The Minneapolis journal., 1906-06-10

Protest Against Anti-P Pass Amend
ment May Be Ignored by
Conferees.
By/W. w. Jermane,

s:> eyW. w. Jermane,
/ Washington, June 9.-The house
conferees on the rate bill are inclined
to stick by their original action regard
Ing passes, and they have had several
consultations recently with that pur-
pose in view. The difficulties in the
way, however. are ye5y great; hahe dhe
been stirred up by their lobbies in
Washington and made to believe. that
the strict anti-pass provision OF the
first conference will forever shut them
out from free rides. .. .....-
The sedate and usually well-poised
senate has been seized with ver1table
panic. It is said that at no previous
times for many years have the members
of that body been as responsive to pun
lie sentiment as they have been to that
sentiment created by the railway, men
and expressed by the thousands OF
kilograms which have poured into the
senate chamber this week. Ii that
body were elected by the people bien-
nially,, as the house, 1T could not nave
taken fright more easily
Scare in House, Too.
To certain extent also, this panieky
feeling pervades the lower house one
biggest, said today that If he were to
vote for the adoption Of the original
anti-pass provision he would be de-
feated in his district in November, in
fact he even doubted if he could se-
sure denomination ,.r.
AS the anti-pass section is the only
one in the rate bill regarding which
there is any widespread public interest,
all other parts of the bill having been
practically agreed to. l undertook TO-
day to ascertain the grounds which the
house conferees have for believing that
the original sweeping anti-pass section
of their report ought to stand.
They believe, in the first place, that
II an exception should be made in
families, it would be letting down the
bars for numerous other exceptions
and in the end the anti-pass section
would cover as many people as the sec
tion passed by the senate, and that sec
ton covered about one-fifta OF the pop.
excepted class, they claim, would de-
stroy the effect Of the section as q
whole, and besides make ridiculous.
Does Not Bar Passes.
In the second place, they believe that
the railway employees and other per
sons properly entitled to free. transpor
tation will not be hurt by the sweep
Ing provisions Of the oalfhnal tho SonfGI ra5
ways are willing to make contracts
with their employees, and with tn
numerous other classes to which, TO,
sound business reasons, passes ought tt
be given, and thus preserve to thes'
classes the privileges to which WI ,e the| e
plan, it is pointed out, would put fre
transportation on strictly a business
basis, and have it given as matter o
right and not as a matter OF petit.
graft. =
AS illustrating how this contract sys
tenn would operate, call attention t.
numerous kilograms and letters receive'
bv northwestern members Of the tw
houses from cattle drovers, who hav
been accustomed to accompany ship
ments of cattle and hogs to market
These men have always ridden OF
passes, and their attendance upon tn
stock is matter. Of prime necessity
They have been made to believe. tha
if the original conference report shoul
be adopted. heir passes would be take
away. This, it is pointed out by tn
house conferees, is not true. By COZ
tracts, which railway companies hav
already said they would be glad
make, these passes could be provide
for They could be stipulated in tt
the stock, and the drovers, securtn
them must thus as a matter Of righ
would be placed in more independe1
attitude than they have hitherto e1
joyed.
Local Men Protest.
Certain of the big railroad contra
tors in Minneapolis and st. Paul hay
written members Of the Minnesota de
egation, protesting against the anti-pa
section as It now stands, on the grour
that it would prevent the sending o.
@f ,ctp oSir r'rr0
not true: The carriage Of these gan
can be easily provided.
To sum up the position Of the hou
conferees, it is said that everybot
who is properly entitled to passes c:
get them thru the simple medium
contracts, and the fact that these co
tracts would at all times be subject
merce commission, would prevent ;
abuses and evasions Of the law.
this claim is correct, the protestan
against the original conference repc
have founded these protests on premis
which will not stand inspection, and
it. comes to pass that the house &C
ferees are anxious to stand by th'
twill they be able SO to stands''
today asked one Of the house leadt
who is in the confidence of the CT
Hangerson Suspected.
.:"I do not know" he replied: It "
depend entirely upon whether the co,
try generally can be made to see Il
system Of contracts: which the n
ways are perfectly willing to make y
protect all persons who are deservi
Of protection. In my Judgment, t
agitation. SO far as the employees
concerned, has been started and k
up by a class of, hangers-on in the r
road business, men Who could not 4
r.. DOCTOR EXPLAINS
His Article in the Medical Magaz