The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-12
PASSES WILL BE ISSUED
SCHEME TO ABOLISH THEM KILLED
BY WESTERN ROADS.
Big Lines OutvOted by Small Railways
What Is Thought of the
Proposition.

Railway passes will not be abolished
Dec. 81 next year. The plan to wipe them
out of existence was killed at a meeting
in Chicago yesterday of the executive Of
fcials of Western roads. They will meet
again on Nov. 5. The scheme to abolish
passes in all probability will be resurrected
about a year hence, as e. =. Hartman and
other railway magnates are firmly imbued
with the idea that the officers and en-
ployes of the railroads and members of
their families should pay regular rates
when they travel, the same as all others.
When a vote was taken on the question of
abolishing passes nearly all the big roads
voted in the affirmative and all the smaller
roads voted against it. The majority
against abolishing passes was decisive, al
though quite a number of railroads which
were not represented at the meeting doubt
less would have swelled the majority. All
the roads controlled by the interests which
want to abolish passes were represented at
the meeting. On the motion of one of them
the meeting adjourned to meet again Nov.
3 TO discuss communications which may
be made to limit the issuance of passes to
those held to be entitled to them. THAT
meeting on Nov. 5 will be only to give a
lllllC NOdl VI WnllCndSl " NhC NOiAiAlAAlNNO
whose recommendation for abolishing
passes was rejected to-day" said an eX-
ecutive officers of one of the Western roads
after the meeting.
Not for many years has there been an
announcement which has created so much
general comment as the recommendation
that all passes should be abolished. Not
only will this remark apply to railroad
I'll - g
persons who have been given pass favors,
some for services rendered, some for good
will and others as a mere matter of friend
ship. Among railroad men there is a diff
ference of opinion as to the ultimate result
and the practicability of such sweeping
action. Some contend that II cannot be
accomplished on such short notice, and
that If passes are ever totally abolished
the reform will come gradually. Others
say the question is a bugaboo that is
sprung annually, and still others say that
If the reform is adopted by Eastern roads
the Southern and Western roads will not
enter such an agreement except toward
Eastern railways. 1t is the opinion of
many of the passenger men that If the
reform is finally adopted the travelling
passenger and freight agents will be eX-
cepted, and that with this exception the
passenger traffic of the Western and South
ern lines will be decidedly increased by the
action. With reference to the effect III
other respects there seems to be a general
opinion that such action may lead TO a
pooling of the interests and business of
the competing lines in each territory and
an agreement be effected whereby an equi-
table division of the passenger and freight
traffic might be made The more common
opinion is that SHOULD the pass system be
discontinued an understanding between the
roads will be brought about so that the
travelling traffic officials and other persons
who should be favored with free trans
portation will be furnished mileage books
with or without paying for them, and at
the end of the year settle the respective
differences in accounts. These and dozens
of opinions show that the idea is distaste-
full to railroad men as a rule, as they fear
a general revolution would follow such
action should it be put into effect. The
more strict disciplinarians in official ranks
of the railroads have so long considered
this that it is thought that if passes are
not entirely abolished there will be such a
curtailment as to cut down the free trans
portation list at least 70 per cent. One
plan suggested is that in lieu of the pass
the railroads issue to their offices a mile
age book. which, being taken up by n for
eign line. becomes a voucher against the
line that issued it..