Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-08
.HANDLI ING BAGGAGE
American Methods Criticised
by Foreigners
AT RAILWAY CONGRESS
DISCUSSION CAUSED BY REPORT
OF GEORGE h. DANIELS.
Sir Charles ]. Owen Of London and
southwestern Make Caustic Re
marks-Did Not Mince Words.

the handling of baggage on the trains be-
tween washington and New York, over
winch many OF the foreign delegates to the
international congress travelled to reach
tiis CITY. nave come in for more than a
Usual amount of criticism. The railroad
men OF Europe. and especially those of
england, have been outspoken in their
COMPLAINTS. In some instances delegates
were without personal baggage twenty
FOUR hours, although they personally saw
To It's transference to the proper point be-
fore leaving New York. The matter would
not have received official attention but for
the presentation of a report by Mr.. George
H. Daniels, general passenger agent of the
New York Central railroad on baggage and
express parcels in one of the section meet
lngs. In his report Mr. Daniels told some
thlng OF the methods of the American rail-
roads and explained why they were so good
IN some ways and so poor in others. After
each report is read the members of the sec
ton are supposed to discuss it, and the re-
port OF Mr.. Daniels gave opportunity for q
free expression of opinion Sir Charles j.
owen, general manager of the London and
Southwestern railway of England was the
first of the delegates to make any extended
remarks. Sir Charles is well known in this
country through frequent visits here and
by reason of the fact that lie is a firm be-
lever in the husting American business
methods. He is an officer of the volunteer
engineers and railway staff of the English
military forces and member of the Brit
ish army railroad council. He was made
general manager of the London and South
western railway in 1898 and had knight
hood conferred on him three years ago as
Il recognition of his attanments in the rail-
road world. Sir Charles did not mince his
words in commenting the baggage meth
DDS that prevail in America He said:
Question of George Brown.
''rhe few remarks that l shall venture to
make will relate more particularly to the
question of baggage and 1 would desire on
my own behalf, and l am sure also on be-
half Of the other gentlemen here, to thank
Mr.. Daniels for lis able report and the very
exhaustive list Of questions which he has
addressed to the various companies and the
answers he has secured from them. But
while / would cordially thank Mr. Daniels
for his paper, l should be very 10th to ac-
cept the conclusion that he has arrived at,
that the system of baggage handling as OBJ
tanning in America at the present moment
is the best possible system. Ny own opin-
Ion is that 1t may be necessary system in
America, a system necessary in a country
where cabs are either non-existent or are
charged for at absolutely eXorbtant rates,
AMI also to a great extent necessary IN a
country where labor is expensive as it is
in America; but that the system works to
the benefit of the passenger 1 could not for
a moment concede.
Having Travelled in this country, not only
on this occasion, but previously. over some
very considerable distance I have been as
tonlshed to see delicate ladies carrying their
own heavy grips into and out of trains with
out s. single hand to help them. I dare not
contemplate such condition of affairs in
England. (Applause)
Then, sir, have, perhaps too confiding-
ly. on approa ching a terminal station.
handed to man who called himself most
improperly and inaccurately an express
man Qaughter) the checks for my baggage.
On one occasion l was very anxious to be
in evening dress within an hour of my ar
rival. l was assured by this expressman
that my luggage would be at my hotel in
half an hour after the arrival of the train
but one hour went, two hours three hours
four hours and at half-past IL, just as
was wanting to so to bed, one piece out
of four pieces of baggage arrived Qaugh-
teri. and l had the misfortune of being
obliged to go to bed without even the use
of a toothbrush. Oaughter). Well. now,
sir, in England have very powerful
press. and the public are very fond of re-
sorting to it, and l am quite satisfied that
If the amount of inconvenience which u
have personally suffered were experienced
by the British public the press would take
it up to such an extent that our parlia-
ment, which is always amenable to the
press would infiict some very heavy DIS
abilities on the railway companies who
were so treating their passengers.
Absolutely Elementary
Perhaps 1 may just mention this. that
from my point of view, looked at as a mat
ter of principle, little can be said for the
system which we adopt in England as re-
CARDS our baggage. 1t is absolutely ele-
mentary, but there is a very good express
sion used in the United States that we
must see how things pan out, perhaps,
we put it in the English way. that the
proof Of the pudding is in the eating
Now, l am inclined to say that the sys-
tenn which enables a passenger to get rid
of his baggage Immediately his
rival at a station. which insures that it
shall be again in his possession at the end
of the journey. within at the most, speak
ing on the average, five minutes after the
arrival Of the train. generally within two
minutes of the arrival of the train, and
the system which at the same time in
wolves that the passenger gives no care
whatever to his baggage throughout the
length Of the journey. has in practice an
immense deal to recommend it; and for
the information of the delegates who are
here sir, / might say that notwithstand-
ing the little check which we exercise over
the baggage as conveyed In the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, it
is really astonishing how very few are the
claims made upon us for loss of baggage.
Hear, heard Roughly estimating it. l
may say this. that the introduction of any
system of registration of baggage in Great
Britain would involve. as its initial cost at
least ten times the sum which we at pres
ent pay for lost baggage.
Under these circumstances, sir. and con-
sidering as 1 have said. the great convent
ence to the passenger which he secures by
our British system, l am compelled, how
ever unwillngly to do so, to differ from
the conclusion arrived at~by Mr.. Daniels
in his paper.
There were several addresses made in
reply to Sir Charles and one or two in
dorsements of his views. Mr.. w. M.
Skinner, an American member of the
permanent commission, made brief reply
to Sir Charles, and M. Brisse of the East
ern railroad of France made a short
address, in which he ehdeavored to
show the valuable points in both
the English and American systems. The
last speech of the meeting was made by
Mr. Evelyn Cecil. one OF the English gov
ernmentai delegates. Mr.. Cecil Is grand
son OF the late Marquis Of Salisbury and
was the latter's private secretary and con-
fidential agent during his two terms as
premier of England. He Is a director OF
the London and Southwestern road. and
considered q high authority on railroad
matters He spoke OF the baggage diff
Guilty with q little more consideration for
the feelings of his American friends than
Sir Charles had shown. Mr.. Cecil said:
Many Different Systems.