
saving. however. only IL cent a mile
instead of ! cent as heretofore.
According to the order issued by the
commission, the 2 1-2-cent rate will
be effective on July 10. The order pro-
Vides that 1t shall not be construed as
authorizing or allowing the withdraw
al from sale of any communication rates
or mileage tickets now authorized and
published by the road
In other respects. the Washington
southern is put on the same basis with
those roads which are now charging
L. cents. 1t may charge and collect
minimum fare of 10 cents per pas
senger for any single haul 1t may
not charge for fractions of less than
1-2 mile but may charge at mile rate
for fractions of more than 1-2 mile.
For an odd number of miles 1t may
charge as for the next highest even
number of miles; for example for
eleven miles the charge may be for
twelve miles. This is to make the
amounts come out in even nickels.
All existing rules with reference to
baggage are to remain effective. All
other questions raised in the petition
OF the road are reserved
Arguments of Road
In the opinion of the majority OF
the commission. rendered by Chairman
Prents (NIr. Wingheld concurrinv, It
is set forth that since October /, 1907.
the Washington-Southe has had a
maximum interstate passenger rate OF
cents a mile. It details the argu-
ments advanced by the company at
the time of the hearing. nentioning,
the figures which were submitted, de-
signed to show that the purely mira :
state business was run at loss rho
commission, however. thinks that
these figures are confusing and con-
tain so many uncertainties as to be
inconcluslve, For instance says
Judge Prentls. nearly all the tables
are based upon an estimate of what it
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