Evening star., 1933-04-16

| ness on the basis Of the proposed lower
tariff. A competing railroad comes
into court at the hearing, Which, the
law provides must be- held, and cries
that such rate win work an unlawful
discrimination against its interests Is
competitor. The commission must
harken to this plea and give 1t full
consideration.
Not only is competing railroad the
complainant against lower rates. The
shippers Of q competing city will op-
pose the dropping of rates to some rival
city II they cannot enjoy the same bene-
mt themselves. If the commission can
not allow the railroad which serves
them to lower its rates, It will oppose
lower rates to its neighbor.
| This elaborate combination of cir
cumstances has helped keep railroad
rates up and, according to some STU
dents Of railroad transportation. con-
tributed to the desperate financial posi-
ton In which most carriers now find
themselves. Less than 10 class rail-
roads were on dividend-paying basis
last year and this year is expected to
see worse condition.
A Remedy Suggested.
Ihere are $4,000 communities In the
United States which now have no rail-
road service at all. They must rely
solely on motor bus and motor truck
transportation. 1t has been years since
there was any railroad expansion be-
cause the highways have taken some of
tnelr business, power Transmission lines
and pipe lines vast volume, and even
the airplanes have become a competi-
tive factor. As new communities spring
up new railroads are not extended %
them as In past years.
| In this SftIYafiop mans rot1.oa<
ecutives have turned to the 5-and-l ID
cent-store passenger fare for relief.
with many systems making a concerted
move Tor lower passenger rates it Is not
unlikely that the Interstate Commerce
Commission will grant their petitions.
The Western lines have taken the lead
ership, with some Southern lines In.
Ginning that way. At present the rail-
ROADS In the congested Eastern districts
nave been inclined to hold out. These
INES nave been able to hold q good deal
Of their passenger business because so
much OF 1t arises from commuters who
must travel between their suburban or
outlylng homes and their places Of en-
ployment or business. They would like
to continue on the higher basis, but IL
Is possible that pressure will bring prac-
ticaily the whole Nation into line.
riding the railroads once was re.
| 6oANSo 40 eAC greatest american SDOft.
True, passenger rates were sometimes as
high as 10 cents a mile, and facilities
could be but distantly compared with
modern railroad facilities. The finest
palace cars of the early railroad days
were inferior to the poorest day coaches
OF modern times. Travel is naturaI
inclination OF the American people.
They have always liked it. The rail-
road presidents behind this present
move believe that by putting the rates
down to from y to cents mile they
can stimulate flood of traffic which
Will at least help in bringing them back
to prosperity.
On week ends. on the occasion of
county fairs. at the height of vacation
seasons, railroad trains are crowded
with excursionists eager to take advan-
tage of the low excursion fares. The
new theory Is that huge business may
be done il excursion rates are applied
everywhere all the time.