The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-02
TRAVELLING Men ASK 1T
They Want an interchangeable
Mileage Book.
Unanimous In Their Request
For Better Facilities.
All the Councils Led by the Topeka
Council are Taking Action in
the Matter

The United Commercial Travellers of
Kansas are working to secure the pass
age of a law during the coming session
of the legislature granting to them in
Interchangeable mileage books and re-
vision of the excess baggage rates,
making a $50 pound free allowance in
stead of $50, as under the present law.
This movement was started by To-
peka council No. AZ, U. c. T., at a
netting held early in November. E.
H. Johnson, F. b. GatcheH and r. s.
Johnson were named as a committee
to lok after it.
In the states east of the Mississippi
river the commercial travellers, by state
enactment, have been granted the favor
of interchangeable mileage books In
many of the eastern states the legis-
lature has also increased the baggage
allowance to commercial men,
In Kansas, to secure the benefits of
reduced baggage charges, the CONNER
ciaI travellers are compelled to pur-
chase a 5000 mile book over each road.
Under the plan advocated by the
United Commercial Travellers they
would be permitted to purchase 5000
mile books at 800 each, good over any
line of road in the sta++ They have
attempted to secure this concession
from the railroads through passenger
and traffic associations, but have al
ways been defeated with the PR posi-
ton that the plan would open up the
way to the preparation of fraud in the
use of the books by other persons than
those to whom they were sold
However, the committee in charge OF
this matter has hit upon plan which
they think will remove that trouble
They propose that in the event the 5000
mile book be issued in accordance with
their ideas, that every purchaser must
attach thereto his photograph and sig
nature.
With the photograph of the owner of
the book staring a conductor in the
face when he was collecting fares there
could be no opportunity for other than
the owner of the mileage to ride up
on it,
IT is admitted by all political parties
that one of the greatest business inf1u-
ences is the army of commercial men
who travel constantly from place to
place They represent the best that
is TO be found and are always loyal to
their business and the state in which
they reside. Kansas has 5000 men
who are in this category
Fifteen hundred of them are members
of the u. c. T., which has taken up the
matter of mileage and baggage The
others support the proposition, al
though not members of the organiza-
ton Much encouragement has been
received by the committee which has
charge of the proposition, and Chair
man E. H. Johnson said today;
1--WE are receiving encouragement
from all parts of the state We are al
ready assured of the support of sena-
tors and representatives from Shawnee,
Douglas, Leavenworth, Atchison, Clay,
Cloud Saline Reno, Sedgwick, Mont
gomery. Labette. Crawfo d, Bourbon
and Lyon counties. besides which we
have the cooperation of the councils
of ST. Joe and Kansas City pelleVe
we will meet with success.
The supreme councillor of the T. C. t.
is LANES A Kimball of Salina,, al
though the headquarters of the organ
ization are at Columbus, o. The ma
tionaI officers are assisting in the cam
paien. The organization admits to
membership only those who are engaged
in active business as commercial trav-
eIers for the purpose Of securing united
| action upon just such propositions as
mentioned in the foregoing