Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-01-21
Applications for Passes.

Wnen u reporter ehteTeu the oiiico Vi
au official of one of the trunk lines In
New York recently, he found seated In
an armchair young woman witch a
pretty little girl in her arms. The
young mother was crying softly behind
her handkerchief. When clerk ssk-
ed what she wanted she said she had
been deserted by her husband, and she
wanted a pass so as to overtake him
and made him support her and the lit
tie girl. She was positive her husband
had gone to Sarge city several hum
dred miles from New York. and II she
could only get pass to go on and
catch him she was sure they would be
happy together again. She said her
parents lived 200 hundred miles in a.
mother direction. Her request for a
pass was denied, and she was ADVISED
to 60 home to her parents.
Then you refuse to give me pass p
she asked, as she put her handkerchief
in her pocket and Strengthened herself
up In the armchair. 'Yod will not
help me in trying to find my husbandr
No, madam, we cannot aid you,'
was the polite reply. 1T Is against the
rules
Her cheeks grew several shades red
der. and her bright blue eyes snapped
rs she al ose and stalked out of the Of.
ice.
That kind of a woman is a perfect
nuisance to u.s. said one OF the rail :
road officials. We have sometimes a
dozen or fifteen of them a day. That
woman was a fraud. She wanted q
pass to 20 visiting on, and her story a.
bout desertion was false. Her cheeks
wers plump and full Of color, and her
eyes were bright and clear. Now IL
she had been deserted by her husband
she would have worried and cried so
that she would haye looked as IL she
had not slept for week. I've seen
too many cases of this kind before.
One of the most curious things In con
nection with applications for free trips
is the fact that the officers Of all the
charitable associations within a radius
of 800 miles labor nnder the Impression
that our road is run as part and parcel
Of each one of their societies. They
poster the life nearly out CT us for pass
es to all points for persons they are In.
terested in or whom they want to
favor. Just glance over this drawer of
letters and see what you think of the
requests of some of the writer's
The reporter saw In the drawer near
ly 100 letters from benevolent associ-
ations and charitable institutions beg
ging for trip passes to all parts of the
country. One letter asked for pass
for a thousaud-mile trip and return
for four persons, on the ground that
the writer had been assistant secretary
of benevolent society In neighbor-
boring city for several years.
"That is our charitable drawer.
Look over our official drawer said
the railroad man; it is the next one a.
bove.'
This drawer was packed with letters
from municipal, county, and United
States officials of all kinds.
what do you do with these aprlica-
tions p inquired the reporter, tapping
tue two drawers do you grant any of
them p
Yes, we grant the request Of those
who we think are entitled to passes.'
was the reply but it is very hard
work sometimes to tell when to give
them or when we ought to refuse. The
reasons given why passes should be is.
sued are countless. We very frequent.
ly have fellows come in here who tell
pathetic stories of how they have been
robbed of their last cent in the city.
and they must have pass to go home
on. Every one>of these will solemnly
promise to send the money to us by the
first mail after reaching home. They
never send Us the money. and they do
not expect to send it when they prom
ise. Another class of persons who
bore US for passes are our personal
friends. Hundreds of persons who
have no claim upon the company, ex.
cepting their friendship or acquaint-
ance with one of its officers, are con-
stantlY annoying US with requests for
trip and annual passes. Men who say
they are veterans Of the war are here
daily to get passes. If we are convinc-
ed by their documents Of the truth of
their statements we give them a trip
pass. The laugh was raised at my ex-
pense few weeks ago. A fellow who
produced papers showing an honorable
record of four years. service In the war
asked me for trip pass to Western
city. He had a heavy. cold and looked
very weak. gave him pass, and he
left with a hearty God bless you, sir,
for your kindness to an old soldier