The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-11
AMERICAN WHEELMEN
REPORTS ON TRANSPORTATION AND
MEMBERSHIP ADOPTED.
MIR. Potter Elected President and Providence
Chosed as Convention City For Next
National Assembly

st. Louis, Mo, Feb. 10.-The Nation
al Assembly of the League of American
Wheelmen got down to business to-day
But Ettle time was taken up with the
reports of the officers and standing
committees which had been printed and
circulated before the meeting began.
These were promptly adopted.
REPORT ON TRANSPORTATION.
With the exception of Pennsylvania.
Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West
Virginia, Indiana. Southern Illinois and
Florida, the railroads carry wheels by
force of law, while these States are in
Guided by voluntary concession.
The force of the Michigan law is multi
fed as applying to the wheel travel from
Chicago and the west to and through
Mich. gan by the narrow strip of Indiana
intervening. The three great trunk
lines-Midhigan Central, Grand Trunk
and Lake Shore and Michigan Southern
Railways-take advantage of this inter.
state situation to charge full rates. The
key to the eastern situation is now the
State of Indiana. If its legisla ture
would pass a bicycle baggage law the
scheme of transportation between Chi
cago and st. Louis and New England
would lbc finished. Illinois is the key
10 the western situation, and recOgniZ-
ing this, the greater part of the Trans
portation committees work has been
concentrated there. If the Illinois bag
gage bill could be passed the power Of
the Western Passenger Association.
which holds all the western railroads
(excepting the Wisconsin CentraD, to
the excess baggage charge would doubt
less be broken. The Illinois Division
recognized its responsibility, and de-
voted months of time and put itself
deeply in debt to get the bill passed, but
without success. The numerical strength
of the division was took weak. The
railroads, recognizing that if the law
passed in that great railroad center it
would carry with it the entire west,
threw all their strength against the pas
sage, and succeeded in preventing the
bill getting further than second reading
before adjournment of the legislature.
If the entire western situation. therefore.
hinges upon Illinois. the emergency calls
for great efforts in building up the men,
bership there, with the, specially concen-
trated support of the League to offset
the concentration of the railroads. Illi-
out their baggage bills at the same time,
and each state rendered assistance to
the other, but only the latter was sue
cessful.
The powerful influence of the Penn
eylyania and New Jersey Divisions, with
their strong men and great numbers,
succeeded in passing a baggage law in
the latter State and gaining voluntary
IN 4
was recognized by the eastern railroads.
who saw their territory honeycombed
with baggage bills. so in the Trunk
Line Association, covering all roads east
of Buffalo and Pittsburg and Toronto.
TO. but not including New England, they
granted the free concession.
In New England there exists the cell
ebrated ten-cents minimum charge. This
reduction from the general tariff then
in effect was the best that could he done
under the circumstances Elk President
Elliott perfected this arrangement after
a thorough resume of the situation. and
it could not be improved upon at the
time. The necessity for the introduction
of baggage bills is recognized, and the
same will doubtless be done in due sea-
son.
IN lne SOulI tne rallrOduS are unde-
cided. If the Kentucky and Georgia Di-
visions are successful in passing bag
gage bills the result will doubtless free
transportation east of the Mississippi
River. Florida's railroads voluntarily
granted free transportation, commenc-
ing January LIST of this year.
Burnley 3. AYERS, Chairman.
The assembly then proceeded to the
election of officers who We're all chosen
before the recess for lunch was taken.
The Potter ticket was elected without
much opposition.
President Potter, of New York, who
sought reelection received PIP votes to
107 east for George ID. Gideon, ex-chair-
man of the Racing Board. When the re-
suit of the ballot became known Mr..
Gideon moved that the election of Pres
ident of President Potter be made unan-
imous and this was done amid much en-
thusiasm.
Other officers were elected as follows:
First Vice-President, Thomas ]. Kee-
nan, Pennsylvania; Second Vice-Presi-
dent e. n. Hines, Michigan, Treasurer,
James G.. Tattersall, New jersey Seere-