New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-14
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
PROMINENT L. A. W. MEN IN The CITY.
PRESIDENT ELLIOTT. VICE PRESIDENT cossUM
AND CHIEF CONSUL POTTER TALK ABOUT

PRESIDENT ELLIOTT. VICE PRESIDENT cossUM
AND CHIEF CONSUL POTTER TALK ABOUT
THE BAGGAGE BILL
A conference between some of the leading ofhcials
OF the League OF American Wheelmen was held
in this city yesterday, and the chances are that
some cycling history will be the result Sterling
Elliott the president OF the L. A. w, OF Boston.
stopped over his way from Washington. wnere
he has been in attendance at the Highway Com
mission meeting He thinks that the proposed
Highway bill Will pass. The l.. A. W. will present
a petition at the political conventions at Chicago
and at ST. Louis. asking that a good-road plank be
in the m M OF eaGh parry ~ ba
A. ". and by the chief consul OF each state in the
Union c. F. Cossum, OF Poughkeepsie. the vice.
Gay He depo lore the stand taken by that Special
committee of the Federation at Albany MI Cos
the chief consul Of Maryland VIII meet IN this city
next Tuesday. to decide upon the ACCESSIBILITY or
tend the en- meeting Of wheemen to be held at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel on the night OF that day.
In speaking about the troubles OF the Federation
yesterday President Elliott said "As precedent,
the action OF the delegates OF the Cyclists Fedora
ton most shortsighted 1t would be infinitely
better lose the entirely than to accept the
compromise which would give the railroad COM
pany legal right which we dispute. whereas now
It Is questionable. They never sent them there to
do anything but specific thing and by their
action the delegates did something Numerically
the railroad legal opportunity. The injury thus
done 10 similar measures for the establishment OF
sets. for instance. bill similar TO the Armstrong
bill Is now hung up In committee. pending meet
heor whcn ne Ta9aG aoEneys aTreed 10 give US
one OF the largest railroads In the country In
teres;ed in this Massachusetts, contention said:
When the New-York bin passes We will with
draw our opposition Thus you see the passage
OF the Armstrong bill will make the passage OF
similar bills In other States easy"
.-1r.-
therefore cannot be considered baggage" said
Mr. Potter. lis made to deceive the lay mind No
lawyer would consider it for a moment" Using
the same argument" interpoiated Mr.. Elliott, you
shooting and there Is NO doubt about w II that
roller and ice skates would be vehicles"
The railroad companies have for years" said
Mr.. Potter been trying TO curtail the definition
OF the word baggage. They have contested the mat
ter In hundreds OF cases and have been uniformly
unsuccessful The have decided that the
word baggage is extremely comprehensive term
and that its meaning cannot be restricted specific
articles 1t has been said that whatever passenger
takes with him on his journey for his personal use
or convenience according to the wants OF the par
ence to the immediate needs OF his journey or as a
part Of thu ultimate purposes Of his Journey. is
court decisions In this country and II has also been
conceded TO be question for jury (when decided
decided by legislation) to determine whether not
the particular thing in question may reasonably
be Udcd within the general definition Of baggage
No fair would argue that because
bicycles hav- been carried for fifteen years in bag
gage cars that therefore surface wagons and furn-
turc vans would be entitled TO similar rights. As
well might you say that because umbrella may
be carried "a personal baggage circus tent should
be carried baggage"
Il have followed the growth OF cycling pretty
thoroughly said Frank J. Prial the editor OF
THE Wheel" last night. but am really aston
ish-d a, the magnitude Of the matter. Now look at
that district down town near Warren-st where |
there are 40 many cycling concerns The increase in
prices demanded FOR rental during the last year |
or so IL really remarkable A short time ago YOU
could hire three four lofts In that district for
what you have TO pay for one loft to-day"
Frederick ". Van Scken. the well-known wheel |
man. arrived In the city last night Van Slcklen |
the hero II the recent railroad wreck In Col |
or4do. lie has fully recovered his health but his !
head ~ covered with scars. Van Sicklen Is here
re r-csentiuc The Cycling West"