The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-21
HEARS ARGUMENT
ON RATE INCREASE
Federal Commission Takes Up
Question of Extra Fare on
Washington Line.
DECISION RENDERED
Washington-Southern Wants to
Charge so Cents for
Local Run.

although Dy the decision OF the Su-
preme Court of Appeals. in session at
Wythev!lle some time ago, the Wash
inSton- Southern Railroad was refused
permission to charge a maximum pas
senger rate of cents per male, the
officials of the road hope to get what
they regard as an adequate Richmond
Washington rate by a charge of so
cents for the run between AleXandr' a
and Washington. This would make the
fare S3.20 between Washington and
fare now charged Tor the interstate
journey. officials of the road appeared
before the commission in Washington
yesterday in support of the petition.
a petition was filed by the road with
the commission asking permission to
be allowed to charge a tariff of so
cents per passenger between the cities
mentioned. 1t is claimed that the ter
minal charges at the Union station are
very heavy. In fact 1t was testified at.
the Washington Sout hern rate hearing
before the State Corporation Commits
sion that this charge reached about 25
cents for each passenger.
End Everlasting Trouble.
BY means of such rate the Wash
ington- Southern would be rid OF the
veNing Alexandria situation. which has,
1t is claimed caused no end of trouble
and loss to the road and to the con-
ductors. and by means OF which many
thousands of passengers have saved
money on their Journeys between Vir-
ginia points and Washington. The
former rate, in effect until recently.
was cents per mSe in Virginia, and it
was the habit of the travellers north
bound to purchase tickets to Alex
andria and then pay the conductor 20
cents for the trip across the Potomac.
and they thought through the tun-
nels into the Union Staten. This made
total cost of s2.40 between Rich
mond and Washington. Southbound a
ticket would be bought to Alexandria,
and the deal made with the conductor
for the fare the rest OF the way.
Claiming that It was put to much
expense and loss of fares which should
belong to II from interstate passenger
traffic In consequence OF this prac-
tice the Washing ton Southern filed its
petition with the State Corporation
Commission, asking to be permitted TO
Increase its passenger rate from 10
cents per mile. II was stated that 1t
was not It's aim to increase the cost
feared that al a result OF the cent
rate it might be compelled by the In
terstate Commerce Commission to
make a basic rate in Virginia OF .
cents for through passengers.
No Trolley Trips Then.
II the road is successful in the pro-
ceedings II has brought before the In
terstate Commerce Commission It
would seem TO be immaterial to 1. as
TO It's interstate passenger rate Most
passengers would prefer 10 pay the so
cent fare rather than to make the
journey between Washington and
Alexandria. bound either way by troll
ley. with the additional trouble OF
handling baggage The Washington
Southern and Richmond. Fredericks-
burg and Potomac have both put the
l-2 cent rate allowed by the State
Corporation Commission into effect,
and thus are charging s2.T0 at present
between Richmond and Alexandria.
The additional 80 cents would make a
cost OF s3.20. or s3.so II paid 10 the
conductor. and the latter figure is
within 80 cents of the $3.50 now
charged as straight fare between Rich
mond and Washington. The presump-
ton Is that II the Interstate Com
merce Commission grants the petition
the fare will be made S3.20 so that the
conductors may not be required to
handle SO much of the business. and
in this event 1t is supposed the road
could. without trouble. maintain Its
basic rate of cents
A decision will be rendered later by
the commission.