The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-05
RATE BILL FIGHT
OVER FREE PASSES {:
Now Likely That Bill Will Be
Sent Back to Com
inittcc.
OPPOSITION VERY STRONG
Exceptions in Favor Of Certain
Classes Said to BE
Necessary.
OPPOSITION VERY STRONG
ron, our Regular C.orrospondent

3
(1rron Our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 4.--The
action OF the conferees on the rate bill,
in striking out all exceptions In the free
pass amendment, Is creating so much
opposition to the bill that there is strong
probability of Its recommittal to the
committee, IN order that the amendment
prohibiting free transportation may be
modified. The bill, as 1t now exists, pro-
hibits the railroads issuing free transpor-
taticn to anybody except It's employees
The families Of employees WILL under the
bill, have to pay their fare when they
travel. 55
1t Is this feature OF tho amendment that
cxcites tremendous opposition among the
railroad men, OF course, but senators and
representatives also believe very generally
that this is about the worst feature Of
tho present section.
Vote to Recomnit.
ITO compel families Of railroad men to
hardship" said Senator Daniel. For In
hardship said Senator Daniel FOR In
stance employees OF the Southern Railway
who reside In Lynchburg frequently have
to change their homes to Monroe, or vice
versa, or from ILynchburg to Charlottes-
vile, or from Charlottesville to Lynch
burg. When sEch chnnges OF residence
arc necessary the hardship Of moving is
greatly lesscncd by the railroads. trans
porting the family and probate the
household goods free OF cost But II this
law goes into effect every time q rail-
road man has to change his home he viii
have to pay out.a large sum for the trans
portation OF his family to the new resi-
dence. Such law would work great
hardship. without any corresponding benz
efts. They say that every time rail-
road mans family rides on a pass the
farmer who does not have a pass has TO
pay Just that much more for his ticket
or for hauling his freight. do not ace
how simply allowing Il wife and chf.cren
Z to get aboard O train that Is going that
way anyhow, and ride to their destina-
tion, is going to hurt the farmer"
Both Senator Daniel and Senator Mar
tin say they are inclined to vote to re-
commit the bill in order to have the inhi-
bition against free Transportation mod
flied. No member Of the Senate or OF
the House wants the provision so changed
as to permit them to ride on passes, but
they do want exceptions made in favor
+ of some classes.
Other Objections.
THE prohibition against Issuing passes
to care-takers of livestock, travelling
with their cattle to market, will work q
very great hardship said Senator Bur-
kett, of Nebraska. ~ am more interest
ed In that feature of the bill than IN the
other about railroad employees, II possible.
Cattle growers OF Nebraska have to send
somebody along with a drove OF stock
shipped to market. and it has been the
custom Of the railroads OF the West to
allow the owner and other care-takers
to ride in the caboose Of tho freight
train. If the cattle grower has to pny
for these men as well MS for himself, his
profits will be very greatly reduced.
Senator Culberson made the same sort
Of statement regarding conditions IN
Texas, and declared he would vote to re-
commit the measure
Secretaries of Railway Young Mems
Christian Associn tons, who were except
ed by the Senate bill from the provls-
ions against free passes. are cut out OF
the amendment by tho conferecs. and Will
have to pay their fare like other people.
They arc protesting most VIGOROUSLY
They say that their work among rail-
way men will be greatly hindered II not
destroyed. If they are not allowed to
ride without payment Of fare. Z. NJ.
willis, Of the national legislative conf
mittee Of the Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION, is here and doing all he cnn
to secure the modification OF the section
as agreed on by the conferees.
81 Senator Daniel is not ut all satisfied
with the employers liability BILL which
passed the Senate last week. He lntro-
. duced the bill, and has from the first
taken a great interest In it, OF course
The bill, as he introduced It. provided
for tho modification of the common law
,A,ctrino against the recovery Of dams
ages BY the cmploye Of rallroad cor.
poration, injured through the laut u
a fellow-servant. 1t followed very clos CLOSE
" the present Virginia law,
Practically Migratory.
The bill rs passed is rendered pract l.
cally nugatorys by the incorporation ~
mn amendment which provides that IN all
suits instituted by II railway employe
ocainst the company for injuries the
amount he has received from insurance
ond other beneficial organizations main
tanned by employees shall DO or may ~
,,snd MS nm offset III fixing tho amount to
bo pald in damages, Senator Daniel
snys this is mnnlfestly unjust as the
amount received. by the injured ems
ploye is paid by his associates and not
by the company These insurance or
ganizntons existing among railroad, men,
he said, are maintained by the men thenl-
selves. In mosttif not all. instances
contributions to these funds are conlpul-
sorv under laws OF tho company, !
understand" said Senator Daniel. that
the employees of tho Baltimore and Ohio
are taxed Mt the rate Of three per cent.
to maintain this insurance fund. Tho
same principle obtains with other roads
1t is absurd that the benefits paid BY
railway employees to an injured associate
should accrue to the benefit Of the cor
poration in cases sounding IN damages
senator Daniel lod the fight ngainI
this amendment, and for time had the
support Of Senator La Foette but the
latter finally yielded and accepted the
amendment Senator Daniel Is hopeful
that the House will so amend the meas