Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-05-30
HALF FARE PERMIT Of
MINISTER taken UP
Action Taken, It Is Alleged,
Because Of Activity on the
Part of Preacher to Secure
More Reasonable Rates on
Freight.

Charging that his clergyman's half
fare permit has been cancelled for the
purpose of intimidating, bull doing or
bribing him to cease his activities as a
member of the Farmers Union of Ad-
ans county in seeking to obtain fair,
Just and reasonable freight rates on
the Pacific & Idaho Northern railroad,
Rev. H II. Abrams, of that county, has
just filed a complaint with the public
utilities commission asking that an or
der of that commission be issued pro-
htbiting that railroad, and e. NJ
Heigho, Its manager, from discrimi-
mating against him In favor of other
clergymen and directing that his per-
NIT be restored to him
The complaint, which was prepared
and filed by Parker ". Lucas, of New
Meadows, sets forth that the plaintiff
is regularly ordained minister of the
gospel devoting his time to Christian
work in Indian valley, Adams county,
and that on Jan. s. 1914, the defendant
company, in accordance with the rules
of that company and in full compliance
with the laws of the state. issued to
him clerical half-rate permit, No. ST.
Fight Against Unjust Rates.
He then sets forth that In March fol-
lowing that he became identified with
the Farmers union of Adams county in
its movement to reduce the alleged un-
just and unreasonable freight rates
charged by the defendant company and
that in pursuance with this good pur-
pose 1t became necessary to complain
of these rates to the public utilities
commission and to criticise publicly e.
M. Heigho. the president and general
manager of the defendant corporation
and that thereby this plaintiff incurred
the displeasure and ill-will OF said de-
fendant company and of it's president
and general manager, e. M. Heigho."
The complaint then sets forth az fol-
lows:
shortly thereafter tho defendant
took plaintiff to task about his connec-
ton with the aforesaid complaint that
had been made by the said F'armers'
union, saying in effect, that inasmuch
as plaintiff was the beneficiary of a
courtesy at the hands of the defend
ant company that his connection with
the said Farmers union complaint was
not proper and was displeasing to de-
fendant, and that unless plaintiff could
see the error OF his ways his especial
privilege in the matter of rates In
transportation would be taken away.
In other words, advising plaintiff that
If he did not withdraw from the COM
plant alleging the defendants freight
rates were unfair. unreasonable and un-
just, his clergyman.s half-rate permit
would be taken up. And plaintiff be-
lieves. and therefore alleges that this
attitude was shown and this action
taken in an attempt to coerce. bull
doze. influence or bribe plaintiff to
said complaint and to cause
plaintiff to unduly influence his frienda
neighbors and associates to drop the
matter of the alleged unjust and un.
freight rates charged By
said defendant company.
Permit ls Annulled.
THAT thereafter, to-wit, on the 4th
day of May, 1914, the defendant COM
pany cancelled, annulled. and requested
plaintiff to return, their said clerical
half rate permit No. 81.
THAT by cancelling plaintiffs cler-
lcal half-rate permit the defendant has
shown a preference and advantage to
other clergymen, and has acted to the
prejudice and disadvantage OF this
plaintiff in the matter of rate and
charges, and in the further respect that
plaintiff will be permanently and irre-
parably damaged and placed at dis
advantage inasmuch as in every appli-
cation plaintiff makes to any railroad
in the country for the issuance to him
Of clerical half-rate permit one of the
questions asked Is Has your permit
ever been taken up? If SO, whyT or
words to that effect, and IL 1t must APP
pear that plaintiff has had his permit