Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-17
CHRISTMAS SHIPS
CARGO GOES FREE
Railroads Have Permission to Garry
Shipments to New York With
out Freight Charges.
OMAHA ROADS GET INTO LINE
Local Freight Traffic Men All Eager
20 Help Out in what They En-
dOrse as Being n Great and
Grand Enterprise.


Again the United States government
has shown Its approval of the Christmas
Ship project.
first. President Wilson gave the plan
his unqualified approval Then, through
the office of the secretary OF state, the
representatives OF the governments OF
Europe, now at war, were approached.
and their consent to the sending Of the
ship and it's cargo In safety was gotten.
Then the secretary OF the navy prom
Used to detail a vessel or the United States
navy TO carry the cargo.
Now comes the Interstate Commerce
commission, and gives Its permission to
the railroads OF the United States to
carry free all shipments for the Christmas
Ship. without this permission, the
roads would have been compelled under
the law to charge full rates on all the
goods sent on the ship. This, of course,
would have been very dstastefri TO them
for they are always ready and eager TO
help in such a good cause.
Omaha Roads VIII Help.
The Omaha-Chicago roads will all aid
The Bee In sending a shipload OF Christ
mas gifts to the children of Europe who
AS soon as the news came yesterday,
announcing that the Interstate Commerce
commission had granted the railroads OF
the country permission to haul free Of
charge enough presents and good things
to fiji the Christmas ship that the news
papers Of the United States propose
sending, representatives of the lines be-
tween Omaha and Chicago announced
IL tn -
is the way the Omaha representatives Of
the lines received the information:
II. H. Holcomb, general freight agent
of the Burlington-It's a noble work and
am glad that the Interstate Commerce
commission has taken the view OF the
situation 1t has OF course, the order
will have to come from our general
freight office in Chicago, but unquestion-
ably we will haul all the goods that are
turned over to us and do 80 free Of
charge. We have always responded to
the calls Of charity. We hauled free sup
plies to the earthquake sufferers of Cali
forna and upon many occasions the
Burlington has been among the first to
offer aid in the way of Transporting
supplies free of charge.
other Roads Are Eager.
Eugene Duval. assistant general west
ern agent Of the Milwaukee-We will
await Instructions from the Chicago Of
fees, but the Milwaukee will be found
ready to do Its share. The Bee has taken
up a grand work. and 1 believe the peo-
pie of the central west will respond lib
orally and that it will be an. easy mat
ter to secure goodly portion of a ship
load of Christmas cheer right here in
Nebraska, where there Ia plenty and to
spare. The Milwaukee can be depended
upon TO do its share. =
Ed Hennesey, commercial agent Of the
Rock 1sland-I am without positive au-
thority to speak for the Rock Island. but
I can say that it will be among the first
of the western roads to offer its facili-
ties for handling free of charge every
thing that the people of Omaha and Ne
braska desire to send to the little or
phans of the war zone of Europe. This
road is on record as doing much in the
way of charity. and am certain that
this will be one OF the times when II
will be found doing its share.
John Mellen. general agent OF the
Northwestern-Of course, free Of charge
we will haul as far east as our lines ex-
tend all presents that it is desired to send
to the orphans in the war zone Of Eu-
rope. We hauled free carloads OF sup
plies to the California earthquake suf-
ferers few years ago. We have often
hauled free seed grain to districts where
crops have failed and many times we
have done the same thing in transport
ing provisions. The Northwestern can be
counted upon.
c. ]. Chisam. assistant general freight
agent of the Chicago g. Great Western
I have not received any information
from our Chicago headquarters. but
don't hesitate to say that the Great
Western will aid The Bee in getting &c
the orphans of the European war zone
one or even more shiploads of Christmas
cheer. The movement undertaken by
The Bee should have the support OF all
citizens and they should respond liSer'
ally. We are going to help and that free
of charge to Chicago, the eastern
terminals of our lines, all the stuff that
is consigned TO US viii be hauled. We
will be ready TO take all that is Offered
and deliver 1t safely to the roads that
will transport It from Chicago to New
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