El Nuevo mexicano., 1918-08-08
CORPORATION BOARD
GOES TO MAO00 TO
GET REDUCED RATE
/. FOR STATE TEACHERS
CHAIRMAN GROVES ADDRESSES
APPEAL FOR RELIEF DIRECT
TO FEDERAL CHIEF OF RAIL
ROAD ADMINISTRATION.

81 d. a 0 NH
Final effort of the state corporation
commission to obtain concessions Tor
the teachers of the state in the matter
of reduced railroad fares for their
forthcoming state convention in AlDu-
querque was made this morning when
the following letter was sent direct
to William G. McAdoo, director gen.
eral of the railroads, (all minor OIL
cials having replied that 1t was up
to him to grant the relief:)
August 6, 1918.
Hon. w. G. McAdoo,
Director General of Railroads,
Washington, D. G.
Dear Sir:-For a number of years
the New Mexico Educational associa-
ton, Of which practically all OF the
teachers and others Interested in edu-
cational matters of New Mexico are
members, has held an annual meeting
at some central point for which a re-
duced round trip fare has been grant
ed by all the carriers in this state,
and for the last two conventions,
which we're held in Santa Fe one
fare for the round trip was establish
ed. and at the last assembly there
were approximately 1000 teachers in
attendance and a number OF other
visitors which we understand brought
the number that travelled by rail up
to about 2,100. This meeting is the
most important convention held in the
state, as subjects are brought up and
discussed which affect the general
.--ff.A. - kL4 Arkfra cfofQ nf MnxU
Mexico so far as educational matters
are concerned, and this meeting has
therefore become an established insti-
tuition; and accordingly, at the request
of the president of the association,
this commission, following the former
method of procedure, took up with Mr..
], M. Connell, general passenger
agent of the A. T. & S. F., on June
goth the question of round trip fares
for the 1918 meeting which is to be
held at Albuquerque during the last
week of November, and Mr.. Connell
replied to the general effect that I'M
der the order emanating from Wash
lington effective June 10 special &C.
casion fares for all conventions and
societies of every description were dis
continued generally throughout the
United States; consequently, he was
net in a position to grant any conce
sions so far as the New Mexico meet
ing was concerned; and while we have
no doubt but that MI. Cornell was act
ing entirely within his instructions 1t
occurred to us that perhaps the rule
Tor order promulgated by the railroad
administration was not mandatory in
all respects and that probably excep-
Itions would be made in some cases,
and in view of the fact that as you
ARE probably aware the local fare on
the trunk lines serving New Mexico Is
IA cents a mile, while in practically
all other states of the union the fare
is but 3 cents a mile, the citizens in
terested in this convention feel that
they would be within their rights to
task that a concession be granted SO
far as this meeting Is concerned, and
the matter was therefore brought to
the attention of Mr.. w. j. Black, pas
senger traffic manager of the Santa
|Fe, WHO confirmed the statement of
Mr.. Connell, adding the following:
Individual rail lines throughout the
United States are not permitted to
make exceptions TO this order until
authorized by Director General or his
staff"
And inasmuch as we understand
that your administration has author
tized reduced fares in some of the
western states and particularly in the
state of California, we are taking the
liberty of submitting the matter to you
as a final resort, again emphasizing
the fact that the local fare in this
state is A cents, and asking If you
will not make al exception in this
lease, for the reason that IL the re-
duced round trip fare is not granted
1.-THE meeting will probably not be held
as the teachers could not afford to
pay double the one way fare on basis
Eof A cents a mile.
And we desire it distinctly under
Estood that this communication is not
written in the nature of a criticism
Eof the action of the passenger traffic
officials of the Santa Fe, as we, of
lcourse, understand that they are act
ling entirely within their rights and,
as a fatter of fact it was largely
Through their courtesy in the granting
lof reduced fares in the past that the
New Mexico Educational association
has been built up to its present mem
bership, and the foregoing is respect
fully submitted for your most earnest
reconsideration, and we trust will be
Eacted upon favorably.
Yours very truly,
STATE CORPORATION COMMITS,
SION,
By M. e. Groves, Chairman.