The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-04

An Important Amendment Relating to
the Issue Of Free Paases

WASHINGTON. Feb. 3.--The Senate COM
mite on interstate commerce to-day au-
thorized a favorable report on the anti
scalping bill, with amendments The most
important of these amendments was the fol-
lowing, offered by Senator Tillman relating
to railroad passes:
That giving free transportation to per-
sons or property except as allowed by Sec
tlon Y OF the act to regulate commerce.
approved Feb. !. 1887 shall be deemed an
unjust discrimination under Section 2 of said
act, and shall be punished as provided i'm
section 10 of said act, and in addition to the
penalties on individuals provided in Section
~ the corporations which may be guilty of
any such ofrense shall be punished by fine
US IN said section provided That all free
passes issued by or on behalf of any rail
r2ah corporation, subject to the provisions
or said section shall be signed by some Off
Ger of the corporation authorized by vote
OF the directors to sign the same. and every
such railroad corporation shall keep q
record showing the date of every free pass
the name of the person to whom it is issued
the points between which the passage is
granted. and whetheP~a single trip or time
pass, and, If the latter, the time for which
IL is issued; and this record shall at all
times be open to the interstate-commerce
commissioners or to their representatives
VINO may be duly authorized in writing to
examine the same
The House bill was used as q basis of nro-
ceeding and Section of that bill was
amended so as to remove all restrictions
as to the person to whom a ticket holder
may sell his ticket. Originally the person
TO whom the ticket could he sold rnI1st he
one who would in good faith personally use
III IN the prosecution of a Journey" This
clause was eliminated and the proviso was
left to read follows: THAT the pur-
chaser of transferable ticket in good faith
Tor personal use in the prosecution of a
Journey shall have the right to resell the
same
Section in the bill was also amended so
as TO reduce the penalty for the first offense
against its provisions from 81 900 to $500 to
eliminate all provisions for Imprisonment
ond offense.
The proceedings of The committee were of
a more amicable character than those of
any previous meeting and the decision TO
report the Dill was reached without divi-
sfon The amendment regulating the is
Suance of passes was strenuously pressed
by Senators Tillman and Chandler. Mr.
Illlman said, in reply to question from
Senator Wolcott. that he thought he would
vote for the bill If this provision was in
corpoEated. Senator Chandler is the au-
thor of the amendment. He introduced ii
in the Senate an Independent bill several
years ago. Senator Tillman' resurrected il
to-day and through the assistance of Sen
ators Chandler Chiffon and others. secured
its Incorporation into the bill
Senator Chiffon offered several amend
ments, which were voted down. One of
these provided for fixing an arbitrary and
uniform rate of cents mile for passenger
traffic on all the railroads of the country,
ard another that railroad tickets should be
transferable and negotiable just as other
property is There is quasi understanding
that the bill shall not be considered in the
Senate until Senator Culloms bill extending
the powers of the Interstate-commerce
Commission shall be reported and on the
calendar. An effort made by Senator
Cullom to secure positive instructions to
this effect, and while he failed in this he
succeeded in securing passive acquescence
IN the propositlon. Inc commission bill
will be taken up at the next meeting Of the
committee.