The Washington times., 1915-06-03
@ uNoERt~ooO , G<AI0E1N>ooO =
NEW BAGGAGE LAW
Anglers TRAVELLERS
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checks opened up with a greater hush
today and there was "cussing" and
condemnation Of tho Government" in
almost every railroad station in the
land. The majority Of travellers, OF
course, took the new regulation with
good grace, but the man or woman with
two minutes to catch a train was mani
festly impatient over what he called
red tape"
rs your baggage worth moro than
$l00?' one wrathful traveller was ask
ed at the Union Station here.
why. h no. You can have the
whole blamed thing for 81. Why have
/ got to so through all this foolish,
ness?
To Encourage Promptness.
One effect Of the new law. railroad
men say, will be to encourage the hab-
it of getting to trains earlier. The
last-minute-man will be q rarity. and
likely enough. will also be left.
A circular issued by one OF the rail-
roads in explanation Of the new law
"A charge Of 10 cents for each 500 or
fraction thereof over this amount Will
be levied in consideration of the extra
misdemeanor for passengers to misrep-
resent the value Of baggage.
"One result of the workings of the
Cummins act will be that passengers
for checking of baggage at stations.
The company anticipates that there Will
be many instances where passengers
will be irritated because they are re-
quired to fill out declaration OF tho
value Of the baggage. For that reason,
1t is endeavoring to acquaint the travel
ing public as much as possible with the
provisions OF this law, which leaves the
railroad no course to pursue but that
outlined above.
The declared purpose Of the Cummins
amendment was to define and fix the
liability OF railroads for Interstate
goods in transit. The amendment pro-
Amy common carrier, railroad or
transportation company receiving prop
erty for transportation from q point In
one State to a point In another State
therefor, and shall be liable to the law
full holder thereof for any loss, damage
or injury to such property caused by 1t
or by any common carrier, railroad or
transportation company to which such
property may be delivered, or over
whose line or lines such property may
pass, and no contract, receipt, rule or
regulation shall exempt such common
pany from the liability hereby i'm
posed"
May Sue For Loss.
1t also provides that nothing in the
new law shall deprive the owner OF
the goods from suing for loss or
damage.
The law next says that any COM
mon carrier, railroad or transporta-
ton company receiving property, to be
carried from one state to another or
abroad "shall issue receipt or Dill
of lading therefor and shall pe hapie
loss, damage or injury to such property
caused by 1t or by common carrier"
No conotract, receipt or regulation
shall exempt the common carrier from
such liability.
The amendment then goes on to say
that 'if the goods are hidden from
view by wrapping, boxing or other
means. or the carrier is not notified
carrier may require the shipper to
specifically state in writing the value
of the goods. and the carrier shall not
be liable beyond the amount so spe-
terstate Commerce Commission may es-
tablish and maintain rates for tran
sportation. dependent upon the value of
the property shipped as specifically
stated in writing by the shipper
When q question was raised as to
whether baggage was included in the
amendment, the Interstate Commerce
Commission decided that the words
hidden ffOm view would apply TO
baggage.
The railroads heretofore have limited
their liability for a piece of baggage
to 500.
Cannot Limit Liability.
Under the new law the railroads can
not limit their liability for damage to
or loss of baggage unless they get from
each person checking baggage a decla-
ration of its value. The value thus de-
clared then constitutes the maximum
amount recoverable from the railroad.
An Insurance charge is the term
applied by the railroads to the dime
they impose for each $40 valuation
above 500. These charges are levied,
says the Pennsylvania railroad in a
statement to the public, 'inconsidera-
ton of the extra liability assumed"
According to the statements last
night by terminal baggage officials
here, no extra men were required to
handle the first days business. The
valuation checks may require. 1t was
added, extra checks in some az the ac-
counting departments
All the roads have issued orders to
their employees not to check interstate
baggage unless valuation checks are
obtained. These checks will be kept
on record six months. Transfer COM