Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-11
RAIL BOARD
HALTS RATE
INCREASE
State Body Resents Petition Of
Central and A. C. 1. to Fight
Plea at Washington,

The Georgia Railroad Commission
Wednesday turned down a petition
from the Central of Georgia and the
Atlantic Coast Line Railroads which.
in the words of the Commission,
amounted to "a bold proposition to in
crease passenger railroad fares IN
Georgia under certain circumstances
where the carrier is not rendering ad-
dittonal or extra services"
The Commissions fiat rejection OF
this petition, with the recent affirma-
ton of its mileage pulling" order by
the Supreme Court, and the further
fact that the Central has been cited
to show cause on Thursday why It
should not be sued by the Governor
for withdrawing it's mileage pulling
privileges in Georgia, has served 10
accentuate the sharp differences of
opinion between the Commission and
the railroads.
viii Attack Petition.
The Central and the Atlantic Coast
Line sought to increase their passen-
ger revenue in Georgia through the
application to Georgia of a similar
petition pending before The Interstate
Commerce Commission. applicable 10
interstate business alone.
The Georgia Commission is so re-
sentful toward the new attitude of the
Central and the Coast Line thar it is
contemplating attacking the petition
now before the Interstate Commission
as unjust and subtly evasive OF The
law, as applied to business in Geor-
gia.
Unless some person attacks the pc
tition pending before the Interstate
Commission, 1t will become effective,
without further ruling, on March l.
and therefore it is the purpose of the
Georgia Commission to attack it, thus
making the issue one OF interest 70
the entire United States.
Commissions Statement.
The Georgia Commission Wednes-
day gave out a statement, which fol-
lows in part:
Under dates of January 20 ana
February 2, respectively, the Central
of Georgia Railway Company and the
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Com
pany petltioned the Railroad Commits
sion of Georgia for authority TO put
into effect on March / next, applica-
Bile to intrastate passenger traffic in
Georgia, tariffs which they have filed
with the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, applicable to interstate pas
senger traffic, under which each car
rier will collect a minimum OF two
first class adult one-way or excur-
sion passage tickets, or their equiva-
lent, for the exclusive use OF a draw
ing room In sleeping cars or parlor
cars, even though such drawing room
be occupied by only one person.
"As this appears 10 the Georgia
Commission, it is a bold proposition
to increase passenger railroad fares,
under certain circumstances, where
the carrier Is not rendering any ad-
ditional or extra services
Pullman fares have absolutely
nothing TO do with the train fares.
II they are too low. of course the
sleeping car company shoIld be the
one to complain.
Effect on Fares.
The Railroad Commission Of Geor-
gia is unable to see any grounds at
all justifying the proposed increase
OF train fares to a party who is able
to rent and pay for space in a sleep
ing car. and hence has denied the ap-
plication."
The Commission presents figures 10
show that II the petition as prayed
for before the Interstate Commission
Is allowed to stand II will result IN
increasing the passenger fares, in GER
tain cases, to passengers using dra " =
ing rooms or compartments, In the
following sums:
From Atlanta to Washington, frotn
$50 to S46; Atlanta TO New York, from
$4,000 to 1890; Atlanta TO Cinctn-
natl, from s22.25 TO $3.50. And to