The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-24
rNEAGE BOOKS OFF TO STAY.
-,oRIDA ROADS SAY THERE WAS
TOO MUCH sCALPING.

.,.o President Erwin of the Plant
s,stem says They VIII Not Try
pooks Again-Drummers Must Pay
ruu Fare as Laws viii Not Per-
NIT observation-disclosures of
withdrawnI VIII Affect Savannah
verchnnts Who Have Statesmen in
Florida.
wire President R. G. Irwin of the Plant
,,.tem returned yesterday from an ex-
ended Eastern trip.
rpasmuch as there was some correspond
scce between Mr.. Erwin and committee
Of the wholesale Merchants Association
IN the subject of Florida mileage books,
Il which we're withdrawn by All roads in that
B safe about Feb. l. his return was of con-
q siderable interest to the merchants on ac-
count Of the unsettled state of the CORE
spondence, the purpose of which was to
4 rsstore the books. When seen on the ques-
8 non of restoring Florida mileage, Mr.. Er-
win settled the matter by positive state
nent that the books would not, in his
& option, be restored.
& The evil which led to their withdrawal
was a matter of considerable conjecture
4 BY the merchants at the time, and there
are still many theories advanced. The
reason assigned by the railroads Is that
the wholesale scalping of mileage books
was such that the roads could not prof.
tabiy continue them without some means
Of protection, which has never yet sue
al nnxrh ac
used the signature of the purchaser of
book has been affixed to it, and there
has been an attempt to stop the traffic by
4 placing a description of the purchaser in
the book; but all this has proved to 10
avail. The willy scalper seems to thwart
the roads in every attempt thus far made
10 keep the books in the hands of the Or
iginal purchaser, and there seems to ne
no successful plan in the country 10 do
it. Hence, with no apparent means of
stopping the traffic, the lines concluded to
call off the books altogether. The scalp
ers are said TO have done most of their
work in Jacksonville and in the smaller
cities commensurately.
Other theories are advanced, however
and among them is the demand said to be
made on the roads by public officials in
Florida, who were estopped from asking
free transportation on account Of a pro-
hibitive act by the legislature, but who
could ask a mileage book which the rods
could issue to them without violating the
law. In this connection, Mr.. Erwin was
asked whether there was anything in he
talk. He replied with a smile, which indi-
Gated he had possibly heard something of
the notion before, and said he preferred
TO say nothing. Mr.. Erwin did not say
whether the officials made a heavy de-
fhaud on the roads for the books or not
but intimated ii was not the cause for the
withdrawal. 1t is said too, that tourists
were making extensive use of the books
and the roads considered it profitable, for
this reason, to cali them off, at least until
the tourist season is over.
1t is altogether improbable that the
roads will take the matter up again soon.
In fact the chances are that mileage books
IN Florida are a thing of the past, and
their restoration will always be fought.
The effect of the situation will be keenly
felt by Savannah merchants, nearly all of
whom do business in Florida which has
for long time been a profitable field for
them. Business there will not be altogeth-
er abandoned of course, but with the rates
row required by the roads, the merchants
VIII ind 1t impracticable to have statesmen
visit remote territory as often as before
1920 wv AoAoSd. anu yet the merchants
are still unable to see where the roads will
be profted by any act which would hinder
the thorough canvass for Florida business.
Ihey consider the matter one which ad-
mlts OF simple solution; IL they do not
sell goods the roads cannot haul mer-
chandlze either to or from Savannah 1t
would seem 70 the interest of the roads to
nave the territory well worked, for the
reason that when goods are distributed
from savannah, the long haul is then had
10 FLORIDA; whereas, if they are taken
'here from Northern markets by water
ana distributed from Florida coast points.
me roads do not derive this benefit.
by both state and federal law the roads
are prohibited from discrimination by Civ
ing rate to drummers which is not al
IoWed generally. Hence it has been pro-
posed by the merchants, or possibly will
De- mat full price be paid for the books, to
pe issued only to drummers, and that
rebate be allowed when it is returned.
inns would leave the matter on its origi-
MAJ basis and enable the merchants TO
continue their men in all quarters of the
staie. While this might be an evasion of
'He law 1t is not certain the roads would
even them accede. though it is said Wig
otous attempt will be made by the asso-
clation here to bring about some sort of
arrangement. The merchants do not re-
cara the situation as a fight on them, and
therefore have sanguine hopes of accom-
pushing their purposes.