Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-01
PASS FRAUDS ON GREAT NORTH.
ERN DEVELOP PEoNAGE
FEATURES.
DEVELOPMENTS INDICATE
MANY ROADS ARE INVOLVED
Scheme Was to Call for Large Crews
of Common Laborers, Draw Passes
for Them and Then Sell the Trans
professionalism Implicated Now Aid
ing Authorities in Investigation.

Minneapolis Jan. millions of dol
lars lost by fraud where only thous-
ands were indicated, and condition
of peonage existing in labor employ-
ment in the northwest, are late de-
velopments from the Great Northern
"trip pass" Irregularities. Confined at
flrst, apparently, to the Great North
ern, the fraud is now believed to af-
feet many other roads as we'll.
A widespread system of trafficing in
irregular passes is now believed to be
so extensive that it will bring the
losses into great figures and in connec-
tlon disclosures are coming t, light
concerning the levying of montaly as
sessments upon laborers by employing
companies or Individuals The rail-
ROADS are making a searching inquiry
thru every department where informa-
ton may be found and the labor COM
missioner has taken up the charges
and is investigating
State Labor Commissioner w. f. Nc
Even and the Great Northern road are
|
spread system of peonagc on the Me-
saba 4 Eastern divisions of the road
thousands of dollars have been taken
IN by officials of The Great Northern.
/ 1t IS said. working in collision with
some employment agents and Greeks,
/ Who lhru their ability TO interpret
We're leaders among the laborers.
Arrests are hourly expected as a re-
suit Of the investigation
The labor Inspector Is probing condi-
tions from the standpoint OF the Ia
/ oorers. He said today that the affair
/ probably does not constitute a Grim
i mai oflense. but that the men will
probably pool their interests and be-
gin civil suit 10 recover.
! The railroad is in different posi-
ton. Its loss comes thru The disposal
oil passes 10 others than those fov whom
they We're issued. Just who shared
the reke-otf is not known. hut the
iINes -isaaen points to certain minor
officials OF the roaa.
/ Greek as CO. Between.
J The man who was The go-between is
/ said 10 be John rasgas a Greek living
1t Superior, whose income is said to
nave been several hundred dollars
i month. Affidavits have been made
showing that he collected 81 a month
) regularly from many laborers. and that
in many instances the payments were
as high as s12.
It Many of the payments We're made
under protest being deducted from pay
checks. The railroad is taking care of
4 its side OF the case at St Paul
/ That nearly every road running into
the northwest has suffered from frauds
perpetrased By employment agents to
the same extent as the Great Northern
is the belief OF those Interested in the
/ investigation. Special Agent All Ray,
I on the par of the Great Northern, has
discovered whore office collision made
the plots Of the labor agents easy to
Gerry out on that road but it is under
stood that the other companies have
suffered 10 a great extent thru the lack
/ vi inve legations.
The roads which are the principal
sufferers in the northwest are the Great
Northern, Northern Pacific, 500 and
+ Milwaukee,. Each of these lines enters
( the grain fields of western Minnesota
and the Dakotas. The supply of farm
laborers annually imported to harvest
I the crops is hauled by the roads, and
it is estimated that less than 10 per
cent of the laborers pay even the re-
4 duced rate put into effect by the trans
/ portation companies.
/ Estimates of the amount of money
/ lost to the roads thru the manipu-
parts of the country, run as high as
! ar 1oc
four years have been prolific of new
railroad construction in the Dakotas,
Montana, Idaho and Washington. In
addition to the new work, several mill
lion dollars have been spent by the
companies in improving the track, lay
ing new rails, Strengthening curves, and
other similar work. The demand for
laborers has exceeded the supply at
tpeared at a local employment office
was given transportation to some point
in the northwest
How Plan Worked.
Estimates of the number of men who
were shipped by the companies run as
high as $4,000, counting all roads.
Figuring second class fares for each
person would bring the amount over
IllS llrVL IilllllOli lIdIh ANU LIE lluilQGI
of laborers who actually worked for
the railroads is less than 10 per cent
of the number shipped.
The plan under which the employ
ments agents worked is to secure a
contract with the companies by which
the agent agrees to furnish so many
laporers, usually FOR track work, which
requires only common labor. The agent
does not have to make am examination
of the men, as any of them will do the
work of railway grading. That makes
it easy for him to accept any person
who enters the office.
A man who desires to go to Montana
for any reason can go to the employ
ment agent and tell him his troubles.
The nearest railroad work is selected
and the man is ostensibly hired to work
for the company at that place. He is
given a pass by the agent, who takes
him to the point designated. After he
arrives there, he forgets to appear at
the railroad office and goes to the point
for which he started. ALI he paid for
his trip is the office fee of the employ
ment agent.
RAIL MILEAGE GROWING.