The sun., 1903-11-04
THE BAGGAGE.SNASHER.
4 Professional Discusslon OF HIM. with
Proposed Remedies.

To THE EpIToR OF TIE Sum- Sir: Every
body hates the "bsEss &c ysmasher. and
few who travel have entirely escaped the re-
suits Of his strenuosity. Some improve
ment In the department Of bagsase trans
portation has been NOTICEABLE OF late, Out
this 10 probably due much more to the use
Of more strongly resistant trunks and bags
than 1t Is to a modification OF the methods en-
ployed by bas assa &c handlers.
But II appears that only minor respon.
siblity for our dem olIshed trunks and wrecked
sripsa cks rests with those strong-arn,ed
gentlemen who play pitch and toss with tho
property OF the travelling public This
statement stands upon the testimony OF
authority, II is the testimony OF on expert,
who. In making such declaration. might
almost be charged with telling tales out OF
school
At meeting Of the General Passenger
Agents Associat ion. held In New Orleans on
Oct ~ and "a. the General Baggage Agent
Of n leading Western railway presented
communication In which some light was
thrown upon the subject. and which placed
the larger responsibility for our losses ana
annoyances where. in all probability. 1t prop
erly belongs that Is. with the railway COM
panies The initial argument OF this COM
munication submitted the fact that the bag
gage department OF railway service is An
expense and not q revenue item. For this
reason II Ia only srudgngly maintained. upon
the most economical basis possible. Inc
employees OF the department are. as ruie
the most poorly paid OF all in the railway
service. while baggage accommodations. IN
point OF space ana convenience. are reduced
to their minimum possibility. The travelieI
pays his fare and may ride In luxury ano
comfort Hts baggage Is an na oo as oit II
An increase in the. size Of passenger cars
ana IN the seshs p%sses o. posDs
transportation OF 2 larger number OF passten- =
gers per train That means corresponding a
few cases has the baggage-carr3ine capacity
been Increased, while IN many ins.ahcss !. ~
has been actually reduced BY the lntroduc-
tion. on long distance trains. OF the com Diha, "a,
tion buffet and baggage car. This limitation o..
Of baggage-carry,ng capacity @ @necess,ares ra'
Close storing and nigh pns u0nssap, me- ,n,,nks
must be lifted TO II second, or even 10 tniru
tier; and the sup.rimpoeed weight Is often
too great for the more lightly quilt anairs
Another her influence lies in the necessity for
rapid handling For this. the Traveller Iayshs1 os y
4sSsess Ssss pe:es the gns :.cn Ss
pedlmenta only Q few minutes before - me ne
time of train departure; Their y, 6asssge os gaze
is imperative, and careful handling is almos.
impossible. This is nota bly, the case in large
cities where travel Is heaviest: but aeon, con
companies through the shortening OF siops
at way stations and junction points ne
Is of course primarily In the Interest OF !ne
travelling public. but II enforces despaIcI
in the loading and unloading OF baggage. ano
in transfer from train to train. which ls wv.
exercised at the expense Of the traVeiier
property, .,.
II is also a common practice 10 MAKE tne
baggage car depository Of all sorts OF ttlhgs
that seem to have no proper place enewaere'
railway material and supplies. mall ms'esI,
and supplies for railway eating houses ana
dining cara. All this occupies space Whlch
properly belongs to the baggage OF traVe.,ehns. trath.
Under the circumstances. II is perhaps la.nfl
remarkable that even our stee-bound Iuhks
and sole leather valises come on as well as
they do
Caution and injunction to ba aggage hapoieIss
and rules for their conduct can only pe o.
very limited effect so long as there Is IN lorce
he physical law that the thing contained
cannot be greater than the container. In the
opinion Of the authority whom we quote, a
siita bly,, spacious baggage car would 90
away with the great majority Of claims Tor
da ma ged baggage.
There seems to be a good deal of practical
common sense in the comments Of this official.
and there seems. strong probability that his
suggested remedy would be of advantage
to travellers. unless there be truth in the
charges Of humorsts that the ba gga ge man
is a destructive ncnd who revels in wreckage.
NEW YORK. Nov. 2, II.