The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16

that the roads have the right to do this,
anyway, even over the protest OF the ship
pers. As there are more than ninety routes
by which freight may move between New
York and New Orleans. II can be seen that
| the soliciting agent has a vast field In the
country at large.
The discontinuance OF exchange passes
will require Presidents 20 buy eighteen
full fare tickets when they take private
cars over other lines than their own Natur-
ally, this will restrict the movement Of
private cars which will be a relief TO the
larger roads and especially to those which
enter the great cities
When all exchange passes are discon-
tinued, the roads will probably furnish
mileage books to each other, keep an ac-
count OF the mileage used and settle bal
ances in cash. Travelling representatives
will be required to use the mileage sparingly
or at least FOR no personal trips.
II has been estimated that the average
soliciting agent does not travel more than
10000 miles a year, and that 5000 would
pay for all his transportation. A com
any with fifty outside men would not
AVE to use more han $50 900 worth OF
mileage for its outside men in a year and
that sum would not be felt by a company
able TO maintain SO many outside men.
Railway agree that the greatest
abuse Of the pass system is in the political
department. Politicians must be CON
oiltsted. and a pass is frequently the price
OF peace.
Public officials often become insistent
and request passes not only for themselves
and members of their families, but also for
constituents. New York, North Carolina.
Alabama and Mississippi prohibit their
officials accepting railway passes.
The Anti-Pass bill is familiar in many
State Legislatures. Occasionally some one
proposes that the roads be required by law
to furnish all public officials with passes.
After New York forbade the roads to issue
passes to public officials the latter de-
manded them for their friends, and this
was a greater evil than the first.
Many roads maintain a political depart
ment. They ave found that they must
rave influential friends to protect them
from harsh legislation. The pass is be-
lieved to have power to remove preiudices.
Refusal 10 give one may cause trouble.
A. B. %Stiokney. President of a Western
railroad. t~estifying before a commission.
said that he had found il good policy To be
liberal in issuing passes to public officials.
He related an incident Of a Western Sherin,
who upon failing TO get IN annual pass
from one road, summoned four OF It's
most important officials to serve on a jury,
and they were kept In the service OF the
court two weeks.
That the roads are imposed on IN the
name OF charity is beyond dispute. Thous-
ands OF passes are given TO applicants
who are able to pay fare, but who relate
a pathetic story and appeal to the general
DdSStlRfT HkflA : " iildNAiyH
A well-dressed woman OF excellent
family called one day on a general pas
senger agent and stated that she had been
elected a delegate 70 some convention IN q
distant city.
The fare for the round trip is t25.' she
said. Il need a new hat. This one IL
too shabby, YOU will admit, 20 wear there.
I cannot aford 10 buy a ticket and n new
hat. and | want you 10 give me a pass.
Senator Depew tells Of a former, class
mate, looking seedy ard d~issipated. who
called on him and requested a pass 70
Albany and return. Mr.. Depew inquired
upon what ground the request was made.
The applicant replied hat he would er-
plain after he got the pass. When II was
handed to him he said he was going 70
Albany to deliver an address before the
Y. NJ. G. A. on How 20 Make Money
Another applicant writing TO a general
passenger agent said: Il have never had
Inc pleasure Of meeting you, hut my
brother-in-law rents n house from you on
H street" Then followed n request for
TRANSPORTATION worth s35.
A Western road was sued some years ago
bv a man who had n pass. During tho
trip he contracted a fever from a family
with whom he stopped. and he asked for
dana ges from the cOmpan IN the ground
that II he had not had the pass he would
not have taken the trip. -
Shutting OF exchange passes will add
something to the earnings ~ tho large
companies NJ the expense OF the small
ones which heretofore nave been getting
much more out Of the pass system than they
nave ever given.
Public officials and politicians must
travel and they and their constituents will
constitute the bulk Of the new pay passen-
gers. These with shippers, and the legion
OF people who now obtain passes on account
Of charity, or on personal grounds, will not
| travel exceeding 800 900 900 miles, II Is
calculated. This At two cents n mile Will
yield S. 5000, 900.
Aside from this sum Of money tho man
ayers consider that their companies will
be benefited in hat by reducing the vol
ume Of free travel, there will be more room
for the paw passen gers: the traffic depart
ments will have more control over tho
freight business originating on their lines,
rates will be better maintained ard the
roads will escape the criticism to which