Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-06-09
MEN PROTEST
They Want Congress TO Provide
Transportation For Them.
SEND LETTERS TO PRESIDENT
Threatened Withdrawal of Passes
Arouses Entire Railroad World
Senators Are Appealed To.


Washington, d. O., June 6.-yigor.
Gus protests are being received both
by President Roosevelt and members
of congress-senators and representa-
.tives-against the enactment of the
anti-pass provision of the railroad rate
bill. The protests are coming not
from the general public, but from
| railroad men. Under the anti. pass
provision, as agreed upon by the sen
| ate aud house conferees, a railroad
corporation cannot issue free transpor-
tation across any two or more states
even to its own employees. The pro-
vision is as drastic as it a be made
and it has aroused serious objections
from every railroad quarter.
AS a rule. railroad officials and en-
ployees regard free transpoi tation
| over their W road and other lines as
a part of their salaries. They are
| obliged to travel to a considerable ex-
tent in the course of their business.
| On actual business of their roads il is
likely their fare would be paid by tile
corporations by which they are en-
Iployed, but heretofore they have been
| able TO negotiate free transportation
| for themselves and members of their
families. The cutting off of this per-
quisite of their official positions
means a great deal to them in the
course of a year and, .%naturs lily, they
resent any action of congress which
is intended to deprive them of what
they regard as their proper rights.
The Pennsylvania railroad was the
first railroad corporation to Withdraw
the pass privilege. President Cas-
satt, Of that road, has called the is
snance of free passes a great evil. =
RAILROAD officials throughout .the
country. however, now have Pennsyl.
vsnia passes in their pockets and are
using them daily. If the railroad rate
bill should become a law as it stands
now. these passes will have to be
withdrawn by the first of January
next and, under the law. no more be
issued. Thereafter, ever railroad
man, if he obeys the law, must pay
his fare over any other railroad than
his own, if he travels across a state
line.
What, if anv effect, the protests re.
ceived may have on congress. remains
yet to be determined. Members OF
congress in both branchs manifest q
disposition to cut off all free trans.
%portation of an interstate character.
irrespective of the desire of railroadt
themselves. They feel that if they
are not entitled to such favors from
the railroads, nobody else is and the,
propose to frame a pass provision that
will be as drastic as it can be drawn.
The rata bill probably will not be
I enacted into law for some time. Al
the conference report now stands. il
is Objectionable to men in both the
senate and the house of representa-
tivts. In tho senate, points Will be
made against it, because the confereei
have injected new legislation into the
measure. One or two of the provisions
of the report were rejected by the SEN
ate and two others, at least, never
have been passed upon by either the
senats or the house. II the report
| should be sent back to conference, il
may be a week or ten davs before il
finally is agreed upon again. Mean.
time. the protests OF the railroad peo-
pie against the auti-pass povision may
be considered but in the present
temper of congress the likelihood is
that no change in the provision will
be made.