Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-08-19
Free Tickets, or "Dead Heads'' on
Rail Roads.

~ 10 dl'ohuou Will 6olAc uinculty TO ue-
termine what is precisely the true line of
policy for q Railroad Company, on the sub
ject Of free tickets that there is some dan
ger of the practice running into abuse, is
admitted, but we have always thought that
it was wise policy to make judicious use
of the courtesey of free tickets to those who
have been. or can be useful, in sustaining
their interests.
The suggestion Of this policy may be said
to SAVIOR little Of favoring the practice of
indirect bribery. It has been rather too
much the habit in Virginia, to refine in the
support Of distractions. forgetting what is
lost by neglecting the observance of pract-
cal utilitarianism. We are not to be suspec-
ted of being Influenced by interested mo-
tives, in recommending more liberal poll
cy, than has been pursued on this subject,
by our Central Road" for we have con-
tract by which we enjoy the free ticket priv
ilege now. We do not mean to say that a
Railroad Company ought, by the offer Of
free tickets, to attempt to influence men to
do what is morally wrong, but we think it
would be wise in the Stockholders of our
Central Company, to remember, that they
are dependent on popular favors for success );
that men have to be dealt with, as they arc
with all their imperfections and that it will
cost very little to make few friends, hy
occasionally extending the courtesy of a
free ride, to those who have it in their pow
er to render them valuable service, and who
are not bound to do it, We think the mo-
rality of this cause, as we'll as the policy
suggested, is not contrary even to the pre-
ccpts of the Bible.
We have been led into these reflections,
by reading the Editorial copied below from
the Railroad Journal, in reference to the
course Of the Erie Railroad Company The
President Of that Company. Mr.. Moran,
signalized himself, by making war on the
dead Head" system. The Editor of the
journal, gave him many friendly warnings
of the impolicy Of putting in practice, his
extreme notions on that subject. He would
not heed at the time, but from the follow
ing, taken from the Journal of July 30th,
we may conclude that he has been fully con-
WINGED of his error, and that it would have
been better for his Company not to have at
tempted to be wiser or more moral in this
matter. May not our Central Company
profit by Mr.. Moran's experience.
FREE PASSES ON THE ERIE RAILROAD
We understand that the cardinal point so
long made by this Company, to grant no
free passes, has, like some other of its "rules
founded on principal" gone the way of all
earth The dead head system is restored
but the principle so long contended for by
Mr.. Moran, is completely given up.
Without going into the policy of having
a dead head list, we may say that the thing
is considered indispensable, land is practiced
by our best managed roads If it has been
found polite for the Erie to return to it,it was
certainly impolitic to abolish it altogether
This Company pertinaciously held on to
its position till all the injury was suffered
that mistaken injury could infict, it now
yields, when yielding will gain neither cred
it nor friends A disposition to institute
radical changes in important affairs, ought
always to be accompanied by a keen appre-
citation Of their effect, 50 that an obnoxious
point can be receded from before its injurious
effects can be felt, and, before the moral
position Of their authors can be weakened.
10 adhere to them till forced to yield by
The pressure of necessity implies more stub
oorness than good sense, and more self will
han high principle.