Evening star., 1918-05-27
PASSENGER RATE
Three CENTS A MILE;
FREIGHT ALSO UP

| CONTINUED from First Page.)
ditions and new equipment this year.
he explained.
ut is earnestly hoped" said the di-
rector general, that all citizens affect
ed directly or indirectly by this increase
of rates will support the general prin-
ciple of such increase as an unavoid-
able war measure and accept the addi-
tional burden in the same spirit OF
elf-sacrifice in which they have ac-
cepted other inconveniences and bur
dens and the grievous personal losses
which are parts of the price that the
nation Is patriotically paying for world
liberty
Mr.. McAdoo called attention to the
fact that there is no way in which the
present increases will inure to private
profit
"If they turn out to be more than are
| needed to meet the grave public
exigency." he added. they will prompt
unnecessary burden upon the public;
but pending such readjustment she ex-
| cess. If any. will be for the benefit Of
| the people of the United States as
who'll aIA not for the benefit Of the
private railroad owners. or any Of them.
ITO the extent that savings c:-n be
effected and to the extent that reduced
prices for the things the railroads must
buy can be realized. it will be the pur-
pose of the director general to make
from time to time appropriate reduc-
tions."
The provision that intrastate rates
| shall be abolished wherever substitute
interstate rates between the same
points. exist. and that all shall be
raised to standard national level.
develops the first definite conflict be-
tween powers of the federal railroad
administration and of the state rail-
road and public utilities commissions.
which heretofore have claimed ex-
elusive Jurisdiction over intrastate
rates. Railroad rate agents will file
tariffs containing the new rates with
state commissions as well as the In
terstate Commerce Commission, but
state commissions are permitted no
review under the railroad act.
Expects Review by I. c. c.
Mr.. McAdoo announced that he ex-
pected the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to review many of the new
schedules. on complaint Of shippers
or other commercial interests, and
charges will be made on the commits
sion's recommendations. This is
necessary to readjust the nation wide
fabric of complicated rates, each in
terdependent on scores of others and
SO delicately adjusted in hundreds of
thousands of cases that a change of
cent or two causes distinct indus
trial and commercial disturbances.
The commission probably will be\busy
for months hearing complaints and
protests.
settled regions. now more than 3
cents. will not be reduced. Although
existing excursion and tourist fares
are abolished. the order permits the
establishment Of round-trip tourist
fares somewhat lower than the three
cent rate.
Exceptions to the three-cent rate
are made for soldiers and sailors, who
may travel at / cent mile when
on furlough at their own expense,
and for persons attending the national
|encampment of the Grand Army of
the United Confederate Veterans re-
union at Tulsa. Okla. Both of these
organizations are permitted rates Of
cent a mile and for various state
meetings Of the veterans 2 cents will be
charged.
will be carried free as at present. and
those between five and twelve will
be charged half of the new. higher
fare. H.
Commutation fares, which are raised
ten per cent. are construed to apply
occasion to travel between their
homes and places of employment or
educational institutions.
To discourage the use of heavy
order provided that the following
minimum number of tickets should
be bought for drawing rooms, COM
partments or sections
Two adult tickets for a drawing
room in a sleeping car; two adult
tickets for compartment; one and
one-half adult tickets for a section;
five adult tickets for exclusive occu-
pancy of drawing room in a paElor
car.
Passenger fares by water routes.
or by rail and water. are to be in
creased proportionately with the
higher rail charges.
Basis for Excess Baggage.
The basis for computing charges
for excess baggage is to be one-sixth
of the normal passenger fare. with
a minimum of IS cents per hun
dred pounds and minimum collection
Of rs cents per shipment.
The director general provided fully
for the redemption Of tickets and
mileage books purchased before June
10 and rendered invalid after that
date when the higher fares become
effective. Unused portions of mile
age books and unused or partially
used tickets will be redeemed at their
original purchase rate.
The rs per cent increase in freight
charges will apply generally to class
and commodity rates. but minor vari-
ations will be necessary in many
cases. For instance, where certain
relationships exist between rival
commercial centers. the 25 per cent
increase will apply to the longer
distance, and the rate to the nearer
locality will be the same number of
cents less as under present schedules.
In this way charges for many short
hauls will be raised more than rs