The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-10
INTERCHANGEABLE MILEAGE.
Travellers Protest Against
the New Books.

The commercial travellers held a large
and enthusiastic meeting at the CONNER
cial Club last night to take action on the
new interchangeable mileage books. After
considerable discussion the following res
olutions were adopted:
1.-The commercial travellers of the State of
Indiana, in convention assembled at Indian
apolis, Ind, representing the commercial
interests of the State, being the travellers
over the various railroad lines throughout
Indiana, furnishing the railroad companies
in this State traffic in the way of freights.
in this public meeting declare: That the
present mileage book now in use by the
railroad traffic association of Indiana is
detrimental to the best interests of the
commercial travellers of this State and is
burden to the officials having the sale OF
tickets for the various railroad lines. There
fore we now here protest and demonstrate
against the use of said new mileage book
and our reasons therefore are as follows:
That said new mileage books require us to
deposit with the railroad company issuing
the mileage book $40 Tor each ne-thousand-
mile book purchased, which is held and re-
tanned on conditions which are burdensome
to the holder of such mileage books, IN TINS,
that II ties up SO per cent. of his money used
for paying railroad fare; it is reflection
on the honesty and integrity of every tray
cling man in the State; that we are unal-
terably opposed TO the feature Of the new
book requiring the exchange of mileage for
ticket at station. But we desire some Sys-
tenn whereby the same can De useo Oh the
Further that the use. of such mileage
books is detrimental to the business inter-
ests of our State; that 1T frequently occurs
that the travelling man has but few mo-
ments in which to catch his train at con-
Meeting points, and in consequence IS de-
mile and not given the benefit in the way
of purchasing mileage; or the travelling
man may discover that his customer IS
about to leave on the train just arrived
in which case he is not allowed sufficient
time to purchase a ticket or recheck ms
baggage under the present system.
THAT the travelling men of this state as
a body of men are. interested in and have
always been the friends of the railroads,
paying their transportation promptly and
being the chief supporters In the way OF
passenger traffic over the various lines in
'rhe favor of checking our baggage Sat
urdays and Sundays ready FOR our depart
ure on early Monday morning or late sun
day night trains has been Withdrawn as
result of the new mileage book. The conse-
quence is q rush that overtasks the bag
gage room force and has seriously inter-
fered with our departure. sometimes maxi
ing it impossible TO get off on the desired
trains
such mileage books for the further reason
that signatures are compelled to be on
every part OF such mileage books de-
tached and In addition signatures are re-
uuired upon the ticket issued by the rail-
road company in lieu of such mileage de-
tached, which signatures are always writ
ten under different circumstances. and II
never favorably compares with the original
signature written in ink at the time of pur-
chase and the burden of establishing the
genuneness of such signature on such
mileage is cast upon the holder of the book,
and in order to obtain the deposit left with
such railroad company the holder may be
required to go 10 some distant part of the
State to bring an action to recover. and in
consequence would pay more costs than the
amount of the deposit.
We therefore, appeal to the general
managers of the various railroad interests
in Indiana and ask them that this appeal
be considered by them before the same is
referred to their local passenger manage
ment, and that our protest be fully consid-
cred All we desire is reasonable accom-
mediation, good service. without suspicion
upon our integrity as travelling men. and
that the present mileage book system be
so remedied as that the mileage may be
used TO the comfort and convenience of the
travelling public. and we will ever pray.
'President-Charles b. Rowland.
Vice observation-disclosures r. Swain.
Charles +. North.
Secretary and Treasurer-W. r. Henry,
Carey Mcpherson.
Committee on Resolutions-G. w. Geig-
err. JEFF Caylor, Charles A. Ross, j. c. Nor
ris. w. S. X. Harrington"