The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-08
THE NEW MILEAGE BOOK
MIR. FORD SAYS ITS USE is ENCREAs-'
ING PASSENGER REVENUES.
officials on the Vanderbilt Lines Be-
coming Uneasy to the Perma-
nency Of Their Positions.

E. A. Ford, general passenger agent of
the Pennsylvania lines west of Pittsburg
and of the Vandalia, was in the city yes
terday for a conference with V. T. Malott,
receiver of the Vandalia, going from this
city to Chicago. where the executive COM
mttee of the Central Passenger Associa-
ton will meet to-day. The committee con-
sists of +. o. Mccormick passenger traf-
f1c manager of the Big Four; c. S. Crane,
general passenger agent of the Wabash;
ID. G.. Edwards, passenger traffic manager
of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton; w.
III. Fisher, general passenger agent of the
Columbus & Hooking Valley; and Mr.. Ford.
This committee will decide on some plan of
action in relation to the Northern mileage
book. 1t is hoped that some plan can he
agreed on by which the interchangeable
mileage of the Central Traffic Association
will be honored over the Detroit and Buff
falo lines by the Northern mileage bureau
Mr. Ford states that the interchangeable
mileage is proving of great benefit to their
lines. The passenger earnings of the Penn
sylvania lines west of Pittsburg i'm January
exceeded those of January, 1897 more than
$4,000, and he is confident that $4,000 of this
sum was due to the use of the interchange
able mileage. Mr.. Ford is confident that
the anti-scalping law before Congress viii
pass. In commenting on the bill he said:
IF a man buys a ticket and pays full
fare, cents per mile, he has a right TO
dispose of it as he chooses, but when
road sells him a ticket at reduced rates
can convince any reasonable man that he
has no right to speculate with that ticket
He has no right to sell it to a scalper, who
will sell it to another person, and nine times
out of ten, to a person who would pay full
fare for a ticket but for the scalper having
purchased his reduced-rate ticket" When
asked what would be the effect of
2-cent-a-mle rate in this State and in Ohio,
he said: lit would simply force us to take
off trains and cut down our expenses to the
lowest limit, and when you do this no man
will be more Inconvenience than the trav-
cling salesman. AS trains are now
run, such connections are made that a
man can get over a good deal of
territory in one week, but when the
number of trains is cut off he will be
obliged to spend many nights at hotel
and probably not accomplish more in
= week than he now docs in four days.
Travelling statesmen object most to the
mileage because it is not honored on trains.
This is the strong point with the mileage
ticket. The railroads take the position that
when a ticket is sold at reduced rate the
roads have right to protect themselves
against it's improper use, and can convince
any reasonable business man in five min
utes that the position of the road is right
The purchaser of such ticket has no right
to turn it over to scalper or in any way
divert it from the conditions on which the
ticket is furnished, and if this method of
ulsposlhg OF tickets IS TO be continued the
roads viii have TO shut down on selling
low-rate tickets to G.. A. r. men, K. of r.
men and other institutions of like char
acter.''