New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-10
LOST BAGGAGE ON RAILROADS.

Some public men are eternally tinkerug an
spelling good laws, simply, as 1t would SEEM Tor
The sake of notOriety Through the ignorance OF
such Law. rivers, the science of jurisprudence is
burdened with nterminable minutie in the shape
of conditions and proyisos until our statute books
resemble overloaded Gothic architecture where
simplicity and symmetry are lost sight of in endless
incongruities An example of this folly, is the late
bill introduced by Mr.. Noxon into our Legislature,
entitled An act for the better protection of
"Baggase carried on Railroads and Steamboats,"
The body Of this bill cOntradcts its title.
Instead of insuring the safe delivery Of the
travellers baggage, il destroys all liability on the
part of the common carrier, unless the owner COM
plies with some very absurd requirements. For
instance the traveller must have his name and resi-
dence plainly marked on his baggage. Now, the
term baggage includes a multitude of things; it
means trunk, an overcoat, buffalo robe, and re-
Gently our courts held that the gun of hunter and
the fishing apparatus of an angler come under that
general denomination. In word, the term bag
gage compre bends everything traveller carries
with him for necessary personal use or comfort.
Must traveller, then, paint his name and abode on
his gun or overcoat and keep an eternal watch to
insure that the inscription is not obliterated, 10
order to make the carrier liable in case
il is lost Suppose him in search of
a residence, without definite idea Of settling
am where, like the European immigrant or Caliior
MIA adventurer, is his property to be beyond the
protection of the law because unfortunately he has
no domicile' Is wanderer to become again
ysQabond who h.s, under the law, no rights OF
Ownership or personal security Suppose the card
of carpet-bag is torn off in baggsge-car, how
can the owner prove where il was done The diff
fculty of proving that a proper card was on the
lost baggage would IN reality amount to denial Of
Justice Travellers from other States, and even
many Of our own citizens, seldom read local laws
and their prop, rty, account OF their ignorance
to be at the mercy of lazy, dishonest baggage
,nacher or deck.handi
In fact, traveller, with Mr. Noxon's law
hanging over his head, would be Obliged 10
take q witness with him every time he checks
his baggage or changes cars, in order to prove
that his name and residence were marked
thereon. After proving the superscrpton aliunde,
as he is now compelled to prove the delivery of o
lost trunk, he might give his own testimony of it,
| contents The result Of such foolish law would
be to discourage every inducement to vigilance on
the part Of railroad companies and steamboat. pro-
prietors by generating them from all responsibility
The difficulty of proving the mark would in reality
amount TO denial of justice. Besides, if the pro-
visions of the bill wise and equitable, it should
not be restricted to wealthy railroad companies,
but be extended to every porter who drags hand.
cart through the city. The remaining sections Of
this act, likewise, ere foolish as the one Just
criticized.
The law on the responsibility Of common car
r;ers, as il now sasds Is one Of the wisest instita