Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-02-09
'ANH-PASS RULt
IS WEAKENING
Departures from Rigid Enforce.
ment are Causing Agitation
for Repeal.

and the Pennsylvania railroads issued
their stringent anti-pass orders and
come of the other lines controlled by
these two companies followed suit
there was considerable discussion
among local railroad men as TO how
long the rigid orders would be en-
forced. and the only question at that
time in the minds of those discussing
the question was how long before some
of the roads returned to the former
status, and which would be the first to
give passes to certain persons under
certain conditions.
1t was we'll agreed among both local
and travelling railroad men that the
orders were entirely too sweeping and
would therefore fall of their own
weight.
Recently local railroad men have
been bearing rumors that the Baltimore
and Ohio, as well as other Pennsyl.
vania controlled roads which followed
the Pennsylvania in the anti-pass Or
der, had modified the order couaidera.
bly,.
Concerning this matter the New
York Commercial of yesterday says:
mo sir, the anti-pass agreement OF
eastern railroads is not being strictly
aud literally observed by all of them,
and just as soon as l have the evidence
of this in shape, l intend to take it III
with the proper authorities on oul
road.
This was the reply of an executive
officer of one of the eastern lines, to q
question as to whether there was any
foundation for rumors of violations OF
evasions Of the pact.
"Our people," he added, ''went into
this arrangement in good faith, for the
issuance of free transportation had
long been carried beyond justice and
propriety. We we're as anxious as any
of the advocates Of reform that il
should be esta blished and made thor
ough without going beyond reason and
sound cOmmon.sense principles. Al
the same time we had misgivings as to
the stability of the proposition, as to
whether it would be rigidly maintain
ed and could be made permanent.
PERSONALLY l am frank to say, bad
little faith in the maintenance of the
arrangement. 1t seemed to me. how
ever, Wise and beneficial to the rail.
roads. that it would prove, like some
other similar movements, spasmodic;
that exigencles and circumstances arts.
Ing from time to time would ultimate
ly be so formidable as to subject it to a
strain great enough to. break its back.
SAT the same time l did not think we
would so soon be confronted with in
dications not only of too liberal an in-
depreciation of the agreement, but &C
tual viol ations of its spirit and letter.
ISSUING QUARTERLY PASSES.
Now. for instance, in running down
various rumors and reports in circula-
ton found certain roads were issuing
quarterly passes to people whom they
formerly honored with ANIMALS and
other forms of free transportation that
are good only within State limits.
Both Of these are. highly improper I'M,
der the terms of the agreement. Ihave
reason to believe that both the Read
ing and Baltimore and OHIO are not in
ali respects complying with the agree
ment and expect to have indisputable
evidence of the fact. In that event l
believe our people will take action that
will leave no doubt as to their attitude
and disposition.
Another case brought to my atten.
ton calls for further inquiry, because
in the incident involved the circum
stances may have been strongly con.
strued. NY Informant few days ago
was passenger on one of the fastest
trains in this couDtry-One on which
no one IS entitled to ride deadhead ex
cept the general manager. He SAID to
the conductor that the train must be
popular one, as there seemed to be
full passenger list. The conductor re-
piled, with smile, Yes; we have Only
two dead 'uns.' The gentleman re-
marking that he thought he could
identify them in two prominent officials
of big corporation, as there did not
appear to be anyone else on board like.
ly to receive such favor, the conductor
wicked, smiled suggestively and pass.
ed on.
Whether the two men has passes. |
don't know, but if they did, they must