Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-24
Obnoxious Regulation.

he TeSuIatlOn fedQS dS 1OllOWS.
Baskets or open boxes of marketing.
groceries, vegetables. ice, bags of bread.
ordinary bundles of dry goods weighing
sixty pounds or less, when accompanied
by commuters and not intended for sale
or profit, will be taken by baggagemasters
free Of charge. When packages weigh
the express company.
Articles destined to stations where the
railway has no agents must be claimed at
baggage car on arrival of train; II not so
station at which an agent is located.
Articles Of the above nature must be Sc
curely packed and addressed to the
owner.
shipments must be claimed as soon as
possible after arrival at stations to which
stored, except at owners risk. The COM
pany will not be responsible for loss or
damage to any shipment.
Commuters in sending such articles to
fore departure OF trains and see whether
or not the articles come within the rule
above prescribed and the limit of sixty
pounds"
Under this regulation the commuter had
to be present in person. be identified by
the conductor. personally claim his bag
gage In the baggage room and see that 1t
was loaded on the baggage car.
The freight rates committee of the
Chamber of Commerce took the matter up
with Col. L. g. Brown. general agent Of
the railway company, explained to him
the Inconvenience OF the ruling to COM
muters and asked its modification.
Railroad Modifies Rule.
His reply. under date of November 3d.
states. in part. as follows:
"Since establishment Of the 18th street
substation 1t is not convenient for pas
senEers in all cases to go to the onion
station in order to identify their pack
ages and attend to the shipping. which Is
required by our present rule and as en-
bodied In last clause Of the rules quoted
above. Therefore we have been requested
to 70 modify that portion Of our rule as
to permit such Of our commuters as desire
to have the groceries. ETC., delivered at
the Union station baggage room by deliv-
cry wagon. and then forwarded by the
baggage master to their respective home
stations.
I'VE desire to permit this arrangement
and to place 1t in effect SO far as the
Southern railway Is concerned imme-
diately.
THAT portion of our rule, therefore.
will be that the commuters In buying
groceries. etc, will place their name and
address. together with the form and num-
Der of communication ticket. on the pack
age or packages. forwarding the same to
the Union station and delivered to the
baggage master and by him forwarded
on proper train, the leaving time Of which
should also be shown on the package SO
there will be no mistake as to the bag
gage master placing it on the proper
train.
Please acknowledge receipt and say II
clearly understood, so that all of our pa
irons and others interested can be advised
accordingly OF this modification in our
rules.
1.-The above is fully explanatory and
trust covers the situation thoroughly and
satisfactorily to all concerned. I presume
1t will be your pleasure to give this in
formation to the gentleman making the
complaint. as shown in your letter of
October Fl. and to disseminate the infor-
nation generally for the benefit of other
commuters interested. All Washington
agents have been properly instructed