Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-24
RATES TO COMMUTERS
SUBJECT Of HEARING
Complaints of Pennsylvania Railway
Patrons Before I. c. c.
Examiner.
Efforts to Have the Reduced Fares
Restored on Ba1timore-Wash-
ington Line.


mony of the two witnesses for the
Pennsylvania railroad in the case of
the commuters living along the line
between Baltimore and Washington
were made at yesterday afternoons
session before Examiner Woodward OF
the interstate commerce commission
The hearing was on the complaint of
the commuters living between Wash
ington and Baltimore on the Pennsyl-
vania line to have the railroad return
to its Communication rates which were
in effect before December 20, 1914.
Attorney I. Q. H. Award. represent
ing the commuters, took the mass of
cost statistics produced on direct ex-
animation and started in to pick flaws
First he sought to prove that much
of the business between Washington
and Baltimore was so-called dead
heads" He asked r. J. Fell, jr, chief
statistician of the Pennsylvanias ac-
counting department, If he know how
much of this business was unpaid for,
seeking to show that it was not the
commuters who were responsible for
the low earnings, but the fact that
many of the railroad employees were
hauled without pay. Witness attempt
ed to show that there was a difference
in railroad "deadheads," saying there
were "deadfreads' on railroad business
and "deadheads" hauled for pleasure.
Inquiry for "Deadhead'' Statistics.
as there any allowance made for this
headhead traffic. questioned Attorney
Award.
NO. was the witness reply.
Attorney Award then asked the wit
ness If he knew whether the railroad
statistics would show that it was many
times necessary to put on two or three
additional cars at Bowie in order to
take care of the 'deadheads.'
Witness did not know.
Attorney Award read into the record
a statement of President Delano of the
Wabash railroad, made before a con-
gressional committee when the ques-
ton of railroad valuation was before
Congress, in which the railroad official
declared that he did not know of any
case where roads made their rates on
a basis of costs of operation. although
admitting that some of them fell back
to such support when they were hard
pressed in particular cases.
On questioning by Attorney Award,
Mrf. Fell admitted that Mr. Delano was
an expert on such matters.
While at the morning session Mr.. Fell
sought to show that there was no rail-
trains left Bowie. the witness admit
ted in the afternoon that after the
trans left Bowie they picked up COM
muter business for Baltimore.
r. j. De Long oss-Examined.
r j. De Long. assistant general pas
senger agent, then took the stand for
cross-examination. He admitted that
he had conferred with officials of the
Baltimore and Ohio regarding the in
creases in passenger rates.
At some length he attempted to show
that the new Communication tickets were
great advantage to the commuters
because they were good for thirty days
from date of purchase instead of only
during the calendar month He de-
clared also that the conductors of the
road had been instructed to make a
note on their reports when a commuter
found II necessary to board train at a
so-called "non-agent" station without a
ticket. The straight fare Is collected
and then. when the commuter buys his
monthly ticket. the difference between
| the straight fare and the Communication
fare will be refunded by the railroad.
| Questioned as to why the Pennsyl-
vania did not maintain a forty six-triI
school ticket to the District of Colum-
| bia, while ii did sell one for Balti'
more, the witness replied that the in,
terstate commerce commission Woulc
not permit it, on the ground that II
was discriminatory.
Then followed a discussion as to the
advantage of the District of Columbia
schools over the country schools o.
Maryland.
You will admit that the schools o.
the District are better than the coun'
try schools. will you not?" asked At
torney Award.
TT doesn't necessarily follow" wal
tho reply.
at one time" interjected Attorne!
Henry Wolf Bikle. for the railroad, ant
Mr.. Award did not pursue this line 0
school questioning any further.
Refers to Southern Railway.
Attorney Award pointed out that thu
Southern railroad maintained such :
ticket and restricted the age to eight
cen years. and asked why the Pennsyl
vania could not do 1t.
Mr., belong said in the FIRST place tn,
road couldn't afford II. and in the secont
place It could not enforce the age limit
He would not admit either that the alb
prevented children from coming to tn
schools of the District of Columbia.
After FURTHER questioning along thi
line the witness indicated that the roa
might reconsider the question Of put
ting In a ten-trip family ticket and
forty six-trip school ticket for ths
District. The discrimination part woul
any one under eighteen years.
J The hearing continued until after
O'Clock, at which time only the railroa
side Of the question had been DOM