The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-23

WHEELMEN IN ARMS
The League Proposes to De-
scend on the Legisla-
ture in Force Nom
day Night.
FOR THE FREE BICYCLE BILL
Novel Methods to Be Resorted TO
to Obtain Votes for the
Measure.
FOR THE FREE BICYCLE BILL
Special to the Jerssp Cstu Nssus.

Special to the Jersey Cstu Nssrs.
TRENTON, Jan. %, 1sy.-The State
Capitol will be the scene of a swarm of
eager wheelmen IN Monday. The cyclist
will be represented from every county in
h State. Trenton cyclists will also be
on hand in large numbers to help swell
the crowd. The New Jersey division,
League of American Wheelmen. will be
strongly represented at the fight for the
passage of the Gledhilf bill, which will be
renewed. Chief Consul C.. Frank Kireker
will lead the Theelmen n he feels con-
fdent of victory if the fate of the bill IS
to be decided on the floor of the House,
Mr.. Kireker said
THE Associated Cycling Clubs of New
Jersey, of which there are twenty-five.
with a membership of 5000, are with us
in this fight. They have adopted resolu-
tions fayoring the Gledhill bill and copies
will be sent to all the Senators and As
semblymen. I feel quite confident that the
majority of the members of the Legisla-
ture view u claim as a just one. The
only danger of defeat at this session will
be the influence of the Pennsylvania and
Erie Railroads"
When the wheelmen come here on Mon
day night they will be supplied with a big
collection of blotters. on which is stamped
in red:-"Call up the Gledhill bicycle bill
and vote for it!' These blotters will APP
pear on the desks of each legislator.
Stamped postal cards reading as follows
has been sent to every wheelman in the
State:--New Jersey WheeImen: Write or
visit your Senator and Assemblyman and
ask them to support the bicycle free bag
gage BILL"
The New Jersey division of the League
of American Wheelmen, and the wheel
men of New Jersey as a body, composed
mainly of responsible tax-paying citizens,
ask for the passage of the free bicycle bag
gage bin by this Legislature. not as a fa-
vor but as a right which they believe be-
longs to them in common fairness and JUS
tice, both to themselves and the railroads,
which, as they believe, will benefit there
by.
It seems absurd that a railroad should
be willing to transport free $50 pounds
of baggage per passenger, but draw the
line at handling a 25-pound wheel for
the same person, ever when no other
baggage is presented; and the absurdity
of this action is only accented by the
fact that it is well known that the rail-
road fares rendered and paid by wheel
men are almost entirely caused by the
wheel itself; i. e., wheelmen use the
trains mainly when riding for pleasure,
either to or from good wheeling grounds,
and thus pay the roads for many trips
which, without the wheel, would not be
made at all; so that it may fairly be said
that all that the roads get from the
wheelmen is a clear source of profit for
which the wheel alone is to be thanked
HI wheel has positively "come to
stay" It a been well proved to be no
passing fad" and common business
Judgment on the part of the railroad
companies must soon convince them of
the ~advisability as we'll as necessity of
adapting themselves to the new condition
of things and arranging for the safe
transportation of wheels, which is by no
means a difficult or expensive matter,
and sensible devices which have already
appeared on h market ready to meet
the demand which is bound to come for
their use.
Racks. hooks or hangers which econ
omically equip the ordinary baggage ear
for the safe storage of wheels, In what
rs now waste room, and without inter-
Ier1ng In the least with the proper handl-
N6o 0o5606o d<AA
matter.
Instead of a-ntagonizing wheelmen, as
under their present policy a of the
roads seem to be trying to do it viii nay
them better to cater to their friendship
and influence. which is becoming a mat
Ter OF greater Importance every day as
tne,r ranks are constantly enlarging.
That this antagoniSm is becoming a
serious matter to the roads themselves
may be proved to be the fact that. as a
class, wheelmen are learning their
81 on6
both for passenger n freight trafic,
only those roads which are treating them
fairly, and consider it both fair and Just
70 avoid travelling on. or sending their
freight over any road which discrimi-
mates against them; and. of my personal
Knowledge, I could cite many Instances
OF the orders of prominent manufacturers
as 70 the rule and route of their freight
shipments, which would astonish some Of
our transportation companies were thew
to be published. 80
Consul Kireker has sent to the wheelrnen
TO an Wheelmen in h State of New Jer-
The lights. on at Trentonl We have in
1roouced a bill in the Legislature to stop
the unjust and oppressive practices Of GER
tan railroad companies in compelling Cyl
chstS to sign releases" and charging a
SPECIAL Zee for carrying bicycles as Tex
cess baggage" Thousands. of wheelmen
nave suffered from this oppression: have
been subjected to every form of insoIence
and abuse from railroad employees; have
peen denied the ordinary privileges which
the laws are supposed to give to passen-
gers, and nave had their wheels thrown
recklessly about by Engagement, who, sun,
der cover of af'release,n nave reduced the
system TO one OF extortion. The statute
law of New Jersey declares that every
railroad operating within the State shall
carry a passenger and his baggage with
out extra charge beyond the specified rate
Of fare, provided there is a handle, loop on
fixture Upon such baggage, so that a check
may be attached thereto. For fifteen
years the railroad companies of this coun-
try nave followed the custom of Carrying
bicycles free; not the light, easfly-handled
20-pound bicycles of today, but bicycles
with 80 TO go inch wheels and weighing
from 50 10 60 pounds. More than a hun
bred American railroads are today follow
ing this custom. Custom makes a law.
Custom is the universal sovereign Gus