The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-05-27
Passenger Rates Are Three
Cents Mile, Freight Is
Up 25 Per t.
MONUMENTS. STONE
UP 2 CENTS lUNDRED
Whole Pro 3 N Will Give
$500, ,000,OV More Reve-
nue. to the Roads

Washington, d. c., May 27.--To meet
wage increases just announced, and high
er costs of coal and other supplies this
year, Director General McAdoo to-day
ordered railroad freight rates in the
United States raised 25 per cent and pas
senger fares increased to three cents a
mile from the present basis of about
two and onehalf cents. 1t is estimated
that the program will bring between
$500, 100000 and S900,000,000 more reve-
nues to the railroads within the next
year. 1t represents by far the biggest
rate Increase in the history of railroads.
The new freight charges, which cover
both class and commodity rates become
effective June 25 and the passenger in
crease will go into effect June 10.
Issued under authority granted by the
railroad act to President Wilson, acting
through the director general, the order
wipes out all interstate lower rates eff
fectlve on either freight or passenger
traffic.
Travellers in standard sleeping and par
lor cars are required to pay three and
half cents a mile in addition to Pull
man fares and in tourist sleeping cars
three and one fourth cents. Pullman
rates remain the same
ON railroads are increased 10 per cent.
Fares on electric interurban lines are not
affected
Special excursion, mileage, convention
and tourists rates, with a few excep-
tions, are discontinued, privileges such
as stopovers and free side trips are abol-
ished and excess baggage charges are in
crea sed
Both freight and passenger rates on
boat lines operated on the lakes, rivers
or coastwise by railroads, are to be raised
with the general in
creases.
Export and import freight rates are
ordered cancelled, and the higher domes-
tic rates will apply to and from ports
number of fiat increases, instead of
additions, are ordered for coal,
coke, lumber, ore, stone, grain, cotton,
meats, sugar, bullion and other
Existing diferentials and rate rea-
tionships between various localities are
to be preserved so far as possible, but
many adjustments will have to be made
later. All rates are subject to review
and correction by the interstate COM
nerce commission.
Why Rates Were Raised.
In announcing that the rates increases
ire required by the public interests, Mr.
dcAdoo referred to the $500, 100000 or
more added to the payrolls of railroad
abor, under an order published to-day,
o the rapidly rising cost of coal, which
lie estimated this year alone at $780,
10000 more than last year and to high
r cost of every other Material entering
nto railroad transportation. Operating
expenses, he estimated would be between
$50, ,000. 900 and $3.50, 100000 greater this
ear than the S2,S52 100000 figure of
sst year.
No part OF the increased rates is on
ccount of the program of nearly bill
on dollars of improvements, additions
nd new equipment this year, he ex-
lained
The commission will probably be busy
pr months. hearing complaints and pro-
,sts. Passenger tariffs in some sparsely
.ttled regions, will not be reduced. Al
lough excursions and tourist fares are
bolished, the order permits the estab-
shment of round trip tourist fares
,mewhat lower than the three-eent
tie.
Exceptions to the three-cent rate are
ade for soldiers and sailors, who may
avel at one cent mile, when on fur
ugh, at their own expense and for per-
ms attending the national encampment
the Grand Army of the Republic at
1rtland. Ore, and the United Confed-
ate Veterans reunion at Tulsa, Okla
9TH of these organizations, are permit
d rates of one cent a mile and for vs-
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