The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-05-27
HIGHER FREIGHT
RATES GIVEN TO
THE RAILROADS

Continued from Page one.)


The increases, MIR. MoAdoo ex-
planned, were caused by the greater
operating expenses and higher cost
Of materials over last year. The OPP
Grating expenses, he estimated, would
be higher this year by between $780,
100000 and $3.50, 100000.
TT is earnestly hoped" said the di-
rector general, that all citizens af-
fected directly or indirectly by this
increase of rates will support the
general principle of such increase as
unavoidable war measures and accept
the additional burden in the same
spirit of self-sacriffce in which they
have accepted other burdens, and the
grievous personal losses which are
part of the price that the nation is
periodically paying for world lib
erty."
Mr.. McAdoo called attention to the
fact that there is no way in which
the present increases will inure to pri-
vate profit
eff they turn out to be more than
needed to meet the grave public ex-
igency," he added, they will prompt
ly be readjusted so as to prevent any
unnecessary burden on the public;
! but pending such reimbursement the
excess, if any, will be for the benefit
of the people of the United States as
a whole and not for the benefit of the
private railroad owners of any of
them.
ITO the extent that savings can be
effected and to the extent that re-
duced prices for the things the rail-
roads must buy can be realized, 1t Will
be the purpose of the director general
to make from time to time appropr1-
ate reductions"
The provisions that interstate rates
shall be abolished wherever subst1-
-tute interstate rates between the same
points exist, and that all shall pc
arised to a standard national lever,
develops the first definite conflict oe-
tween powers of the federal railroad
administration and of the state rail-
road and public utility commissions
which heretofore have claimed exclu-
sive Jurisdiction over lntrastate rates.
Railroad rate agents will Tile taFliIs
containing the new rates with state
commissions as well as the interstate
commerce commission, but state COM
missions are allowed no review unoer
the railroad act.
meets the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to review many of the new
schedules on complaint of shippers
or other commercial interests aho
changes will be made on the commits
sion's recommendations. rms Is
necessary to readjust the NATIONWIDE
fabric of complicated rates, each IN
terdependent, of scores of others, and
so delicately adjusted in hundreds OF
thousands of cases that change Of
a cent or two causes distinct indus
trial and commercial disturbances
The commission probably will be
busy for months hearing complaints
and protests.
Passenger fares in some sparsel!
settled regions now more than three
cents will not be reduced. Although
excursion and tourist fares are abol
ished, the order permits the re-estab
iishment of round trip tourist fare'
somewhat lower than the three cen
rate.
Exceptions to the three cent ratv
are made for soldiers and sailors
who may travel at one cent mile
when on furlough, at their own ex
pense, and for persons attending tn
in Portland, Ore, and the Unitet
Confederate Veterans reunion in Tul
sa. Okla. Both of these organization
are permitted rates of one cent
mile and for various state meeting
of the veterans two cents will b
charged.
Children under five years of ag
will be carried free as at present an
those between and IL will be charg
u ed half of the new higher fare.
Computation fares, which are rails
ed 10 per cent, are construed to ap
\ ply to persons having daily or fire
\quent occasion to travel betwee
their homes and placesSof employ
naent or education.
To discourage the use of . heav
sleeping and parlor cars the new OF
Ger provided that the following mir
imum number of tickets should b
bought for. drawing rooms, compart
ments or sections:
Two adult tickets for a DRAWN
room in sleeping car; two adult tic
kets for a compartment; one and on
half adult tickets for a section; fiv
adult tickets for exclusive occupanc
of drawing room in a parlor car.
Passenger fares by water routes {
by rail and water are to be increa:
ed proportionately with the highe
rail charges.
The basis for computing charge
Cor excess baggage is to be one-sixt
OF the normal passenger fare. with
minimum of l 5 cents a hundre
pounds and minimum collection of 2
ra,4. rer shinuerf