New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-19
PASSENGER RATES
MAY SOAR IN EAST
Neutrality Ban Due TO Cut
Hard Into Freight
Traffic Of Roads.
AID IN HINT or
COMMERCE BOARD
Trunk Line Operators Discuss
Mileage PlaH-EIigh Cost OF
Travel Predicted.

The high cost of travel domestic
railroad travel now menaces tne
American public This fact was made
apparent Yesterday al meeting OF the
Eastern Trunk Line Association. when
includes all railroads east OF fltts-
burgh and north Of the Potomac.
After long session hid by the
board Of directors OF the ASSOCIATION II
was admitted that owing 10 the pres
cnt abnormal conditions regulating eN-
port and import traffic on tne railroads
no decision had been reached as TO pos
siblc or necessary passenger rate m
crcases."
This statement cmanated from
member Of the association, VINO ASKED
that his name be not used.
THE meeting was inconclusiVe IN Us
results and another will be held IN the
mean future" he asserted. u nave no
authority 20 speak for the railroads as
10 their probable policy, but am Will
ing TO say that the policy Will depend
greatly upou the continuance or settie-
ment of the present international dll-
icrences in Europe.
The conference held this afternoon
was the result Of preliminary measures
Of increasing the passenger rates
which were taken at private meeting
of the Eastern Trunk Line Association
held some time ago.
THE tip for such action came from
no less source than the Interstate
Commerce Commits siOn, which, IN hand-
ing down the recent much contested
freight rates decision. made the ofhclal
comment that the railroads IN many
instances were failing 10 obtain ade-
duate passenger revenues in return Tor
their outlaws in behalf of pa isenger
service
II NAV say that at the present time
the eXport and import shipping on the
railroads is practically MI. Many OF
the roads have issued warning to snip
pers that no guarantee OF through
shipping can be given 10 msnutactur-
ers or producers who seek 20 bill goods
TO Europe. This affects the raw pro-
ducers especially.
CONTRARY to general o~i1io- II =
not the manufactured or perfected
product Of our Eastern centres IN TINS
country which seeks an outlet 10 Euro
pean markets. Wool, hides, grain, even
ore. constitute a large percentage OF
this shipping.
"Our manufacturers in the East 90
not begin TO command the total use oil
such raw products.
THE attitude Of the railroads is sim
ply that Of economic necessity. II the
shining fails TO meet the demands Of
the traffic in ordinary times, as is
shown IN the recent report OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission justifylng
increased passenger rates, what can be
IL
conditions which we are called upon TO
face?
at is not generally understood that
United States neutrality has hurt rail-
road shipping 10 Canada, yet such IS
the case. and this condition IS bound 10
become worse as the war in Europe Is
prolonged.
at would. Of course. be huge joke
n coutraband goods we're barred from
shipment from New York or any other
American seaport, but were permitted
10 cross the Canadian frontier. where
thew could be shipped to one or more
of the powers engaged in the present
conflict. The question as to the en-
forcement OF neutrality with Canada
has but lust arisen, as the result
understand. Of the protest OF various
German-American societies IN THIS
"if these sources Of revenue were
stoned. what is going to defray the
maintenance of rolling stock and equip
ment for the railroads
~ Is matter Of common knowl-
edge that the railroads were not pay
ing large dividends even under norma
conditions. Something must be done
"a meet this crisis in American ran
road industry. and the burden natu-
rallv falls upon the traffic as 1t nap
mems in this case the passenger frame
Although the official quoted above
insisted that no plan had been agreed
mon il was learned from an authori-
tativc source that q scheme mad oeen
manned out for a method OF increase
in tho Messenger rates. This scheme
,yiIl no directed at the present mileage
svs,em on all roads included "ilhlh
the scope of the association.
According to the proposed schemee'
al nilcaoe rates are to be standard
GOD at not less than 2i2 cents mile
Tbe increase will be indirect, but none
the less effective through the Following
The abolition Of all mileage books
save in New York and Virginia, WnerS
the law requires lneiI odIc -
for Thus a passenger who presents 4
mileage can only use IL In passing
through the two states named. In
other states it will be useless.
The abolition Of all round trlp re-
auctions. -. ,.
curtailment. of all Communication priv
ileces hitherto extended TO passengers.
One part of the plan, which is IA,
dicative of the petty economics deemed
necessary. is the possible abolition Of
tho carving Of commercial travellers
eamples as private baggage. 90,
Under the new dispensation II viii
cost materially more to make the Eari-
Gus standard journeys out OF Ne"
York. An advance OF from 81 10 10
- IL TO get to Chicago may be made
+. will cost 81 . 20 81 80 more to
go. 80 cincinnati and - to 90 cents
'.oro 20 get 10 Pittsburgh.
These reforms in passenger frame
rates ave said 10 be only preliminary
no a still greater increase, when VIII
,Tert hort distance routes.