The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-01-08
RAILROADS AND THE GIVING OF
PASSES.


The movement on the part Of the
majority OF the railroads Of the country
70 do away with passes after January J.
1902, is all right. The railroad "lres
list'' has been run into the ground and
has come 10 be a serious burden IA
many Of the railroads.
The paying public has little idea oI
the number Of passes t at are given
out annually by the great transporta-
tion lines. The cost Of hauling dead
heads is serious item and has 10 be
reckoned with in determining the rates
10 be charged those who pay.
The Sacramento Bee says the irony Of
Of the pass system lies In the fact that
as an almost invariable rule passes are
given those who can afford to pay their
way, while the classes who would re-
ceiVe sone benefit from free transporta.
tioD are obliged to put up cash.
There seems 10 be general mania
for wanting TO travel dea lhead that af-
iects all classes and conditions. A man
possessed Of millions will work every
known pull and spend time and energy
enough 10 buy a sruall railroad for the
sake OF getting transportation free that
would cost him less than his cigar bill
for week.
A large class Of those who travel on
passes are not benoated personally In
the least. State and Federal officials,
employees OF corporations, etc, who
would simply charge off the coast Of
ticket 40 legitimate expense, get free
rides because Of supposed influence.
The railroads are beginningto 10 learn that
for whatever benefit they get through
tho good will Of one man they pay out
Of all reason by carrying hundreds who
can do them neither injury nor good.
The cost Of all this free riding comes
out Of the general public. The railroad
does not decrease lis profits by carry
ing people for nothing. II simply lacks
an additional charge upon those who
pay. II out Of 200 patrons railroad
deems IL advisable TO placate 100 by
giving them passes, the other 100 have
TO pay just twice what thoy should ior
There IL no reason why anyone who
over a raiload should expect the
rest Of the travellers to pay his fare.
HO can usually better afford the ex-
penditure than they. aud he simply graf.
Iaes personal vanity at their expense.
In nine cases out OF ten he bluffs the
railroad into thinking no is worth car
rying free. In the tonth case he gets
his pass by giving away something that
s worth ten times the amount OF the
price Of the ticket.
II a railroad deems II advisable 10
larry person free as matter OF court.
ssy or policy, II should make him q
present Of ticket and charge the regu-
lar fare from the profits. The cost OF
,arrying him should never be made an
operating expense without correspond.
ng return equal 10 the return made by
,yery other passenger.
Ia the matter OF free passes TO neWs-
papsrmen, the railroads have always re-
,oiyed In exchange volumes OF free
advertising worth ten times what the
railroad trips would have cost tho Jour
aalista at regular ratee. The pass sys-
Iem. ~ a business proposition, has been
bad thing for the newspapers. Be.
lides that, there Is no doubt that Il has
Fequently, even with men otherwise
sell.intentioned, robbed them OF much
u that manly independence witch
lhould be the Arst quality Of an editor.
Ia every way the press would be- botter
~ II railroads abolished tho free pa,s
Iyutem. r