Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-08
ABOLISH Pass system
Railroads Will Issue no More
Free Passes After Jan. l.
1902.
Every Line of Consequence in
the United States in the
Compact.
There Will Be no More Dead.
heads, Even Railroad Officials
Must Pay.

out of fashion on all the railroads in the
United States on ana after Jan. 1, 1902.
A complete abolition of the time hon
ored custom of giving transportation for
nothing was decided upon yesterday by
subcommittee representing all of the
railroads in the Trunk Line association,
the Central Traffic association and the
Western passenger association. The
committee net in New York.
As these three associations include
every railroad of any consequence in
the country. the dead head" tourist
will see hard times ahead of him. No
exceptions are to be made in the new
policy to be adopted. Even the presi-
dents of the various lines. who have
been accustomed to riding where they
pleased without paying, will put down
their money in the future like any or
binary traveller, and submit their tickets
to the conductors punch.
The railroad presidents are in favor
of the mo pass" system, however, for
their roads will be benefited by the
change. "A big railroad system like the,
Pennsylvania or the New York Central
Issues tens of thousands of passes year
ly at a loss Of many thousand! of dollars
in receipts. The custom has grown to
such huge proportions, 1t is said, that
nearly every railroad suffers daily loss
OF cash passengers on account of their
being crowded out by pass-holders.
The subcommittee which voted to.
abolish the free pass system was APP
pointed nearly a year ago at meeting
in New York of the presidents of about
forty. of the most important railroad
systems. Its work was designed to be
supplemental to the action of the pres
idents in order that passes should not
be given to influence traffic. The action
of the committee WAS unanimous, and
the general sentiment among railroad
men is said to be In favor of the step
recommended. The recommendation
will be submitted to the various associ-
ations fdr ratification, with no doubt as
to approval.
President Newman of the New York
Central. President Truesdale of the Del
aware. Lackawana & Western, First
Vice President McCrea of the Pennsyl-
vania lines west of Pittsburg, and Pres !
ident S. NJ. Felton, of the Chicago & Al
ton were participants in the committee
meeting yesterday. After the meeting
President Truesdale said:
THE idea is to shut down on all pass
es. This is the only country In which
the free pass system prevails, and there
appears to be no good reason to con-
tinue 1t. The railroads disposed Of the
question Of issuing passes to influence
traffic some time ago, and now an effort
will be made to weed out the pass Gus
tom entirely"
Steps toward the abolition Of the pass
system have bene under consideration
for several years by the officials of the
more important roads. The adoption of
the new rule will affect many thousands
of persons who have been the benefici-
aries of the railroads for reasons too
numerous to mention. Members OF
state legislatures, congressman, United
States senators, state and county and
municipal officials. politicians, and the
employees of some newspapers have been
80 accustomed to ridingbn annual pass
es that a failure to receive the little
cards will excite their surprise. The
newspapers of the large cities, however,
have to large extent discontinued the
practice Of asking or receiving passes.
One of the strongest reasons advanced
by railroad managers for shutting down
on the free pass system is supplied by
the railroads themselves. They have
been Issuing thousands of family passes
to minor officials of railroads in addition
to exchanging passes with the presi-
dents and superintendent of othe.
roads until there seemed to be no end
to the demand. The abolition of the
custom. it is said, can not decrease the
amount Of the passenger business Of
any railroad, while the prospect of an
increase in receipts will be encouraging
under all circumstances.