Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-06-11
BAGGAGE IS insured
BY FEW Travellers
Most People Seem Content
To Run Chance
OF Loss
INDIGNANT OVER
THE NEW LAW

That small number Of persons in
Nilmiugton intend to take advantage
of the increase In baggage check rates
With its accompanying insurance
AGAINST loss, provided by the Cummins
amendment TO the Interstate commerce
act. is indicated by the experience OF
the haggagomasters at the Ponnsyl-
yania railroad passenger station,
since the law went into effect last
Thursday While the number or
pieces of baggage insured has been
Comparatively low, there is expected
10 he an Increase as tho result Of the
tourist travel to mountain and sea-
shore resorts this summer. So far the
pieces Of baggage insured have been
principally of persons travelling from
Wilmington to some of the larger cit
les like New York, Baltimore and
Washington.
The amendment requires all inter-
state travellers TO declare definitely
the value Of their baggage. IL does
not apply TO baggage which is not to
be carried outside of the State, but It
does apply to all interstate baggage
and a slip on which the valuation is
carried must he signed by the passcn-
ger. The new law has brought forth
particularly the indignation Of persons
who make Il habit of catching their
trains on the margin of a minute or
two
All baggage rooms are now provid-
ed with blank slips on which the
passenger, who dispatches baggage
coming under the interstate commerce
law. must declare the value of his
baggags. and. IL II is valued at over
500. he must pay an insurance tariff
Of ten cents on each 500, or fraction
thereof, over the original 500.
While the new law, in going into
effect. caused considerable confusion
and delay az some railroad points,
during the first few days, there was
absolutely no delay OF confusion at
the local baggage Offices. No trouble
is experienced until business shows
an Increase. AT some stations consid-
cradle baggage was delayed because
of the necessity for the owner of
each trunk TO make out valuation
elip. Extra clerks will be needed at
many Of the terminal points during
the summer months IL Is suggested
that travellers take a little more time
when they are on a trip, as IL means
three minutes of train time With a
trunk TO check.
II is the opinion of employees Of bag
gage rooms that undoubtedly scores
of ncrsons are shipping baggage real
~ worth over 500, but that they
seem content 10 run the chance Of
loss and when they come up to siel
their declarations, they invariably
40, La
Railway officials believe that as a re
suit of the new law there will be
marked decrease Of tho weight of lug
gage used by travellers.
Some of the travelling men, esne
cially dealers in iewelry and furs, are
hard hit by the new baggage law
Jewelry dealers advance the argument
that their goods are insured and they
care nothing about the liability of tho
railroads. However. the law is very
strict. and no exception is made Of
them
The baggage agent has no way o
telling whether or not a trunk con
tains baggage worth over 500, and h'
simply has to take the declaration o.
The shipper. II he chooses 10 say tina
his baggage Is worth only S100, whel
ID is really worth more, there Is n
way TO force him 20 tell the truth, hu
If the baggage should be lost or dam
aged. his power Of recovery will thel
be limited TO the declaration.
travellers will get used TO tho aey
law in time" a baggage man said res
terday. Persons in a hurry to cato
trains have kicked a goUd deal, hu
when we explain about the new Lax
they become pacihed. We have simDli