The Indianapolis journal., 1896-06-06
Attitude OF Travelling Men.

The methods OF the travellers Protec-
tive Association has adopted. If reports Of
their meeting at Terre Haute are correct,
are characterized by railroad men as unwise
If they expect any favors from the railroads.
1t Is stated that every word in denunciation
of railroads was Justify cheered. A general
passenger agent said yesterday that no
class OF travel had been more favored by
the railroads than the travelling commercial
men. and the more they were favored the
more numerous and arbitrary were their de-
mands. They were given half rates to
Terre Haute, and did not have as large an
attendance as they had expected. Now"
said the passenger official, "they want to
place the blame on the railroads" lie went
on to say that the business travelling men
gave the roads had been shown by statis-
tics. TO be less than 10 per cent. of the
travel over the railways; still, they are
favored in rates, and the carrying OF ex-
ira baggage moro than any other class Of
men. The travelling men now get a two
ce1t-a-mile rate, and some of them better
than that. through the abuse OF mileage.
The official then said: Every time the mar
ket IS cleared of mileage books a consider
able per cent OF parts OF books are found
in the hands OF scalpers, turned over to
ScaiperS by travelling men VINO demand such
favors in rate matters. IL it were not for
the travelling men working in harmony
with the scalpers, the latter would not exist
six months. l do not make this charge
against all the travelling statesmen, for a
large per cent. of them are honorable in the
use or their mileage, but l am not talking
at random when l say that many of their
mileage books, sold over their own ticket
counters. have turned up in scalping offices.
partment. The point wish TO make is that
the passenger department of every road in
the country is ready and would be glad to
aid the travelling statesmen in any reasona-
bic way. but, should they break the ex-
cursion agreement in one case, every body
OF men would demand similar favors
think that the travelling men from Indian
apoils Viii bear me out IN the statement
that they have been treated fairly by all
the Indianapolis lines, and / would say in
their favor that seldom is the mileage of an
Indianapolis travelling man found in the
hands OF a scalper, but the Chicago and St.
Louis scalpers usually have a good supply
or mileage reading over Chicago and ST.
Louis roads In their hands,
The above comments were read to a
travelling salesman, and he said that in
some respects they were correct, but on in
vestIgaton IL would be found that this mile
age found In the hands Of the scalping fra
ternity is sold by persons representing
themselves to be travelling salesmen-men
purchase book and on their return sell
1t to a scalper. He named three persons
who had purchased the descriptive mileage
books, come out on the road forty or fifty
miles, and, on returning, sold the hook
The business the roads get through the trav-
cling statesmen Is of much more importance
to the roads than the mileage book revenue.
and. until quite recently, theatrical troupes
were much more favored than travelling
statesmen. Said he: Who ever heard of a
travelling salesman his employer getting
pass? But, until ten days ago, the ad-
vance agents OF theatrical companies were
given passes, although they went over the
has to pay for. every pound of excess bag
gage. while theatrical troupes, until the
Joint Traffic Association took hold OF the
matter, often had carloads OF excess bag
gage hauled free. or course. the roads are
more or less imposed upon by men travel
Ing under pretense OF being In that business
who never carried a sample case in their
lives, but the travelling men, as a rule. are
disposed to deal squarely with the roads. F."