The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-04
Cyclists PLEAD HARD
" I.
Tell the Railroads and
Canals Committee Why
Their Baggage Bill
Should Pass.
RAILROADS. OLD GAME REVIVED
Lobbyists Clamor for Delay and
Secure a Two Weeks ADJOURN
ment Z Bad for the
Measure.
RAILROADS. OLD GAME REVIVED
spccdo,t, The Jerseu Ctr, Ne,ra.

Spccio,t, ths Jersey City Ncsra
TRENTON. Feb. 4 18s7.-Wheelmen
from all parts of the State gathered in
the Assembly Chamber yesterday after
noon to listen to the arguments for and
against the bill which seeks ito compel the
railroad companies to carry bicycles as
baggage without further charge thar the
price paid for a first class ticket, The hear
ing was before the Committee ON Rail-
roads and Canals n all the members of
the committee were present. ]. Martin
Roll presided. s48 ID
The first speaker was c. Frank Kareker,
Chief Consul Of the New Jersey Division
OF the League of american Wheelmen.
After being introduced by Mr. Gledhill, Mr..
Kireker said:- se s1 s3aa -
We do not come here as beggars, but
We come as men asking for that for which
we have paid. Our proposition is that rail-
road companies which transport 100 or $50
pounds of baggage free for certain classes
of passengers. should transport the BIZ
cycles of wheelmen when such bicycles are
Within the customary or statutory limit
as to weight, without charge in addition
to the rate or charge which the railroads
have fixed for tine transportation of other
passengers.
ut will be well to look at the facts
which gave rise to the carrying of bag
gage by railroad companies without
charge. The necessity of taking with them
certain articles for their personal con-
v~enience and comfort led carriers for hire
to adopt the practice of carrying for pas
800 . So Il - --.1.-2s1A
This practice grew partly out of the ne
cessfty of the case, partly out of the de-
sire on tine part of railroad companies to
encourage travel, and partly out of the
convenience to the railroad companies of
combining two contracts in one, and conse-
quently became a right due passengers,
which was interpreted by mankind and
construed by tine courts as having been
paid for in the price OF transportation of
the passengers.
TIM adoption and perpetultion Of this
practice of carrying passengers baggage
necessitated elaborate arrangements by
the railroad companies for the care and
nandhng OF the same: Additional and
special cars, known as baggage cars. were
constructed and attached TO trains; each
OF these cars was provided with one or
more men to care for the baggage; rooms
IN railroad stations were set apart and
provided with one or more men, for the
same purpose; an extensive checking sys-
a asm, gemsni e Eor t Were rd proyiaed: - These ! :
OF passengers baggage were. made by a
great. outlay Of money and are main
tanned to this day, sonlytapa Tremendous
every dollar Of the cost Of maintenance
is paid by those who become -apassengers.
me rates or charges for thea ttranspor-
tation Of a passenger are dxedqor es-
tabIished with the idea in mind thai to
the cost OF transporting a passenger
must be added the cost of transporting
For years the. ,eourts Of this and other
countries nave held that that which a
PASSENGER takes with him for his personal
use or convenience, according to thelaabits
or wants of the particular class to- which
ne belongs, either with reference to the
immediate or the ultimate purposes of
MS journey, or for use at the end of his
Journey, or during q temporary at
a Tn e%as same dod place So1 Il .I Rsrso IA bagsase.
that the easel Of the artist On a sketch.
ing tour, that the books of q sti1deiit.
That the tools Of the mechanic the instru-
LHentS OF the surgeon, that the bicycle Of
traveller pays for their transportationn
Wtsaheen PURCHASING the regular passenger
bicycles being baggage was given IN the
case OF J. r. Belts VS.. Missouri p. R.R
(not yet reported)..
asked for the particulars of the case and
committeeman Derousse reminded him
q the committee was conducting the
Kjjrehey. IN mr. Derousse requested Consul
and the latter proceeded. He said
Inc stand taken by some railroad com
panles, tnat a special charge should be
senger's bicycle, because it is NOT has,
gage for the transportation of which the
traveller pays when he purchases his
IS due, we contend, to the fact
that the railroad companies realize that
suitable arrangements will have to be
made for the safe transportation of HI
cycles, just as suitable arrangements for
the transportation of other articles of
baggage have been made. and they do not
table.
Then, the argument is advanced. that
the negligence of their servants in trans
porting bicycles would be unjust. for the
reason that they are fragile and easily
damaged that the risk attached to trans
porting them Is far greater than that at
tached to the handling of baggage upon
which their passenger rates have been
based. Our answer, is hat we do not
contend that a trunk may be piled on top
OF a wheel or that the wheel can be
thrown from the door of a baggage car
to the station platform without damage.
but we do insist that with suitable ar
transport bicycles in baggage cars with
out causing them the slightest damage.
In the face of all argument, in the
race OF all C~OHlentlOn, IN the face of all
statistics which may be introduced to es-
tablish that itsis unfair or unjust to ask
that bicycles be carried by railroad COM
panies as e passengers baggage, we plant
squarely the fact, which is a monument
to the justice of our cause, that many
railroad companies operating within h
State of New Jersey and ever one hum
dred throughout the Union are, doing it
of their own volition. s u esE
In harmony with wha is asked by
The wheelmen of New Jersey are the
facts that the. courts of Missouri hold
that a bicycle Is within the common law
conception of baggage; the Legislatures
Of the States Of New York, Rhode Island
and Ohio have declared that bicycles are
personal baggage,
Herben W. Knight of Newark then pre-
sented Isaac p Potter. who, he said, was
the greatest friend In the country of
good roads. MIR. Potter is a formidable
candidate for president of the: National
league Of American Wheelnen the COM
ing year.
sssThe first remarkable feature of this
bill" said Mr.. Potter, SIS the fact that the
question whether or not bicycles. shall be
carried as baggage on any of the rail-
roads In this country is not seriously be-
fore the committee; because the objecting
railroads. and ALL nha Railroads In the 49,