The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-09-13
- CCTN-N. { ~ + x
< -AE 60 - :. - =
Passenger Agent IS no Longer Wor-
ried by Callers Who Want Free
Transportation.

Dallas (TeNas) News.
The general passenger agent Of
great railroad system is lonely man
Just now. In his office he sits, rub
bering at the door and elongating his
neck like an excited mud turtle until
boy nonchalantly approaches with
a wet yellow telegram that informs
him the Interstate Commerce Com
mission refuses to countenance rates
in circular No. 24,765, ,S76, and that he
must give two years notice notice be-
fore operating the excursion next
month. He is lonesome because the
pass seeker is no more.
Formerly he was noted for his af-
fable manners and the glad grip he
gave hands. He was priced as a
means to an end, and personal ac-
quaintance with him was valued above
rubbles for not with a wave Of his
hand or a scratch Of his pen send a
person withersoever he would 60?
When he reached a point where he
could slap people on the back, give
them a cigar and send them dazed in
to the street without the pass they
asked for, yet with feeling Of glad
ness that they had called, he was
slated for promotion. Railroads don't
like to offend people, not even those
who demand passes when they have
as much right to demand freight cars
for play houses for their offspring.
And at a time, too, when freight cars
are being fought for by Shippers.
Many are troubled or oppressed. The
trouble because they we're broke, the
oppre, 49, because railroad charged
for Pas. se. To them he would lend
a svmpthetic ear. until the ear would
look and feel like pnonograph horn
in popular five-cent movlng-plcture
show.
If he couldn't give a pass, owing to
some severe strain Of rules IN case
he did, his duty was to break the sad
news so gently the seeker would feel
that the road loved him like a broth
er and that the directors, aye, even
the stockholders, we're weeping be-
cause he couldn't get IT.
Many and various were the people
who asked for passes and for reduc-
ed rates Many and var,ous were rne
reasons they gavefor it, ranging from
allegation that the seeker had once
saved a train from wreck to the TACT
that some years ago he shipped a
pig from Minneapolis and that it
went over the company;s lines for
three miles. More often there was no
reason at all.
But it has been changed now. The
ink has grown dark on the stubs OF
the once rapidly-thinning passbook'
The bench where the seekers sat and
awaited their turn to soak the rail-
road man for transportation is filled
with dust. The suspicious glare IS
fading from the CHIEF clerks eyes
and he is becoming actually compan-
ionable, when he sees man come IN
\ he does not associate him with pas
(ses. he sometimes thinks he may be
intending adding to me conscience
fund.
But the general passenger agent Is
lonely. But for the myriad rules and
orders of the Interstate Commerce
| Commission and the Railroad Com
mission of his state he would be drlv-
en- to the golf links every afternoon
about 1910. His face is losing that
look Of affability that once charac-
terized it. The smile that would mt
come off is fading under the lonell-
mess.
For nobody comes for passes. His
skill in the gentle art of throwing
people off the track is disappearing
His keen wit is rusting diSgracefully.
It's awfully tame ~.
The people who have to travel have
welded to the inevitable and buy
tickets from the city Office. He never
sees them. The Office clerks come
+ and 60, and he is weary Of seeing
their hair parted in the middle. He
knots what muscle the railroad busi-
! ness has left him and yearns for con-
flict with the promoter of some
would-be magazine with visionary
circulation who seeks to have him ad-
Vertise to the extent Of II mileage