The San Francisco call., 1896-07-25
SHOULD CYCLES co FREE?
One of the Great Questions to
Be Decided at a New York
Conference.
The Course of Action on This Coast
Will Probably Be Guided by
That Decision.

On the outcome of meeting of the rep
resentatives of the most prominent rail-
roads in the United States now being held
in New York, will depend in a great
measure the future policy of the Southern
Pacific Company in the matter OF trans
porting the wheels OF bicycIists.
One of the great questions 10 come before
the conference-on in fact. that has
already received great deal of attention
is whether the law passed by the Legisla-
ture of the State OF New York compelling
all railroads within the State to carry
bicycles free should be contested in the
courts on the ground OF being unconstitu.
tional. From adyices received in tnis City
by railroad people the chances are that
the matter will be settled in favor OF taking
the matter into court
In the New York law the railroads of
the country see a menace to each trans
portation company. 1t is feared that if
this statute is allowed to go unchallenged
in New York all the other States will fol-
low in the footsteps of the Empire State.
Were it not for the dread that any at
tempt to charge for the carriage of bicycles
at this time would tend to create political
antagonism against the railroad in the ap-
preaching election, il is known that the
Southern Pacific would at once put into
eff ect the regulations in regard to wheels
that are in force on many of the Eastern
roads; and there is good reason for stating
that such a course is even now under con-
sideration.
Should the New York statute be tested
and found to be unconstitutional the an
nouncement of that fact will be imme-
diately followed by the complete cancella-
tion of ali concessions now being made to
Goodman is expected back from the New
York meeting inHa few days, and there is
a probability that on his return q new
order will be issued providing for the pay
ment OF excess baggage rates on every
wheel carried on Southern Pacific train
or ferry.
During the latter part of December the
Southern Pacific issued instructions to all
its agents that commencing with January
/, 1896, uniform charge would be made
for the carriage of bicycles in baggage
cars, and that this charge was to be the
same as would be charged for fifty pounds
of excess baggage, and in no case less than
25 cents. Some exceptions were made tc
this as follows: No charge was to be made
for wheels carried from San Francisco to
San Jose, Livermore, Vallejo, Benicia and
Martinez, and to points intermediat
thereto, and vice versa; nor for wheels
carried from Los Angeles to Saugus. Santa
o1OhiSd5 AonE OcoSAt Jan oN4Ol Auetih
Santa Ana, Whittier, Pasadena, Monroyia
Chino. San Bernardino, Redlands and
Riverside, and to points intermediate
thereto, and vice versa.
Under the prospective change of policy
no one will be permitted to take wheel
even across the bay without paying the
Southern Pacific tax of % cents.
1t is claimed on the part of the railroad
that the large number of people who take
advantage of the free carriage of wheels
compels them to put on an extra baggage
car on Sundays and sometimes two, and
that the extra travel induced by this priv
legs is not sufficient TO make it an obiect
10 be accommodating to those who have
the bicycle habit.