The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-09
RAILROAD FIGHTS
FROM new ANGLE
Asks for Fifty-Ce Ter
ninal Charge at
w ashington.
~ --------- - -------
LOSES CASE IN
SUPREME COURT
WASH gton-Southern Would
Gain It's End by Appeal to In
terstate Commerce Commits
sion, for Higher Rate Be
tween Washington and
Alexandria.

Although by the decision OF the SUI
preme Court Of Appeals. in session at
Wythcville. yesterday. the Washing
tom Southern Railroad Ia refused per-
mission to charge a maximum pass
enger rate OF 3 cents per mile, the
officials OF the road hope TO gain The
desired end OF what they regard as an
adequate Richmond Washington rate
by charge of so cents for the run
between Alexandria and Washington.
This would make the fare S3.20 be-
tween this city and the national ca pi-
tai, or within 80 cents of the fare
now charged for THE through inter
stutc Journey.
A petition has been filed by the road
With the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. asking permission TO be al
lowed TO charge a tariff of 90 cents
per passenger between the cities men
toned. II is claimed That the tcrni-
nal charges at the new Union Station
are very heavy. In fact. II was tes-
titled at the Washington-S Southern
rate hearing before the State Corpo-
ration Commissions that this charge
reached about IS cents for each pass
enEer.
Alexandria situation.
Il
lngton- Southern would BIO rid OF the
yexins Alexandria situation. which
has. II Is claimed. caused no end OF
trouble and loss TO the road and to
4 the conductors, and by means of which
many thousands OF passengers hav.
saved money on their journeys be-
tween Virginia points and Washington.
M The former rate. in effect until re-
Gently was cents per mile In Vir-
In hn hah ~ fra,.
elers northbound to purchase tickets
to Alexandria, and then pay the con-
ductor 20 cents for the trip across the
Potomac and through the tunnels into
the Union Station This made total
y cost OF $40 between Richmond and
Washington. southbound ticket
would be bought 10 aAleXnhdria,
and the deal made with the cond uctor
+ for the fare the rest OF the way. s
Claiming that 1t was put TO much
expense and loss OF fares which should
E belong to II from interstate pass
enger traffic, in consequence or this
practice, the Washington-S Southern
fled Its petition with the State Cor
poration Commission. asking TO be
permitted to Increase lis passenger
rate from TO ) cents per mile. Ii,
was stated that It was not its aim to
increase the cost to intrastatc pass
en8ers, but 1t was feared that as a
result OF the 2-cent rate 1t might oe
compelled by the Interstate Commerce
Commission TO make basic rate in
Virginia OF cents for through ps as
enEers.
Burdened Conductors.
On the hearing OF the petition. It
was testified that fully so per cent
Of the day passengers had cash trans
actions with the conductors. thus In
rra oclp M Ice. fr>y. ~ Ala l.,
many fold, Also they were liable TO
personal loss by reason OF having to
carry large amounts OF money. Many
j figures were presented to show that
the strictly intrastate business OF the
company was run at loss. -
However. the ruling OF the Corpora
ton Commission was TO the effect that
the company was not entitled to a g.
cent rate. but that It should be al
lowed to charge 2l-2 cents per mils,
the rate now enjoyed by the other
trunk lines OF this State. The road
at once took an appeal to the Supreme
Court, with the result that by the
decision handed down yesterday, the
ruling Of the Corporation Commission
lis affirmed by narrow margin, thres
OF the I'VE Judges concurrins and two
dissenting.
Some time since, while the wash
ington- Southern appeal was pending,
the Richmond Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac Railroad, forming the Southern
portion. as the Washington Sc uthern
"a is the Northern portion. of the Rich
+ mond- Washington system, filed sim
liar petition, which was decided in
the same way by the commission. No
tice was given of an appeal. but in
view of the decision of the Supreme
4 Court 1t is presumed this will not be
perfected So far as could be learned
\ last night, there Is no phase of the
case which would warrant further
appeal to the United States Supreme
Court.
Gets W'hnt 1t Wants. !.
AS natter OF fact, IL the road Is
successful in the proceedings 1t has
begun before the Interstate Commerce
+ Commission, 1t would seem to be i'm
7 material to. 1T as to it's interstate pas
Il senger rate. Most passengers would
{ prefer to pay the 50-cent fare rather
than to make the journey between
Washington and Alexandria. bound
\ either wayaby trolley, with the addi-
tional trouble OF handling baggage.
The Washing on Southern and Rich
( mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
y have both put the 2 1-2 cent rate al
lowed by the State Corporation Com
mission into effect, and thus are
charging 500 at present s between
Richmond and Alexandria The ad-
Itditional so cents would make cost OF
r s3.2o,Yor of $3.50 If paid to the con-
4 ductor, and the latter figure is within
I, 30 cents Of the $3.50 now charged as
straight fare between Richmond and
Washington. The presumption Is that
4 III the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion grants the, petition the fare will
4 be made $500. SO that the conductors
may not be required to handle so much
4 Of the business. and in this event 1t
a. is supposed the road could without
trouble maintain Its basic rate Of 8
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