Evening journal., 1900-12-07
Railroad AbOIiSheS Half
Rate Privilege
ORDER AFFECTS DELAWAREANS
$4,000 Preachers Denied Privilege
Because 1t Had Been Abused
and for Other Reasons

By a resolution adopted at the meet
ing Of the Passenger Committee OF the
great trunk lines, held in Chicago last
week, Delaware clergymen, as well as
those living in cities traversed by the
Delaware, Lackawana and Western, Le-
high Valley, New York Central, Cen
tral of New Jersey, Philadelphia and
Reading, West Short, Erie, New York,
Ontario and Western, and Chesapeake
and Ohio railroads must pay full rail-
road fare instead of half fare as here
tofOre.
The action of the trunk lines has
caused much discussion among clergy
men, as may be supposed, but the ad-
verse criticism will be of no avail. For
years past it has been the policy Of
these roads to issue permits to minis
ters and other engaged in religious
work upon the presentation of creden-
tials which would identify them as fol-
lowing such a calling. Whenever they
desired to travel they would present
these permits and by this means would
be enabled to get half-rate fare
The number of persons to whom
such permits have been issued has been
steadily increasing. 1t is roughly es-
timated that three of the trunk lines
the Baltimore and Ohio, the Pennsyl-
vania and the New York Central-alone
issued during the past year 10000 such
permits. The other eight lines have
probably issued a sufficient number to
increase the total to about $4,000. AS
the permit holders can get the half rate
as often as they travel, the amount OF
mileage represented by such travellers
and the so per cent. saving in fares
they have enjoyed would make a big
showing.
AS the demands for these permits in
creased, many efforts were made tC
either abolish the system or to sur.
round it with checks so as to prevent
abuses. No one line would undertak,
TO withdraw this privilege for fear it,
competitor would continue it in fore,
and secure an income from this clasl
of travellers, which the line demanding
full rate could not attract.
WHY CHANGE is MADE.
When the mutuality- y-of-ownership'
plan was evolved by the dominating
powers in the Baltimore and Ohio
Pennsylvania and the New York Cen
tral the settlement of the freight rat,
question was not the only big problem
which was brought up. After tn,
freight differences had been gotte1
down to a basis where the rate-cutte
was to a large extent eliminated man!
other problems were brought forward
and among them was the issuance o
reduced-rate tickets. The action talxel
at the meeting in New York last weel
is one of the results.
Railroad men take the ground tha
the idea under which a reduced-rat
ticket was sold TO workers in the re
ligious field has largely disappeared
with the advancement of the times. Il
the early days of railroads they poin
out that the workers in the cause of re
ligiOn were generally without compensa
tion, and often did manual labor par
of their time to obtain a livelihoo
Now it is contended this condition ha
greatly changed, and clergymen who's
duties require them to travel have sal
aries from congregations or are sup
ported by special funds. This, the op
ponents to the idea of giving a reduce
rate declare, enables them to pay tn
same rate which the general travelin
public is charged.
PRIVILEGE WAS ABUSED.
Another reason given for the discor
tinuance Of the half-rate fare is tha
the privilege has been abused.