Rail Rate Rumpus

"I don't even get time to get a drink of water any more," complained a clerk in Manhattan's Pennsylvania Station information booth. Said a ticket agent in Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal: "You see a lot of new faces now, and the trains are fuller."

These were sample comments last week as Eastern railroads put into effect the fare cuts ordered by the Interstate Commerce Commission. Bigger crowds in all stations gave proof that passenger volume had jumped instanter. Officials in every railroad admitted it but cautiously refused to give figures or estimates which might interfere with the suit which all Eastern roads except one are now waging against the ICC's order. Announced that one, the Baltimore & Ohio: "Sales and inquiries were greater than we anticipated and were very encouraging."

Far from encouraging were the sales and inquiries on another railroad--the Long Island. This important New York commuters' line was the sole railroad to disobey the ICC's order to reduce fares to 2-c- a mile in coaches, 3-c- a mile in Pullmans. In justification, it claimed that the Interstate ruling did not apply to it, since it serves only one State.

Long on bad terms with its passengers, the Long Island speedily found itself in a first-class rumpus. Instigator was a little textile salesman named Jacob Abelson who commutes daily over the eleven miles from Jamaica to Manhattan. When the agent refused to sell him a ticket at the lowered rates, angry little Jacob Abelson got aboard without one, told the conductor who requested 34-c-. "According to the new ruling the fare should be. 23-c- But I'm willing to pay you 25-c-. Do you want it?" Flabbergasted, the conductor argued weakly, gave in as the other passengers began cheering Commuter Abelson. Taking his name and address, the red-faced trainman scuttled away after remarking: "You'll hear from our legal department."

Taking the cue from this fast-publicized action, many another commuter tried the same procedure. Some succeeded; some were thrown off. At ticket offices all along the line irate commuters insisted on getting receipts for their money, talked darkly of demanding rebates later. On the third day of the revolt the Transit Commission got a temporary injunction restraining the Long Island from charging more than 2-c- a mile within the City of New York. Basis of the injunction was the State Railroad Law, which prohibits a road from charging more per mile than its parent company in cities of 1,000,000 population. The Long Island is owned by the Pennsylvania, which elsewhere is asking 2-c- a mile. The injunction thus permitted the Long Island to charge the old rates along most of its suburban mileage, but only the new rates after it entered city limits. The L. I. R. R. then avoided obeying the injunction by planning an appeal. This time the passenger outburst was stupendous. Sullenly standing pat, the railroad refused to accept any fares below its standard 3-c- rate. If a passenger refused to pay that, the agent took his name and address, let him ride for nothing, declared: "Our legal department will get in touch with you." Doubting that the company would ever get around to suing each passenger individually, delighted commuters began riding free.

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