The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-07-15
THE WAY To GET
AN IDEAL PLAN
Of Reform is Pointed Out
by Our Correspondent.
WHY TIE The :, HANDS
Of the Governor When He
Would Fix it Right if
He Had a Legislature
Which Would Co.
operate?
Only One Capital and That at Oyster
Bay-Want Taft to be Aggressive
Can't Beat Harmon TO Please
Taft.


Judson Harmon's veto of the baggage
bill" which was recently passed by
the Ohio legislature measure de-
signed to allow the transportation OF
freight as personal baggage, on pass
enger trains-has called attention to
the attempts to enact similar bills in
other legislatures and In congress. The
fact that such laws would greatly de-
lay passenger service, through forcing
passenger trains to do freight trian
business, is chiefly responsible for the
opposition.
The support for the measure comes
from the class of merchants and COM
mercial travellers who would have the
privilege of shipping unlimited quanti-
ties of goods, to be delivered on sale,
at express speed at extremely low
rates.
In addition to the baggage bills
presented in state legislatures, no less
than four were introduced in con-
gress at the last session. They are
now "hibernating" until efforts for
their passage can be renewed when
congress meets again.
MANY anu ingenious are lHN
schemes resorted to in order to ship
merchandise free as baggage. 1t is
no rare thing, for instance, to hear
some one asking in a crowded wait
ing room IL there Is any one going to
a given point without baggage. When
such a person is found the inquirer
seeks to borrow his ticket in order to
check $50 pounds or freight.
Governor Harmon's vote of the
Ohio bill explains the purposes of
such measures. The governor says:
Not only the samples, ETC., but
also the goods and wares of COM
travellers or their employers,
when packed in trunks or sample
cases. are declared to be baggage to
be carried free up to $50 pounds, and
all in excess at the same rate as ordl-
nary excess personal baggage. The
rate per this fixed by the bill is that
now generally prevailing, i.e., one
sixth of the regular passenger fare
per 100 pounds, which is less on many
articles than the ordinary freight rates
thereon, though-thes serxiee required
by the bill Is equivalent to shipment
by express.
There Is a natural limit to the or
dinary personal baggage which trav-
elers have, but there Is none to the
goods, wares, etc, that salesman
may take, and the bill fixes no limit.
Many kinds of goods may be taken
along for delivery on sale. Thus the
ordinary capacity of passenger trains
for carrying baggage would soon prove
In ttAn trou ualinu in
would be put to delays through the
loading and unloading of large
amounts of merchandise. The same
result would follow from the require
ment of the bill that such excess bag
gage, whatever its amount, must be
carried on the next train having a
baggage car after delivery at the sta
tlon, no matter how near the time of
departure. This would cause confu-
sion of running schedules and the be-
lating of trains.
This bill plainly grants special fa-
vors to dealers who sell through COM
mercial travellers and to travellers who
sell on their own account. Their sam
pies, goods, ETC., must be carried as
baggage at low rate on the very
1T otolioil
without regard to conditions. All 9th
er dealers must ship their goods by
express or freight and can require
of the carrier only reasonable dill
gence In shipment and delivery. The
special privileges granted by the bill
are limited In terms to commercial
travellers or their employers. While
these play a most useful part in the
business of the country, they have no
title to preference at the hands OF
public servants whose duty runs to
all citizens alike"
1t Is interesting to find that the de-
lays pointed out as possible are ac'
tually occurring in Indiana which has
baggage law. To cite a specific ex.
ample, a heavy Lake Shore through
train last winter was held up by a
commercial traveller who insisted upor
his right to have $500 pounds Of
merchandise put aboard 1t. Owing e
bad weather, 1t was impossible Il
make up lost time, and as a result o.
the delay, three hundred passenger!
missed their connections.