South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-12-10
Froo Passes on Railroads.


The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad has
pursued n policy in the matter of grant
ing railroad passes that many people
have thought too close for the best in
terests of the company. Indeed, it has
not been an unusual circumstance to
hear the company's policy in this re-
gard spoken of rs penny wise and
pound foolish" But after. oil. it NAV
well be doubted whether it is not an or.
ror on virtues side for railroad com.
pany to take the position that it has no
right to curtail the revenues Of its stock
holders by the promscuous issue Of free
passes. All railroad companies. almost
without exception. are inclined to issue
too many rather than too few free pas.
ses. Commodore Vanderbilt has set an
example that railroad Pre- sidents the
country over may well initiate. lie ear.
~ took the ground that no person who
did not render valuable ouid pro quo
TO his road had any right TO ride on it
without paying. Hence on his acces.
sion to Office he made fearful havoc a.
mong the dead heads. The policy Of
Mr.. Garrett of the baltimore & Ohio
is the same rs the Commodore's He
believes that every dollar his road can
earn belongs TO its stockholders, and he
has demonstrated that they are pretty
sure to get it i'll some shape or other.
We are lei 10 these remarks by no.
ticing the revelations lately made in the
management of the Boston q Eastern
Railroad. rs they came out in court. 1t
seems that free passes over its rails had
been issued TO such an extent rs TO nc.
count for quite q perccptible per cent of
the diminished earnings ofthe road. IL
was shown that there had been issued
thiS year Zoo annual passes, and from
200 to 400 per day passes good for one
trip. In the case of another road, the
Central Vermont. it was shown before
the Masters in Chancery at st. Adams.
That every newspaper. every lawyer. and
every prominent man along the line Of
the Railroad and in the Legislature had
z pass, and even the judges before whom
the case was then being tried had them
ih their pockets. The attorney for the
bond-hOlders made very delicate and
judici0us use Ofthis evidence. presenting
Vt not 10 prove or even impute corrup.
tiou, but 20 question the right Of the
Urn tees 10 give away the services Of the
road. The ground taken in Connect
cut by leading lawyer is that road
has no right 20 cnrry one man free and
cliargc liz Deighbor full fare. without
dDnbt 10 Is wi,hin the province Of the
court 90 do away with q vicious prac.
ticc. But if tie giving Of free passes is
20 be maintained rs within the powers
OF directors and Railroad trustees. IL is
evidently one Of those privileges. the ex.
ercise or which should be matter Of
record in The annual and official reports.
The people want 20 know what proper.
ton Of each roads passengers travel
free and WHY they have that favor,
Ehte!i"g h'cPigrn.er
tV"The hig boy had taken bis castor
oil, and mother approached his little bro.
ther slowly and asked
Now, Tommy. you'll take some.
won't YOU? Your brother has Just taken
his, and gave him some nice molasses
candy; didn't 7 Jimmv2"
ooh. yes" roared Jimmy. and il was
bully"
well, then" said Tommy. "haye Won
any Chocolate in tho housey"
NO said the mother. mot n bit"
Cali rignt. then. won't take any oil /.
molasses candy makes my teeth ache.
and 1t they get agoin' you won't get no
sleep tonight, that's All I've got IN ao,, -