The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-31
40 MOKE PASSES.
The New Railroad Law VIII Prevent Many
Persons From Riding Free.

Persons From Riding Free.
When Mr. John +. Mason. of Stafford and
King George. introduced his Railroad Com
mission b.il ia tie House OF Delegates during
the last few days of the recent session IL was
greeted by quite number of the members
as @ welcome substitute for the Kent bill.
Iae blll was discussed 10y Mr. Mason in "a
general way aud its differences from the
Hent bill pointed out. When the bill came
finally up on It's passage some Of the mem
.ers We're not aware how sweeping
some Of its provisions were or they
would have hardly voted for IT, BE
tween the time when the bill had
en ordered toits third reading and engross-
uelt and Its final passage only about fifteen
Ilute, elapsed. but this interval was suf-
t.ent for one or two delegates 10 change their
l4s After they had voted for the en-
lrossment of the Dlll they were informed that
one of the sections of the bill prevented the
issuing of free passes 20 members of the Leg
stature. and they promptly voted against the
passage of the bin. however. the bill was
passed 10y "a large majority IN the House and
also n the Senate. and Dy june LIST. when the
set VIII gOlutO operation. IL will be unlawful
.or ra. road companies % issue tree passes to
members of the Legislature OF Other public
Cf ..als The section ln question, NO. 10, Of
tie act reads as follows
rec 0r reduced rues-EXcursiOn or com
mutation tickets Passes and free transporta-
E d. That nothing IN this act shall apply 20
Gle carriage. storage OF handling of property
free OF at reduced rates tor the United States
Nta.e or municipal governments or for char
table purposes. or % or from fairs and expo
st0us for exhibition thereet or the free car
r.1e of destitute and homeless persons
B. d tle necessary agents employed II such
transportation. or TO mileage, excursion
0r commutatiOn passenger tickets. or 10 Der
ems ln charge of live stock being shipped
ll.u tie point of shipment 20 the point of
destination and return nothing ia this act
sl4l b6 construed 10 prohibit any common
carer from giving reduced rates 10 ministers
0 religion. or 90 INDECENT persons or 10 ln-
bates of Confederate homes or state homes
.o- disabled soldiers. and of disabled soldiers
OBI sailors. including those about 10
tfer and those returning home after
.large. OF carrying the same free,
nothing ia tins act snail be construed 10 pre-
1e.t common carriers from giving free
carriage 20 their own officers employees and
members of their families. or 20 prevent the
principal. officers of any railroad company or
companies from exchanging passes OF tickets
WltI other railroad companies for their
0ers employees and members Of their
families. and nothing IN tins act contained
f.... ln any way abridge or alter the RENE lies
l.F existing at common law or by statute:
ilt tle provisions OF TINS act are in addition
g such remedies provided that 40 pending
litigation shall in any way be affected by this
6c.
H4lroad Commissioner Hill is understood
t0llIer.ret the new law so that hereafter no
more tree Dasscs can be issued on railroads %
tlg one except the persons named IN section
All public officials, including the mem
hers .t -Le legislature. county judges. etc.
v. sitter June /. 1872. have TO pay their rail-
ral aics. At present they are nearly all
trNe Dig on free passes. ana besides draw
mileage whenever they are entitled 20 It by
lw If the purpOrt of section ~ had been
generally known when the bill was upon It's
I-.-s-eit w0uldveryhkely have been defeated.
t.tslcelt has become d iaw IL is expected that
t.e tree-pass system Will DO done away with
forever. for il is extremely doubtful whether
araorty 0t the members OF any Legislature
could Doc induced 20 enact law which " uld
repeal section - of the Mason act. " While
members might not hesitate to prevent the
Passage ~ 10 ban doing away with tree passes.
tics N. 3 consider 10 very carefully before they
8 0l record in favor o. reintrOOucing Tree
N...e.