The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-02-22
RATES FOR cLERcyM.'

STATEMENTS as 20 the reasons for M
the change having been publish ~
siderable correspondence hatmu
clergy and the railroads has ~" W.
The recent letter from Hon cba ~
M. Depew, President of the No
Central, corrects certain errona"
pressions and states that comnanr n
sition in the matter very clearly
letter is as follows:
New York Central and Hudson River p,,
Co.. Grand Central Depot, '''' Hal
NEW YORK, January 10 /,
Reo NeWton >. ConkIin and r. II =
D. D., Committee: H. ossa
GENTLEMEN,-I am in receipt o.
letter of January 18th, encIos,n
resolutions of the Presbyterian NJ
ters' Association of Rochester =
The resolutions are based III
misrepresentation of the facts pI
press dispatch announcing tb,t
New York Central had witbdram.
ministerial half-rate tickets ..baa]
some of the ministers had abussS|
privilege, loaning their permits NJ
authorized persons, and sometimes
selling them" was wholly unan,|
lied. No such information or n
was given to the press or to anvons]
by any officer of this COMPANY NJ
was-also an interview reported Will
on this subject, making similar NJ
more serious charges, but no small
terview ever took place.
| deeply regret the publicity vi
was given to this matter and tba
cussion which has grown out Of 4
fore we had really arrived at what
the best policy for this COMPANY
its associates in the Trunk Line
citation to pursue. 1t had been a.
oped that very great abuses existal
the issuance and use of the so.caI
ministerial ticket. 1t was not, howej
the fault of the ministers. 50 far
can ascertain, no clergyman Of
church has been guilty OF any I'M
priety in the use of this privilege. \
most departures from regular NJ
this one led after awhile to serioud
moralization Of passenger rates.
privilege of the ministerial order
came extended to all persons who
ever been ordained as clergyn
whether they still had any charg1
performed any ministerial service
not. Many who had gone into bust
claimed and received the order. n
it was extended to missionaries
officers of the Salvation Army, Of
Y. M. G. A., and of other religion
semi-religious organizations. This
bled railway officials who desired ID
so to issue the half-rate ticket to aid
anybody.
I am sorry to say that some railV
do not treat their agreements with
other with the same sense of honor
obligation which the officers would
serve in their individual transact
We were amazed to discover that id
der to increase their business will
apparently cutting the rates feV
the roads placed the ministerial it'd
in scalpers' offices for sale. In this
they came into the hands of the gem
public. It frequently occurred
the conductor, when calling upon
whom he did not think
q minister to produce the ministe
order which every clergyman carr
was met by a fat refusal, simply
cause the passenger was not mi
Ter, had no order and had received
purchased the ticket in some one
the ways which I have described.
The conductor would find that ur
,he guise of a missionary Or an of
If one of these organizations he had
,eived the order and ticket or else
bought a ticket which some one
could not be vouched for as a cle1
nan with a charge had secured
hen placed in scalper's office for
OF course the essential principles
POTION of the relations between
ALWAYS and the public is that ev
body shall be treated alike; that
'ailway fare shall be like the posi-
# the government, the same to eV
me who boards the train and beco
! passenger between the same POI
The wisdom of the prohibition Of
riminations in favor of one perso
4gainst another, or of one shippe
sgainst another, or of one localt
,gainst another, is now universally
nitted, and is incorporated in the
way laws.
The ministerial ticket was ISSUE \
reduced rate, not as an act OF cnsr
S some have alleged, but becaus
vas believed that the clergy anu
hurch performed an essential ser
which was felt throughout the Vss'
loyment of these corporations
Personally, I would be very 81
he privilege could be continued,a
which would comm
yithin legitimate bounds. You WIZ
owever, from the explanations
have given, how difficult pr'
his is.
Yours very truly,
Signe0 CHAuNcEY M. DEPss,