Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

of the shippers. AS there are more than
ninety routes by which freight may move
between New York and New Orleans, It can
be seen that the soliciting agent has a vast
field in the country at large.
Where the Pinch Comes In.
The discontlnuance Of exchange passes
will require presidents to buy eighteen full
fare tickets when they take private cars
over other lines than their own. Naturally,
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 mile
age books to each other, keep an account
Of the mileage used and settle balances in
cash. Travelling representatives will be re-
CURED to use the mileage sparingly or at
least for no personal trips. 1t has been
estimated that the average soliciting agent
does not travel more than 80, 900 miles a
year and that $4,000 would pay for all his
transportation. A company with fifty out
side men would not have to use more than
$500. 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 managers agree that the great
est abuse of the pass system is in the
political department. Politicians must be
conciliated and a pass is frequently the
price Of peace. Public officials often be-
come insistent and request passes, not only
for themselves and members of their fam
lilies, 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 oficials with
passes. After New York forbade the roads
20 issue passes to public officials the latter
demanded them for their friends and this
was a greater evil than the first. Many
roads maintain a political department.
They have found tina they must have in
auential friends to protect them from harsh
legislation. The pass is believed TO have
power to remove prejudlces. Refusal to
give one may cause trouble. Mr.. A. B.
stickney, president OF a western railroad
testifying before a commission, said that
he had found 1t good policy TO be liberal
in issuing passes to public officials. He
related an incident OF a western sheriff.
who, upon being refused an annual by one
road, summoned four OF its most important
ofhcials to serve on a jury and they were
kept In the service OF the court two weeks
Many ImpOsitiOns.
That the roads are imposed on in the
name Of charity is beyond dispute. Thou
sands Of passes are given to applicants
who are able to pay fare. but who relate a
pathetic story and appeal to the geperal
passenger agents sympathy. A we'll
dressed woman OF excellent family called
one day on q general passenger agent and
stated that she had been elected a delegate
to some convention in a distant city. THE
fare for the round trip is $50" she said. II
need a new hat This one is really too
shabby, you will admit, TO wear there. l
cannot afford to buy a ticket and a new
hat. too, and / want you 10 give me a
pass"
Senator Chauncey Depew tells OF a former
elassmate, looking seedy and dissipated,
who called on him and requested a pass to
Albany and return. Mr.. Depew inquired
upon what ground the request was made
The applicant replied that he would explain
after he got the pass. When II was handed
to him he said that he was going TO Albany
to deliver an address Daore the Young
Mems Christian association on How TO
Make Money"
Another applicant writing to a general
passenger agent said; II have never had