The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-06-07
MANY TRAVELLERS MISS
THEIR TRAINS BY DELAY
Penalty Will Be imposed for Error
Slips Provided by Railroad Com
panies For This Purpose-No Par
eel Checked for Interstate Trans
portation Without This Formally.

The new United States baggage law
is now in effect throughout the coun-
try, and some of the maddest men
(and women, too ever seen in a pas
Senger station hereabOuts are making
that fact plain to everybody in sound
of their voices.
What the travelling men haven't
said about the "cussed" law, the Gus
sed' government, and the "cussed"
railroads might look well in print but
what they did say, never would.
Fortunately for the hundreds of stu
dents of Hattiesburg and Forrest
county, a majority of them had re-
turned to their respective schools be-
fore the new law went into effect
Consequently they suffered no incon-
venience But the travelling men,
two or three score of whom were in
Hattiesburg yesterday spending Sun
day after the close of the Mississippi
Travelling Mems Association meeting
in Laurel, have had some experience
with it, already.
Value Declaration Required.
The new federal statute practically
requires a declaration of value from
every interstate traveller. The statute
makes it a misdemeanor, punishable
by fine or Imprisonment, or both to
state falsely the value of baggage.
All of the important railroads of the
country use by common agreement
the same device in facilitating bust
ness, a printed slip on which the
traveller signs his name and declares
the value-whether over or under
800, and, of over the limit, the exact
amount. This will work alright the
railroad officials say, except in those
cases when a fellow dashes up to the
depot a minute before time for his
train to depart.
what the dickens is this?' yelled
man at the New Orleans & North
eastern railroad depot this morning
as he slammed his suitcase down and
glared at the white slip and then at
his watch. 1--WE got just two minutes
to catch that Meridian train. Lemme
or TaiI II fn
But it was all in vain. He had to
sign, and when last seen he was run.
ming for his train.
The Rates.
For every $100 of declared value OF
baggage over the 500 carried free,
the railroads collect 10 cents. One
quick effect of the law, officials of
the Mississippi Central, the G. &c S. l.
the Northeastern and other railroads
entering Hattiesburg, will be to make
people start earlier for their train.
Another effect is expected to be a re-
duction in the amount of baggage car
ried. Another consequence will be, it
is predicted, that valuable luggage
hereafter will go by express instead
of as baggage, or else will be carried
by hand. In other ways, it is said,
the express companies will benefit by
the new law.
Any common carrier, railroad or
transportation company receiving
property for transportation from a
point in one state to a point in anoth-
er state shall issue a receipt or bill
of lading therefor, and shall be liable
to the lawful holder thereof for any
loss, damage or injury to such. prop
erty caused by it or by any common
carrier, railroad or transportation
company to which such property may
be delivered, or over whose line OF
lines such property may pass, and nc
contract, receipt, rule or regulation
shall exempt such common carrier
railroad or transportation company
from the liability hereby imposed.
1t also provides that nothing in the
new law shall deprive the owner oi
the goods from suing for loss or dam
age.