The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1921-03-18
Went Into Effect On All Rail.
roads In South Carolina
Wednesday Morning
STATE TO MAKE FIGHT
Change Will Increase lntrastatc Pas
Scngcr Fares From 3 Cents to 30
Cents Per Mile-Errc Baggage
Limited to $50 Pound~-Iscstrain-
ing Order Applied For

NoluIiiDld, -. u. MdTCn lI.-InP
increased rates on intrastate traffic
went into effect on all railroads in
South Carolina Wednesday mornin :
at 1901 O'Clock. The change. which
is made at the order OF the inter
state commerce commission, will in
crease intrastate passenger fares OIL
Ill trains in the state frol three
cents a mile. the maximum as now
fixed by state law. to SO cents per
mile. the rate already in force on
interstate travel. Free baggage Will
also be limited to $50 pounds instead
{" 20 as allowed under the old intra-
state rates, while conductors will be
authorized to collect 10 cents penal
ty in addition to the regular fare
charges on all tickets sold on trains
Switching charges on freight will
also be increased to $3.50 per car.
In the meanwhile state authorities
are continuing their effort to pre-
vent the enforcement of the inter
state commerce commissions order
under which the increase in intra-
state rates is being made. Attor-
ney General Wolfe and Morris
Lumpkin, former assistant attorney
general. left for Charleston last
night to argue the case before three
federal judges at 10 O'Clock this
morning with the idea OF securing
an tnterloc,rtory decree restraining
the railroads from putting into eff
feet the rates, which are now al
ready in effect. The hearing will
be in the nature of commerce
court, Judge II. II. Watkins of the
western district and Judge c. A.
Woods OF the court OF appeals sit
ting with Judge II. a. NJ. Smith in
Charleston hearing the case. The
losing party in the hearing expect
ed to carry the case TO the supreme
court. both the carriers and the stat.
being determined to carry on the
fight to the last
The Interstate commerce commits
sion order. under which the increase
is being made. in effect nullifies the
state law, which fixes three cents
per mile as the maximum to be
charged on railroads in the state
The state Is contending. along with
practically every other state in the
country. that the question OF intra-
state freight and passenger rates Is
solely a matter OF state Jurisdiction
The carriers in appealing from the
state railroad commissions decis-
ion refusing the increase maintain.
cd before the interstate commerce
commission that the difference be
tween the interstate and the intra
state rates worked an injustice upon
the roads and Disseminated agains,
the interstate traveller who was fore
ed to pay 80 cents per mile for
travelling on the same train and ir
the same seats with intrastate trav
elers, who paid only three cents per
mile The variance I'm charge also
afforded an opportunity for fraud
the carriers said H. f. Cary, gen
eral passenger agent Of the South
ern. testifying at the hearing in
charleston before members OF tho
interstate commerce commission
said that las rule" experienced
travellers coming into and going on.
OF the state bought tickets only to
border points so taking advantag~
of the intrastate rate in interstate
travel.