El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-10-22

E southwest is not at all pleased-and quite properly
so-with the new passenger tariffs which do away
with choice Of railroad routes eastward. Officials Of the
railroad administration seem very much opposed TO rescnd
their action in putting SIS premium ali tickets to and
rom the east By way Of New Orleans The adinstra-
tons position may be academically but is not
practically and cannot be productive any good
suits On the contrary, It IS discriminatory against the
territory adversely affected BY it and IS entirely unjust
The position Of the railroad administration is stated
IA telegram to the Los Angeles chamber Of commerce
copies o. which are also sent to other protesting
erca organizations along the southern route The
sage says, in part:
1T has been the rule and practice of the rail-
road administration 70 construct passenger fares
the basis Of distance, making exceptions when
required by the public interest Pursuant TO this
rrls fares between Chicago, st. Louis and Ohio
river CITES and territory from which fares nat
waliY make over these gateways, the one
hand and California common points, the other
VIII be higher via New Orleans than via the d.
rect routes This does not eliminate the New Or
leans gateway from such territory passengers
may SIN purchase through tickets reading via
New Orleans at fares properly constructed. The
application Of the short line fare 20 and from
Chicago and other territory mentioned is not
quired b. the public interest, while, the other
hand, It would have the result Of materially az
feetiHg passenger revenue from considerable part
Of the United States, important both to
and population. The administration cannot as
sumo responsibility for this unnecessary saeri-
flee Of passenger revenue The distance from
Chicago to New Orleans is go miles; from New
Orleans to Los Angeles 2003 miles, total 1928
miles The distance via the short line from
Chicago to Los Angeles Is 2,212 miles therefore
farther than who the direct route. If
the rate VIA Che direct route is reasonable Of
itself, it cannot Be said shat there Is any just-
fication for transporting passenger over the
much greater distance at short line fares
@FTom the entire Atlantic sesboard and inter
mediate territory in the southwest short line
fares VIII be applied via New Orleans. This in
ciudes cities Of Boston. New York, Philadelphia,
Washington, Atlanta, Chattanooga. Birmingham
AontgomerF Mobile and all territory east and
north thereof naturally basing these gateways.a
Thus traffic Is to be limited, under penalty, to the
short line mileage As has been pointed out By chamber
Of commerce and By Congressman Carl Hayden, Of Arr
zons the restriction VIII act deterrent 70 tourist
travel through Louisiana, Texas southern New Mexico
and southern Arizona It 7l result practically
ing that territory from the tourist map.
The element Of increased from adjustment
Of the kind made By the railroad administration would be
negligible compared with the disastrous effect and
ious loss which VII be suffered the territory above
mentioned Few people WI be wiling, unless business
compels to pay an extra fare for privilege long en-
joyed b tTansconnenal passengers The great number
win simply 60 by way Of the northern route and the rail-
Rad administration VIII not get much more revenue than
heretofore.
Z it is essential that the railroad adninistration ind
other Of than It possesses should
least seek revenue producer which VIII not harm the
public interest An adjustment such proposed Is not
constructive but destructive.
The rai-road combinations message states that
has been the practice to compute fares basis Of