The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-30


To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
General Passenger and Ticket Agent E. A.
Ford Of the Pennsylvania system rises TO the
defense of the proposed mileage books. Mr. Ford
statement viii carry little weight with CONNER
cial travellers. He states that the average yearly
passenger earnings Of the Pennsylvania lines west
of Pittsburg have been brought down to 2.7-cents
per mile and the average cost of passenger trans
pcrtation on the same system for the years 1895
and 1896 also 81 cents. Wen. the average
drummer would call that a frst-class showing.
Can Mr.. Ford name half dozen industries in the
land which did so well as to hold their own
through the two hardest years the business peo-
pie Of tie United States have ever experienced?
VIII Mr.. Ford tell us how many of the $4,000,
$4,000 and $4,000 salared employees of the Penn
sylvania system reduced to a fair basis
during % and SO to protect the stockholders of
that system that they might receive dividend
on capital invested? Mr. Ford has great deal
also to say about legal fares" Three cents in
Irdiana is legal fare Formerly it legal also
to collect cents and even as high as cents
nile. 1t may be legal, also, and sooner than Mr..
Ford expects, to charge no more than cents
more money, Mr. Ford, to fight that proposition
than you lose by what you term dishonest prac-
tees in reselling mileage books. No one ques-
tlcns the legalitv of cents per mile. CONNER
cial travellers desire only to be treated in BUSH
ness manner and in a business way on this mile
Through other sections of the country north and
east OF this territory the commercial traveller can
travel at cents per mile, with important tOWuS
only twenty miles apart. lie Is useful and prof.
table TO the merchant and manufacturer be
airy affords him living basis. The new mileage
book Is not convenient book; it is not cheap
OF IT as unworthy OF confidence; il will not
place the traveller on an equal basis with his
my firm belief that it will be found the most
book is lost no matter how much or little has
been used. the whole $50 is gone, AMI the loss
falls the man least able 20 bear it--on the
commercial traveller: No portion of the loss Will
$40 refund be returned. The book is not con
off and buy ticket from point TO point. With
the present book. should his customer at Cam
atout to depart 6V the traveller cam step Back o
the train and continue his journey to Richmond.
The proposed book will not allow this He must
stop and wait for the next train business no
business, as the ticket agent at all of the small
of the train. As to checking baggage with this
proposed book this question has been 50 thor
oughly discussed II is unnecessary to 90 over it
again.
1t is time you taking steps to protect your
selves and you do 50 in various ways. often
you can control the shipment of freight Ship
Again, when the next legislative contest comes
Up in Indiana attend the primaries and see that
viii pledge themselves 70 work for 2-cent cash
for the Legislature who cannot be bought up by
the railroads. We have done all in our power to
convince these general passenger and ticket agents
that we have no FIGHT with the railroads they
Us to battle let meet them their own
ground. Raise the flag of 2-cent cash fare
everywhere for everybody, and let us fight it out
to the end. They pretend to try to please us.
Did they ever call travelling man into confer
ence when making changes in the milea book
the railways. We entitled to the same
consideration at their hands that the job5er is
to Then let us call in the whole people and
make common cause for 2-cent rS cash fare all
TndiananoIis Auq %