Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-25
HIGHER RAILROAD
RATES|N EFFECT At
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
Passenger, Freight, Baggage
and Pullman Traffic Is
Included.

The American public will begin
paying its proportionate share Of the
railroad rates increases recently al
lowed by the Interstate Commerce
commission at midnight tonight.
At that time increased rail rates on
passenger travel. freight transport
tation, excess baggage transportation
ana surcharges on sleeping and parlor
car travel will become effective.
With the next year. it is estimated,
The American public will have paid in
increased rates a total Of $1546951-
247 over the amount they would have
PAID at the present rates. On every
ucket to every point touched by a
railroad, no matter how far the dis
lance, the increases will be effective
The bureau of railway economics
estimated that the total annual in
crease In revenue accruing to the
railroads under the new rates in
S2i,9S2. A large part of this bill will
De paid by commercial travellers, but
the general travelling public. includ-
ang those who travel only a few hun
dred miles each year, will come in for
payment of some of this huge
amount.
Huge Annual Increase.
Increases on freight rates will
nring in the enormous annual total
q $1-zS5.535,630. Even those who do
not board a railroad train during the
coming year will help pay this in
crease. which, it is declared, will be
Borne by the purchasing public in
1nodities. The freight increase granted
The railroads averages 34.5S per cent
Tor the entire country, although sew
eral sections have higher increases
Than this. and in others the increases
IRE lower.
Higher rates on baggage, classed as
excess baggage-that is, baggage
which weighs more than the maxi
mum weight allowed to go free with
the railroad ticket. is expected to
bring in an annual total of $1.420,9s5.
Sleeping and parlor car surcharges,
which have been raised so per cent,
rs against the 20 per cent increase
allowed on passenger fares, are ex-
pected to increase the total revenue
OF the railroads by $43.639.344 and 20
tation of milk will bring in addi-
fional revenue to the amount of $4,-
637,s96.
Last Chance ut Present Rate.
A person who buys a round-trip
ticket, at the present rate, however, If
he intends to start on his journey to-
day. will not have to pay the increase.
After midnight tonight, however, all
tickets will be sold at the increased
rate Although railroad heads and
transportation officials have repeated
ly asserted since the increased rates
were granted by the Interstate Com
merce Commission that higher freight
rates will not justify large increases
in the price Of commodities. the De-
partment of Justice is prepared to
keep close watch on all dealers with
the idea of nipping any prospective
proflteering in the bud Officials be-
lieve some merchants may boost
prices TAR beyond what is necessary
to absorb the rail increases.
The freight rate increases by dis
tricts are as follows: Eastern dis
trict, 1857 per cent; southern district.
26. 81 per cent; western district, 34.74
Der cent, and mountain-Pacifc dis
trict, 26.2s per cent.
Water carriers also will inangurate
fofnt rail and water trafnc rate in |
creases corresponding to the all-rail
advances