The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-09-28
|NOMORE PASSESOR RATES.
FREE TRANSPORTATION FOR
LAND AGENTS is ILLEGAL.
INCONSISTENCIES" KNOCKED OUT
Stubs, Figuring Out the New Rate
Law and it's Provisions, Has Given
Report to Railroads Which Leaves
But Few to Get Cheap Rates.

Chicago, Sept. Ell. c. Stubs.
chairman of the executive officers com
mittee appointed by all the railroads
in the country west of Chicago to
study the doubtful points In the new
rate law and to secure the advice of
counsel regarding them has complet-
ed the preparation of the report on
passenger matters, and It was formal
ly submitted at a meeting of the Trans.
continental Passenger association yes.
terday.
The report, which takes the form of
answers to thirty questions PROFOUND
ed by the various railway companies
deals with almost every phase of pas
senger transportation under the new
law, and especially with the questions
which have been raised relative to
granting reduced rates and free trans
portation.
Bars Land Agents.
The report has not the authority of
ruling by the interstate commerce
commission, but as in getting it ready
the committee not only consulted with
the most eminent legal counsel. but
also got informally the views of the
commission, and as it will serve as a
guide to all the roads, both east and
| west, until rulings upon the matters
it deals with shall be made formally
| by the commission, 1t is regarded as
one of the most important documents
dealing with the new rate law, which
have yet been prepared. A similar re-
| port on freight matters will be made
later by the same committee.
The report, in part, is as follows
Land and immigration Agents -
Free transportation cannot be given
land and immigration agents unless
they are employees in such sense that
the carriers legally could give them
transportation as a pass or gratuity.
| No "Homeseekers' Rates.
| "Landseekers and Settlers-There is
no authority in law for making lower
rates to landseekers and settlers than
for other travellers. This seems tC
knock out the "homeseekers' excur
sionS which the western lines all have
been running for years.
Issue of Transportation in Payment
for Advertising - The law committee
advised this cannot be done. 1t is gen
orally accepted, however, that carriers
may carry an open account with pub
fishers, and that publishers may carry
an open account with carriers for ad
vertising, and that these accounts car
be balanced periodically. The balance
must be paid in cash
The Free-Pass Class.
The committee holds that railwa!
companies operating their own sleep
ing cars must publish and file thei
sleeping-car rates. 1t holds that tn,
exception of railway mail service EN-
ployes, postoffice inspectors, customs
inspectors, immigration inspectors
newsboys on trains, baggage agents
and managers of soldiers homes from
the free.pass prohibition permits then
to be hauled on personal and individ
ual account as we'll as while on duty
Special reduced rates may be mad,
for federal and state troops, and Off
GERS and employees of the United State.
geological survey and reclamation ser
vice in the future as in the past.
Nuns, sisters of charity, mission
aries, evangelists, national or stat
officers of religious denominations
teachers and pupils in Indian schools
officers of the Salvation Army ant
Volunteers Of America, ETC., it is held
may be given free transportation.
Special rates for theatrical compa
: MES, baseball clubs, etc., are held t.
, be discriminatory.
: Special rates for army and navy OF
ficers and their families, which Away
: have been made in the past, are he'll
r unlawful for the same reason.