The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-05-31
3-CENT FARE On
/. ROADS ORDERED;
OTHER RATES UP
Freight Rates Also Increased by
Director General.
is RECORD RATE INCREASE
McAdoo Grants Carrying Lines OF
Country Greatest Tariff Raise in
Their History, Aggregating
Over $300,00o,000.

Washington. May 2S-TO meet wage
increases just announced, and higher
costs of coal and other supplies this
year Director General McAdOO ordered
railroad freight rates in the United
States raised % per cent and paSSen-
ger fares increased to cents mile
from the present basis of about 212
cents. 1t is estimated that the pro-
gram will bring between $500 100000
and $900,000,000 more revenues to the
railroads within the next year. 1t rep
resents by far the biggest rate increase
in the history of railroads.
The new freight charges, which COW
er both class and commodity rates be-
come effective June % and the paSsen-
ger increase 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 intrastate low
er rates effective on either freight or
passenger traffic.
Sleeping Car Rates Increased.
Travellers in standard sleeping and
iparlor cars are required to pay 3h
cents a mile in addition to Pullman
fares and in tourist sleeping cars 3A
cents. Pullman rates remain the same.
Communication and other suburban
rates on railroads are increased 10 per
cent Fares on electric interurban
lines are not affected.
Special excursions, mileage conven-
ton and tourist rates, with a few ex-
ceptiOns, are discontinued, privileges
such as stOpOvers and free side trips
are abolished and excess baggage
charges are increased.
Both freight and passenger rates on
boat lines operated on the lakes, rivers
or cOastwise by railroads are to be
raised prOpOrtiOnately with the gener-
al increases.
Export and import freight rates are
ordered Cancelled and the higher do
nestle rates will apply to and from
ports.
A number of fiat increases, instead
of percentage additions, are ordered
for coal, coke, lumber, ore, stone,
grain, cotton, live stock, meats, sugar,
bullion and other commodities.
Coal Costs $16o,0oO,000 More.
In announcing that the rate in
creases are required by public interest
Director General NcAdOO referred to
the rapidly rising cost of coal, which
he estimated this year alone at $780,
100000 more than last year, and to
higher cost Of every transportation.
Operating expenses, he estimated,
would be between 100000 and
SS6O.OO0,OO0 greater this year than the
$2,S52, 000,000 figure Of last year.
No part of the increased rates is on
account of the program of nearly
billion dollars of improvements, addi-
tons and new equipment this year, he
explained.
''It is earnestly hoped" said the di-
rector general, that all citizens affect
ed directly or Indirectly by this in
crease of rates will support the gener-
al principle of such increase as an I'M
avOidable war measure and accept
the additional burden in the same spir
it of self-sacrifice in which they have
accepted other Inconvenience and bur-
dens and the grievOus personal losses
which are part 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 pri-
vate profit"
Low Rate for Veterans.
Exceptions to- the three-cent rate
are made for soldiers and sailors, who
may travel at one cent mile when on
fuclough at their own expense, and
for persons attending the national en-
campment of the Grand Army of the
Republic at Portland, Ore, and the
United Confederate Veterans reunion
at Tulsa, Okla. Both of these organ
izatiOns are permitted rates of one
cent a mile, and for various state
meetings of the veterans two cents win
be charged.
Children under five years of age
will be carried free, as at present, and
those between five and twelve will be
charged half of the new higher fare.
'If they turn out to be more than
are needed to meet the grave public
exigency," said Mr.. McAdOo, "they will
promptly be readjusted so as to pre-
vent any unnecessary burden upon the
public but pending readjustment the
excess, if any, will be for the benefit
of the people of the United States as
whole and not for the benefit of
the private railroad owners of any of
them"