New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-26
BICYCLES as BAGGAGE.
LIVELY HEARING BEFORE AN AS
SEMBLY COMMITTEE.

REPRESENTATIVES, OF RAILROAD AND STEAM
BOAT LINES ANSWERED BY AssEMBLYMAN
ARMSTRONG AND l. b. PoTTER-wHEEI,-
MEN DISAGREE AMONG THEMSELVES.
Albany. Feb. 25-One of the most interesting hear
ngs of the session was that held this afternoon be-
fore the Railroads Committee Of the Assembly on
the Armstrong bill requiring that bicycles be car
ried by railroads as baggage. The hearing was
opened by The opposition.
Lewis E. Carr. representing the Delaware and
Hudson. asserted that bicycles were not baggage
but vehicles. The wheelmen contended that their
wheels vehicles when they could ride them
on good roads. but when they came to a road over
which they could not ride they flew TO the rail-
roads and declared that the wheels We're baggage.
1t was impossible for the railroads to carry the
machines and take good of them because they
took up too much room
William Olcott OF New-York representing the
Hudson River Day Line Steamboat Company, said
that his company could not without loss live up TO
the terms Of the bill The company had once tried
to carry wheels free. but had found that the decks
of It's steamboats, not large enough to carry
the bicycles which presented for free carriage.
As 9 representative of the Long Island Railroad.
W. j. Kelly protested against favorable report
by the committee. His road when bicycle riding
first came into vogue agreed to carry wheels free.
The plan. however. had to be abandoned. It
S2,l75 bicycles
The argument in behalf of the bill was opened by
Assemblyman Armstrong The bicycle, he said
had become now one Of The necesSarieS OF n'e nc
deyo of the wheel, and IN his eVery-dd!
life he used 1t continually. The RAILROADS had I'M
unjust prices. and the riders compelled 10
pay whatever the roads demanded for The Transport
tation of their wheels.
i. j. Tinsiale chairman Of the Law Committee Of
the Cyclists Federation OF New-Norh Guy sai
AN
wheels free as bagsase but under wach a reason
able charge could be made. He suggested A. an
amendment that the railroads be h,ld responsible
for the safe transfer OF bicycles, aAd ha the ioi-
lowing schedule of charges be mad; .,...,
NO charge less than 10 cents snail be colcct, l.
and the conpanies - set 10 cents iof ,.cF lrrlv
to seventy miles % cents FOR every ds:ance 81 iFGn
seventy hundred miles and IN no cis' sAs..l
the companies charge more than s. for the transfer
OF a wheel inside the State"
A general advocacy OF the amendment was made
by the proposer. He said he represented thousands
OF riders Of the wheel and he kncw that thry ~oad
strue bicycle as bassase; Wheel wa nql, ana ma
never would be basgase It wai unlesSonS3ie Iy n
them for nothing, and he could not he brought 10
believe that cyclists were in favor OF the bill with
t. B. Fotter, of brooklyn. CHIEF Consul Of the
League Of NJ, ana S s % taken by M
Tinsdale. so far az he could learn he SAID the Fei-
Grafton had not authorized Mr. Tinsdale 20 appoar
and practically antagonize the measure. Mr.. Potter
knew that nile-tentas OF the whceln.n OF ~ sac
desired the BIZ it was now before The con- niitec
and they did not wish ana had not asked Tor tnc
amendments which Mr.. Tinsdale had taken the Hb-
erty Offer
The question Of a bicycle being baggage hal been
passed upon by reason as we as by judicial opin-
ION in English courts. In England whefc The most
bicvcle-riIing took place. Il had been fccd, ID one
case in particular that 'luGgage." the English term
for baggage. could include bicycles. The tnglSh
courts had he'd that no line could be drawn hetwcen
what did and what did not constitute baggage The
consideration OF what was baggage depended upon
the time and place There was no reason why me
railroads in New Ork state could not carry Hho'ls
in as safe manner as 'hoso - England. There
racks arranged IN tn cars, and on them ~"
wheels were hung. 10 charge b. lag made for thor
Transportation. Mr.. Potter presented Nsi OF -'
railroads which had carried bicycles nee up 10
within year. Now. he sail; IT, were ch4rslni
pr.ces which were aeon1hl". The staten Island
Rapid Transit Railroad Company was q model road
for wheclmen as it catered 20 them. The other
roads apparently trying 20 discourse" riders
from travelling over them.
The hearing was closed with short speech hy
VI i. Rrideemar, president Of the cyclists Fedora
ton lie said that Mr.. Tnsdalc represented tfc as
sociaton o. whe-lmen 81 which - was The bead;
II had htd large me. ting in NeW-Nork ana had
sent Mr.. Tlnsdac to Albany 10 get either the Oil
reported or TO get compromise BILL IN order u 10
the latter Mr. Tinsdae mad presented his amend
mcnt. which NJ. Hriisemar thought was only reis-
enable and just to tho railroad c3mpnnl''. The
committee took action on ;hc bill