The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-30
MILEAGE TICKETS AGAIN
INTERCHANGEABLE SYSTEM STILL A
TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION.
No Prospect for an Early Discharge
of the Baltimore & Ohio Receiv-
ers-New Rates Fixed.

Just now one Of the most talked of mat
tiers in the transportation departments of
railways and among travelling statesmen is
the Interchangeable mileage book. While
probably majority Of the passenger Off
Gals favor it, a considerable number do not,
they thinking that it's restrictions are too
many and provoke criticism adverse to the
mileage. But yesterday one of the best
known ticket agents in the city said: IF
the commercial men will give the mileage a
fair test it will be found TO be really for
their benefit certain percentage of the
travelling statesmen viii growl about any
mileage book offered. especially if it is one
which cannot well be scalped." Yesterday
two travelling statesmen were in the Big
-Four ticket Office to purchase interchange
able mileage. One of them was talking
loudly of what the travelling statesmen
would do at the next election toward secur-
Ing a law making 2 cents mile the rate on
all classes Of tickets. The other salesman
SAID to him: Now, that is just what we
don't want. When cents mile is the gem
eral rate the country merchant will come
to the city to buy his goods and our occupa-
ton will be gone" He then added: Now
that l understand the book / am expert
encing but little trouble about it's use. You
cannot blame the railroads. as three years
ago but 10 per cent. of the travel was on
mileage books and last year so per cent.
OF it, so grossly were the mileage
books abused" The objector to the new
mileage then began a TRADE against it on
account of having to put up rebate of SO
and then being kept out of it until the COM
pany got ready to refund the money. Just
then w. p. Benton, state agent of an in
surance company. came in and took
the point out of the last complaint by
saying that since the new interchangeable
mileage was introduced he had purchased
two OF the books and in each case three
days after the cover was sent in to Chair
man Donald the $40 rebate was returned,
ana ne was hnding the new interchangeable
mileage very satisfactory. After the COM
merciai travellers had gone out the ticket
agent said: Were the EMPLOYERS of some
OF the travelling statesmen to hear the OBJ
Jections some of them make to the new
mileage they would discharge them for in
competency, SO RIDICULOUS are the arguments
advanced against its use. He added: In
vestlgate the matter and you Will find that
nine out of ten of the kickerS on this new
mileage are friends of scalpers and do them
good turn whenever possible" Aside from
the above statements one thing is quite evil
dent, namely that the book could be modi-
fled and its salient points protected and at
the same time the red tape which its condi-
tions now impose be considerably reduced.
Conversation with several conductors shows
that they are experiencing but little trouble
in doing their part to make the ticket a
success; in fact, it seems to be quite salts
factory to them. AS near as can be ascer-
tanned the most serious objection to the new
mileage is the time it takes to exchange
mileage for a ticket at the local station, and
a general passenger agent says that with
a modification in that respect by which the
conductor could do the same work that is
done by the agent when the purchaser of a
ticket has not time to go through the red
tape business with the local agent it's use
could be greatly simplifed.