The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-11
NEW SCHEME
PROPOSES So
RAILROAD FARE
1000 Mile Ride Would Cost
No More Than 10-MiIe
Jaunt Under Plan.

~ NJ NHNfN fffHH
WASHINGTON, June II. - A
postage stamp" scheme for rail-
road fares. whereby a 20O0-mile ride
would cost no more than a 10-mile
jaunt has been proposed 10 Trans
pOrtation Co-OrdinatOr Joseph B.
Eastman. who said the plan may
be worth looking into"
I'm dubious about 1t myself, but
some Of my men seem to think that
with certain changes it might have
possibilities, Mr.. Eastman said.
of course I wouldn't want any,
thing done about it without a thor
Ough investigation and until We
learn what the railroads think
about IT,"
The plan was advanced by j. A.
f Hastings, former New York state
/ Senator. who would have the gov
ernmen5 set up a national corpora
T ton to guarantee railroads against
F loss under the new fare system.
Freight Basis Same
Standard fares on each railroad
would be So. no matter how long the
ride On that basis the New York
E to San Francisco fare would be Sc
I due TO the change Of railroads at
I Chicago Mr.. Hastings also pro-
/ posed that freight rates he revised
on a similar basis.
His plan set forth in two books
written by him was presented to
7 the railroad co-ordinator for study.
One Of Mr.. Eastman's technical ex-
4 perts called the volumes some
what incoherent" and said he did
not believe the plan would work
at all"
He said Mr. Hastings promised
/ the scheme would be of inestimable
I benefit to the nation.
But 1 can not see how he figures
I that" the expert said. 'Undoubt-
edly there woUlS De a tremendous
pickup of long distance travel at
So a ride, but the government would
simply have to make up the deficit"
He said if the plan we're put in
Z effect the bus companies would be
+ forced out of business and that if
/ IL we're extended to carry freight on
a fiat rate basis the railroads prob
ably would be ruined, together with
a number of their shippers.
Chairman Burton K. Wheeler
I ID. Mont) Of the Senate Inter
/ state Commerce Committee has also
received the rail fare proposal.
Idea Fascinating"
He said that the plan called for
a freight rate of 81 a ton. Pas
/ Sengers could travel between two
points in one general direction for
81 for ordinary trains or So for ex-
/ press or lmiteds.
Mr.. Wheeler said the idea was
fascinating" and requested further
time for study. If Mr. Eastman
and the railroad brotherhoods ap-
prove the plan. he said he might
introduce a bill to carry it into
/ effect.
Revolutionary reductions, under
I the Hastings plan. would be made
possible by tremendous increases in
travel.
Low uniform rates. ignoring dis
7 lance as a cost element" Mr.. Hast
ings said. will relieve commerce
and industry from the unsound. I'M
scientific and illogical system Of
I rates and fares now inflicted on the
7 public"
Instead. Mr.. Hastings would sub
stitute rates based on Justice, full
+ est utilization Of facilities. maxi
mum return to carriers. and great
est benefit to all"
Mr.. Hastings asserted the plan
would be the salvation OF capitalism,
because it will produce capital and
use more capital. 1t will give CAPT.
tai a high return. 1t will employ
! labor and relieve it of the agonizing
7 .o~ftfres NJ an economic hell"