Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-30
PREACHERS CAN RIDE.
Commerce Commission Rules That
Half Fares Still Prevail,

Commerce Commission Rules That
Half Fares Still Prevail.
The interstate commerce commission
has recently issued ruling which
will be of interest to all preachers who
are not actively engaged in preaching
but who may be engaged in college,
charitable or missionary work In effect
they are still entitled to ministers rates
on railroads. The ruling follows:
The commission is in receipt of a
large number of protests against the
construction placed upon that provis
ion of the act to regulate commerce
which authorizes the issue of free or
reduced rate transportation to minis
tiers of religion and persons exclusively
engaged in charitable and eleemosy-
nary work The clergy bureau of the
Trans Continental Passenger associa-
tion has issued circular letter repre-
senting that, as a result of certain rul-
ings of the commission, special trans
portation privileges must be withdrawn
from many persons to whom they have
hitherto been accorded The classes
particularly affected by this action are
those comprehended by Rules 8, 10, II,
II and IA of the trans-continental
clergy bureau, reading as follows:
Rule 9-Ordained clergymen acting
as editors of officially recognized
church paper.
Rule 1O.-Ordained clergymen acting
as college presidents or professors.
Rule 11.-Ordained clergymen acting
as financial agents for church, relig
ious, or charitable institutions, includ-
ing educational institutions under
church government.
Rule 12.-Ordained clergymen en-
gagged in Christian temperance or Y.
/ NJ c. A. work.
( Rule 14.-Brothers of religious orders,
Sisters of Charity, devoting their en-
tire time to religious work, who habit
ually wear garb distinctive of their
order Applications to be made in the
legal name of applicant, the religious
name also to be shown, and to be in
dorsed by the head of the institution
with which connected; name of order
or institution with which connected
must always be given.
The commission takes this occasion
to state that the position taken by the
trans continental clergy bureau is far
in advance of anything required by the
law or the rulings of the commission.
Reasonably interpreted, the ruling to
which reference is made by the trans
continental clergy bureau can not pos
siblv necessitate the drastic action
which it has taken. For information of
carriers and the general public, we take
this opportunity to express our views
in terms that, it is hoped will not be
of mi CT
A clergyman does not lose his min
isteria! standing by reason of the fact
that he leaves the pastorate for some
other field of religious activity. A min
| lister who becomes editor of a church
paper, instructor in theological SEM
| mary, financial agent for a church or
| other religious institution, or who en-
cages in other work which may fairly
be regarded as religious in character.
land who does not abandon his minis
terial WORK, may legally be accorded
specia. transportation privileges.
| The courts have been consistently
liberal in giving construction to the
words "chaitable" and eleemosynary,
and we see no reason for being unduly
narrow in Interpreting these words as
found in the act. A charitable lnstltu-
ton is one which is administered III lie
public interest, and in which the ele-
/ ment of private gain is wanting. rms
/ definition is broad enough to include
hospitals almshouses, orphanagss,
asylums. and missionary societies. rms
enumeration is not intended to be ex-
clusive-it is only representative. 1t IS
important to note that such an lnstl-
i tuition does not necessarily lose us
! charitable character by reason OF the
fact that it is under the management
of a particular denomination or sect,
or because a charge is collected from
some or all of those who enjoy It's
privileges. 1t is only necessary that 1t
be conducted in the public interest and
not for private gain.
The commission entertains no DOUBT
that carriers subject to the act may
| legally grant free or reduced rate trans
portation to some persons who may be
included in any class comprehended by
rules 9, 10, II, - and IA, of the trans
continental clergy bureau. We can not
undertake to pass upon Individual
cases. 1T is believed that no carrier,