The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-11-20


as we'll as other railroads, viz to open
the ticket window few moments be-
fore the arrival of train, was pleaded
by Mr.. Duling as practical notice to
every purchaser of a ticket, that the
train about to arrive, and for which the
agent was selling tickets, 7r0uld stop at
every station for which he was selling
tickets, and it was reasonably to be
taken for granted, that If the purchaser
of a ticket was not informed to the
contrary at the time by the agent, that
the purchaser of a ticket to any other
station on the line, was to presume that
the train would stop at that station, and
that he was not in duty bound to make
inquiry as to whether it would or would
not stop, the obligation being on the
part of the agent of the company to in
form him at the time of the purchase
of his ticket if it would not stop. On
this ground generally stated, the case
was tried at the December term 1885
of our Circuit Court, the court then
deciding that the plaintiff had no case.
From this decision against him by the
court below, the plaintiff took his APP
peal to Annapolis, the court there sus-
tanning the decision of the Circuit
Court. Practically stated the Court Of
Appeals decides. That in view of the
fact that the railroad company widely
advertises it's time tables, and keeps
publicly displayed in all its stations
placards, on which are stated in con-
spicuous figures, the points at which all
trains stop, and gives ample informa-
ton to the public through these means
of the movments of all its trains, that it
is the duty of every purchaser of
ticket for any station if he has not IN
formed himself, to make inquiry
of the ticket agent at the time of the
purchase of it, whether the train for
which he is purchasing his ticket stops
at the station for which he has pur-
chased it, and that the purchaser of a
ticket has no right to expect the agent
to inform him unless asked, because
the purchaser of a ticket is presumed
to know from the published time tables
of the company whether the train for
which he is buying ticket stops at his
station or not, and if he doesn't know,
it is his duty to ask the station agent,
and not wait 10 be informed by him.
At first glance this decision would
seem to work hardship to the travel
ling public, it being but reasonable to
expect that a ticket agent would volIn-
tarily inform any person buying ticket,
that the train next arriving would not
stop at the station for which he had
sold it, il such were the fact. But it
will readily be seen on moments re-
Election, that the time of the ticket
agent might be entirely consumed for
the few moments previous to the arri-
val of trains by offering information,
and volunteering advice, which the
travelling public has ample means OF
acquiring and which would seriously
interfere with his business as ticket sell
Ter, and possibly work a prejudice to
those who did not need information.
To meet the actual necessities of such
cases at railroad stations in our large
cities offices, called Bureaus of infor
nation have been opened. For these
offices, polite and patient men generally
are selected, and who answer any pro-
per question asked them relative to a
travellers destination, the point at which
to take his train, the hour at which it
starts, whether it be ''on time if
connecting train, and thousand and
ore other little matters, at the time of
importance to travellers. 1t is to re-
lieve the officials who sells tickets, of
the pressure incident upon crowd at
their windows, and to protect them rea-
sonably against mistakes, by having
their attention diverted from their i'm
mediate business of giving the customer
the ticket asked for, and returning him
the exact change in money, and to in
sure accuracy generally, that these
bureaus of information have been es-
tsblished. They have proved excellent
auxiliaries of convenient travelling. At
local stations of course such officers are
not needed, the station agents being
presumed to be ready to afford all de-
sired information 7,htN asked /0r 1t,
which by the decision above cited, is
the legal condition upon which it can
be expected. We have no doubt in
the case just decided, had MIR. Duling
asked the station agent whether or not
the train for which he had purchased
ticket stopped at the desired station he
would have been promptly and politely
informed that it did not. The Court
of Appeals now decides that it was his
duty to the railroad company as com
mon carrier, as well as to himself to
have asked this question of the local
agent, and having failed to do so, he
cannot legally hold the railroad COM
pany responsible for his subsequent loss
of time and inconvenience. With
view to prevent similar mistakes, we have
in the interest OF the travelling portion
of our communities, made this partIcu-
lar mention of tins case.
Mr. Il. Il. Askew, late AssiSuapt Post
MASTER at Elltluure said some time AGO: