The Washington times., 1912-07-01
REDUCTION IN FARE
TO MOUNT VERNON
ORDERED BY BOAAD
Interstate Commerce Com
mission Points Out Fact
That Rates Are High.

A general reduction in fares over the
Washington Virginia Railway Company
between Washington and Mt. Vernon,
and Washington and Fairfax, and in
termediate points on these lines was to-
day recommended by the Interstate
Commerce Commission. Unless the rail-
road company makes the reductions ms
recommended the commission will issue
formal order on or before August /,
1912, compelling such reduction.
The commission holds that many Of
the fares charged aie lnrca sonable and
unduly discriminatory. Lower fares
are prescribed. In the opinion made
ubli: todly II compares the rates on
the Virginia lines with those of the
Washington. baltimore. and Annapolis.
1t was also ordrred by the commis-
sion that the line avoid discrimination
IN communication rates granted to sDmc
points. and pot to others, and extend
rs communication rates for travel under
similar conditions between Washington
an6 the points not now so favored.
Al present the one way fare from
Washington to Mt. Vernon is 40 cents,
| and the round trip 70 cents. These rates
are attacked by the commission. which
| finds that the fare from Mt. Vernon
on local trains should not exceed 30
cents Tor the one way and 4I cents for
the round trip. Other sweeping reduc-
tions In fare are made 20 other points
| on the Mt. Vernon division, and on the
| Fairfax division of this company.
For express trains straight through
| to Mt. Vernon for the special accom-
| mediation OF tourists and others who
| wish to quickly reach their destination
/ Nt.Gl L. lon Il
rate not to exceed 35 cents for one
| way and so cents for the round trip.
reduction of cents on the one
way and on the round trip charged TO
| Fairfax and points in the same zone
should be made in the opinion of the
commission. This opinion will be made
| an order II 1t Is not complied with At
present the rate to Fairfax N 90 cents
| one way and SO cents a round trip.
With respect to other fares the COM
I'VE are Of opinion and nnd that be-
tween Washington and points on the
Falls Church division intermediate be-
tween the zone in which West Falls
| Church is situated, and the Fairfax
zone, the present one-way. and round
trip fares are unreasona6ie: Ma asni we ma ma
stations known as Robey, Antrim, and
Burr the fares should not exceed 25
cents one way or 40 cents for the round
| trip; that as between Washington and
1
| Enola, Wedderburn, Woodford. and
| Franklin the fares should not exceed %
cents one way or SO cents for the round
trip; that as between Washington and
| Street the fares should not exceed IS
cents one way or IS cents for the round
| trip; that as between Washington and
the stations known as Library, Lewis
Street, Boutwell,, and Five Oaks the
| fares should not exceed 40 cents one
way or 30 cents for the round trip, and
that as between Washington and Edge.
lea, Oakton, and Sanger the fares should
not exceed 45 cents one way or 20 cents
for the round trip
Complaint against the Washington
and Virginia railway was filed with the
dria. in behalf OF himself and other
patrons of the two lines of the company
F. r. Whippler appeared before the
commission for Mr.. Bitter, and the
railroad company was represented by
John S. Barbour The petition filed by
Mr. Bitter assailed practically the en-
tire schedule of fares between Wash
ington and points on the lines Of the
defendant company as being excessive,
unreasonable and unjustly discrimina.
tory.
1t was contended by the complainant.
that special commutation fares were
not maintained for school children at
tending washington schools; that the
life of the twenty-five trip family tickets
should be extended beyond thirty days
and that fares on the Falls Church di.
vision were higher than comparative
fares on the Mt. Vernon division.
With respect to these conditions the
commission found that there was nc
good reason shown why such commuta
ton tickets to apply to all persons un
der any given age should not be is
sued; that there was nothing shown tc
justify the contention that the time
limit of family tickets should be ex
tended, and that there is no difference
in transportation conditions that will
Justify such marked differences II
rates as shown.
The defendants maintained that tn,
varying fares were the outgrowth o
former managements of sepavnte sys
TENS.
with respect to its Mt. Vernon fare
the company maintained Mt. Vernon
was the mecca of tourists who caret
not about the fare as long as II wa
fair and reasonable. and that com
mutation tickets for local resident
gave a lower rate.
The commission also went into tn
financial standing of the defendan
company, and announced as It's findin
: that the capitalization appears to b.
| -.