The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-21
The CHECKING OF CORPSES
4 Subject Of Discussion by The General
Bsgsage Agents in Session at Jefferson.
NAY BE TRANSPORTED AS BAGGAGE
Aud not as Passengers, Thus Adopting
Uniform system Throughout the Uo"n-
try-othcr Questions OF Interest.
Tho Members Present,

The sixteenth anuUM convention OF tho
American Association OF General Baggage
Agents convened at the Jefferson Hotel
AT o'clock yesterday afternoon. When
President George A. Morton OF the New
York New Haven and Hartford road
called tho convention TO order about hity
members OF the association were IN their
seats. They were widc-awake ana thor
ouehiy representative looking business
mon. who impress one with their ener-
rctlc way OF rlklns and transacung Dusl-
ness.
rhe convention assembled in the assem-
bis hal. OF tAc Jefferson, which ls oh tne
NTH floor. no sooner had President Nor
tons gaYcl given out "a few snort Iaps
than tne bOly immediately commenced
buIscnss. Near tuc president was seated
Afr j.. j.. Quic@, OF tho Grand Trunk
system, the capable secretary Oh the 9s-
F0clauon.
The first business was OF a thoroughly
routine nature, ana embraced The reading
q tno minutes ~ the last convention,
tne reports Of the secretary and treas
uler. and tho Executive committee.
The nrst business OF o. special nature TO
arlso was the report on concealed losses.
alr vs.. O.. Robinson, OK the Baltimore
and Ohio Southwestern, who is chairman
OF this committee. and who has been
prcventod bv SD health from compiling
his report arose and asked 10 Doe relieved
from further service upon the committee.
Ills request was granted. and Alr. a. Tray
ner, of The Union Pacific, was appointed
chairman. and the committee, by the
unanimous consent 0i 1he convention,
was given an extension of time in which
70 compile IT'S report.
CHECKING CORPsEs.
The convention next took up tine question
OF the transportation of c0rpscs The
adyisablAty of transporting them as bag
gaze by checking them, or of Transporting
them as regular passengers by tickets
was thoroughly discussed at great length
10y the convention. but action on the mat
ter was postponed until to-day. Al pres
ont cOrpses are carried ON majority OF
the roads east of the Mississippi as pas
seugors. but west of the Mississippi they
hrc. I'm nearly am instances. transported
as baggage. 10 is the intention of the
General Baggage agents Association 10
adopt some uniform method of handling
this class Of travel. 'n order TO avoid
the change and confusion uccessitatcd
by the existence of the two methods.
one or two constitutional changes were
adopted by the convention.
10 was decided that hereafter the assoc
tiauon should hold only one annual meet
ing instead OF two sessions year. as
has formerly been the rule. The place
time and date Of meeting 20 be selected
et each subsequent meeting.
.n|l. d.
The members then scattered through the
hotel Some retired 10 their rooms; others
wandered through the parlors. around the
jefferson court. or else strolled up and
down the colonadcs Many sought O. so-
ciahle smoke I'm Che lobby while not
Few enjoyed themselves over tho pool and
billiard tables It is the universal opinion
among the agents that the jefferson is
ono Of tho most perfect hotels I'm the
world They expressed themselves as
greatly pleased with the city and the
hospitality that has been extended 20
them since their arrival here
Many drove over tho city yesterday
morning and viewed thc many historic
points of interest Last night the mem
bors Of the association attended the per-
formanco OF "a Pair of jacks at the
Academy.
THE PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY.
This morning the association viii con-
Vene at 10 o'clock. They will adjourn at
o'clock fol lurch. after which they viii
take hacks and be driven over tho city.
There viii also Doe "a session OF the con-
vention tonight co. which pr. .ient.
vice-presidcnt secretary and treasurer
and executive commltfre uIIl n. cI.rt.d.
Mr Quick win De reelected secretary and
treasurer. put in accordance with the con-
stltuton of the association, 81 new prcsi-
dent viii Doe elected.
The membership of the association cm-
braces the baggage agents of the principal
railroads and transportation lines of The
country. These men occupy very respon-
sible positions. They have charge of an
the baggagomasters and keep a record in
their Office Of every piece of baggage
handled. Their most arduOus duty IS the
tracing Of lost and stolen baggage and
when travel is heavy they work night
a. we'll as day. They formed an assoc
citation in June. 1s92. for the interchange
Of ideas and 10 systematizo their work
SO that an roads Of the country would
have uniform rules and plans for handling
baggage ana tracing that which was lost
or stolen. As result of the association.
the United states and Canada great trunk
lines have the most perfect system OF
handling and keeping track of baggage
extant Every convention so FAR held has
proved "a most profitable one. and un-
Iouhtcdly this one SIS no exception.
The Committee OF Arrangements for the I
present convention is composed Cf Mr..
G j. Le Grende (chaimam Southern.
Mr.. q. Lorraine. Chesapeake and Ohio: .
Nr. w. u. Taylor Richmond Frodcrlcks- f.
burg and Potomac: Nr. j. O. Horton.
Southcrn, Mr.. John ID. Potts. Chesapeake
and Ohio Mr.. q. g.. Campbell. Atlantic .
Coast Line, Mr.. J.. l.. Anderson. Norfolk
end Western.
The committee has prepared tho enter
fainmcnt for tho delegates Tomorrow .
the baggage agents become the guests of
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad and .
Will 80 20 Old Point There they Will have .
dinner ~ the Chamberlain Hotel. after
which they viii leave for their respective
homes.
Some VIII come back TO Richmond for
q few days. but the majority will start
INN ediatcly on their journey home. The
Pullman Palace Car Company has given
the agents accommodations on the re-
Turn trip.
THE OFFICERS
Mr.. Morton the retiring president OF
tho association. who. by the way. has
made NEST excellent presiding officer.