The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-14
Little Benefit Comes to
Harrisburgers From
Public Service Com
missions Decision
NEW PLAN IN
USE TOMORROW
Proposed Increase of 81 in the Cost of
a Around Trip Ticket Between This
City and Philadelphia viii Stand
Eastern Communities Benefited

The ruling of the Public Service
Commission in Philadelphia on Satur-
day on the new passenger rates sought
TO be established by the railroads TO
90 into effect tomorrow morning, will
have very little effect on the roads in
the vicinity of Harrisburg, its chief fea-
ture in this section being that it makes
a commuters ticket good for one full
month from the date of sale instead of
one calendar month.
There was no change in the round
trip fares as fixed by the railroads, they
still remaining at two full fares for
the round trip, which means dollar
more than heretofore from Harrisburg
TO Philadelphia and return after to-day,
but the purchaser of round trip tick
ct has two minor concessions-he can
stop off on his ticket and it will be
good until used, being unrestricted as
to time.
The other rulings have no affect
whatever in this vicinity, applying
chiefly to the Philadelphia commuters
those who travel into that city from
the schools every day.
The Commission, in a decision in the
case of the Pennsylvania, the Philadel-
phia and Reading, and the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroads, which month ago
prepared new tariffs to become effective
December 15, approved new rates which
will provide the railroads with millions
of dollars annually in additional pas
senger revenues. The decision, how
ever, does not grant all that the rail
roads asked, but retained for the com
muters certain privileges which the
railroads would have abrogated.
Gain for the Commuters
The commuters win their fight for
restoration of the so and 100trip COM
mutation tickets. The Commission or
dered their continuance, but establish
ed fixed rate of not more than IL
cents per mile as a maximum rate. This
allows an advance over the old rate,
the old rate on the 100-trip ticket hav-
ing been approximately one cent.
Another victory for the commuters
is the Commission S ruling that the 60
trip monthly ticket and the 46-trip
school ticket shall be valid for a period
of one month from date of sale. instead
of one calendar month, as the railroads
proposed, and that the 1S0-trip com
mutation ticket shall be valid for three
full months from time of issue.
In only one particular are the rail
roads restrained from putting a higher
passenger rate into effect; and that is
the charge of = IA cents per mile on
the 10-trip tickets. The railroads
planned to sell 10trip tickets for the
price of nine. The Commission rules
that they shall sell instead 1O-trip
family ticket, on which 10 persons
could ride at the same time, for rate
no higher than cents per mile The
railroads loss in this particular. how
ever, will probably be equalized by the
increases permitted in sale of the so
and 100-trip tickets.
With Stop-off Privileges
The railroads are permitted TO in
crease the 60-trip monthly tickets 30
cents each but must make the ticket
good for one full month from the date
of sale, instead of only a calendar
month. The railroads are allowed also
to increase the 46-trip school ticket
20 cents each, but they likewise must
be good one month from date of sale.
The Commission made no ruling in
regard to the railroads announced in.
tention to abolish round-trip tickets.
The railroads will, therefore, sell what
was formerly round-trip ticket at
twice the one-way fare. These new
round-trip tickets will be good until
used, however. and will carry stop-over
privileges. Nor did the Commission
touch upon the workmen s strip tick
cts. They will, therefore, be abolished