Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-09

that IS allowed the "commuter' by the
shrewd conductor.
which Is adopted by many railroads is the
reciprocity treaty, so to speak, between
tnefn and the Pinkertons. The detectives
invariably travel on passes AMI for these
iavors ply their avocations while en- route
between the large cities. This plan Is not
SO effective on account Of the pass placing
trade mark on the traveller by which the
conductor can easily identify his man, but
TOT that run at least the company secure
an that they are entitled to. AS the Pink
ertons are continually on the go the reci-
Pfocity IDEA Is not a bad one. Other sys-
TENS OF spying are conducted on the same
oruer, the minor officials of the road Keep
ing an eye open to the company's interest,
ana almost any recipient of favor in the
shape OF pass by a company official will
quickly report any suspicious action on the
part Oh the conductor he has Travelled with.
Commercial Travellers.
The hardest class Of travellers to watch
are the commercial drummers As a class
they are proverbially shrewd and always
on the lookout to make dollar at the com
pany's expense. If the conductor is strand
ed Tor want of an idea whereby to make
Hltle extra the drummer will be found al
ways ready to advance one, and seven
times out or eight it is successful ana the
companies suffer.
There recently developed a case on one
OF the western roads that will illustrate
very aptly the foregoing paragraph One Of
the western spoilers had been sent out
70 watch certain conductor, and at the
competitor OF the run made the regular re-
port TO his superior. He said he had taken
seat In the smoking car beside q man
whose appearance Indicated that he was
commercial traveller. Getting in CONVERSE
ton with him he found that his surmise
was correct: he was travelling for a large
Pittsburg firm. A short distance out Of
Sicaso the conductor came along and
asked Tor their tickets. While he was ex-
aiming and punching the special agents
ticket the commercial traveller was fun
bling In his pocket and finally pulled out
Two dollars In silver. which he handed to
the conductor, with a knowing wink. The
conductor asked him where he was going,
and he replied over the usual run "WeII,
you must have made mistake; the fare
to that point is 49," said the conductor
On; 70 De sure, replied the drummer.'T
snoulo nave handed you this up with the
money" and he passed UP the mileage
book.
but what do I want with this?" asked
the conductor. holding out the two silver
dollars Don't you want me to tear OF the
full mileage?"
"Oh, that's all right. You know what I
mean"
-, But it wasn't all right in that case. as
drummer he must have made a mistake.
ana he tore the full mileage out Of the
book and passed it. with the 81. back to
1nWaTunGSS
that scheme was rather complicated, but
worthy or a great mind. The drummer
wanted to save dollar on that trip, and
to DO 1t he was willing that the conductor
should have the g. The amount that he
handed that employee in the first place was
intended for the conductors own pocket
but 1t was also intended to pay for the
drummer's transportation that trip. The
railroad company was to be mulcted out of
clean s.. OF that amount & was to go to
the conductor and 81 remain In the pocket
or the drummer. Tricks like this one are
coming up continually. and where one Is
hence the necessity of the spotter.
Tricks Of the Spoilers.
That there is a liability of dishonest per-
sons to be found in the ranks of the spot
tiers" as well as among railroad employees
there can be no question, and, as stated
above. the desire to make business is the
chief incentive. Instead of attending
strictly to business as they are instructed
by their superiors, that is ride in the cars
and keep their eyes open. the spy will fire.
Quently go out of his way to trap an I'M
wary employee. the former claiming that
the end justifies the means.
Speaking about the corrupt practices of
this class of people with railroad official
very recently. Star reporter was told the
following little tale. which illustrates to
what straits their wits are sometimes plac-
a
I'VE have a conductor on our road that
has been working for US for the past
twenty years. He is generous to a fault
and honest as the day. We all know this
and 1t would take the straight testimony
of dozen spoilers to change this esti-
nation. One day special agent thought
he would do little private detective work
without instructions from his superior. He
rode over to Philadelphia and came back
on the conductors train referred to above.
1t seems that he was personal friend Of
the conductor and using this friendship as
blind tried to ruin him. Some miles out
of Philadelphia the conductor came around
for tickets and OF course came across this
supposed friend. He didn't know that he
was in the spying business. but for that
matter l think 1t would have made little
difference.
Say. Ned. can't you pass me todayr
said the spy In a pleading voice.
Whats up, Franks? replied the con-
ductor. Hard luck?'
eyes, I'm clean busted; not got enough
to buy a breakfast with
Well, that Is tough. old fellow said
the conductor. Here's a dollar for some
thing to eat and he passed on without
referring to the ticket.
at the end Of the run the conductor sat
down and wrote out detail Of the occur
renee, reciting the fact that he was an old
friend. and inclosing the money to pay for
the fellows passage The next morning /
received that letter and also one from the
'spotter.' The latter told of the break in
the rules, but gave no details. and had
1t been a man with less reputation, it might
have caused trouble. When the spy came
in my Office later in the day. paid him Off,
told him what l thought of him, and /
came mighty near throwing him out of
my office. don't believe in the system,
but my superiors do. and that is all that Is
necessary"
A Dishonest Agent Caught.
The untrustworthiness OF these special
agents cannot be better illustrated than
to recall an incident that occurred on the
Baltimore and Ohio road little over year
ago. This man proved a most consummate
villain and in the end met with his just
deserts. His name cannot be recalled at
this time, but his ostensible occupation was
to examine the accounts Of station agents.
Month after month he made his rounds be-
tween Washington and Philadelphia, and
strange to relate he never failed to find
some discrepancy in the accounts of some
unfortunate agent at the end of the trip.
The conductors and trainmen also suffered,
a complaint generally making its appear
ance after the conclusion of one of the in
specting tours. Not dreaming OF the mans
dishonesty the company officials began to
think they had at least secured jewel of
a special agent, who was untiring in his
efforts to locate dishonesty among his feI-
low employees
Station agents complained that no mat