Milford chronicle., 1919-09-12
UNCLE TED'S
BEDTIME STORIES
Current Events for the Children
and Grown-Ups, Too!
FREE RIDES ON UNCLE SAN

it's so. Billy Jones showed me the
pieces of printed cardboard and said
that whenever his father and mother
wanted to ride on the trains they lust
show those cards to the conductor and
they don't have to pay anything at all.
Now what's up?" It was Uncle
Ted just coming up the steps. What
are my little kiddies talking abou.
tonight?'
Jack explained it all to Uncle Ted
and they all sat down after our hero
had promised to tell all about how
many people are riding on trains with
out paying.
Two weeks ago." began Uncle Ted.
Il told you all about the railroads
and what the men want to do who run
the trains. Before the government
started running the railroads of the
country they were run by private COM
panies. The heads of the many lines
rangements so that they, and mem
rangements to that they, and men,
bers of their families, could get what
they called passes and ride on the
trains without charge. When the gov
ernment took charge of the railroads
il meant that every man, woman and
child in the United States had an in 1
terest in the roads in some way or
another. Our country was at war
Every bit of space on all trains was
needed to transport soldiers and food. I
When people wanted to ride on the
trains they not only had to pav the
usual price for riding and the usual
price for place to sleep in what are
called Pullman cars, but they also had
TO pay an extra amount of money call
ed a tax. That is still true today. If
l want to go to another city l buy
my ticket and pay cents for every
mile 1 travel, and in addition I pay
a tax of per cent on that sum, If II
must travel at night 1 must pay an
other sum of money for riding in a
sleeping car, and another tax of per
cent of that sum in addition. So you
see, children, it costs a lot of money
to travel now"
But how about people like Billy
Jones' father and mother who have
passes?" asked Jack.
when William Gibbs McAdoo was
General of the railroads and
also Secretary of the Treasury he said +
he intended to cut down that number
of free rides on trains to a very few g
But it now seems that he did not cut
the number of passes down but must
have allowed a great number to be f
given out. If it had not been for {
Senator Truman H. Newberry of Mich
gan, we might never have known of c
this matter. Senator Newberry was h
travelling on a train not long ago, hav-
ing paid his fare and war tax, when I,
he noticed a travelling companion who f
lad a pass good over all the railroads 7
n the States. The Senator didn't like n
his, for the railroads are still being h
'un by the government, and the peo- "
Die, by paying taxes, are helping to P
'un them. When he got back to Wash s
ngton he told the Senate about it and h
large number of the Senators agreed
With him. Mr. Walker d. Hines is 6
low Director General of Railroads, f.
IT. McAdoo having quit to become a ei
awyer for a company of moving pic Nj
ure stars, including Charlie Chaplin F
nd Mary Pickford The Senators told M
Ir. Hines to send them a report of all
he passes issued by the Rrailroad n.
othing ?" asked Ruth. al
NO" replied Uncle Ted, che cannot N
ide for nothing so far as Mr. Hines W
eport shows, but it was discovered L
hat Mr.. McAdoo, who no longer has
ny more to do with the railroads Fl
han l have, has a pass good on every a
DAD in the country! Mrs. McAdoo, A
Tho is a daughter of President Wilson,
Obert H. McAdoo, son, and Miss S. re
IcAdoo, a daughter of William G. Nc 10
doc, also have passes for all lines. m
hey are also able to ride on sleeping
lrs for nothing"
Why should they all ride for moth II
lg when we have to pay our fare and III
TX besides?" asked Jack. =
They shouldn't" said his uncle,
nd l will tell you why in a minute.
Ow Mr.. Hines report showed alscl
lat 4,200 passes good on all lines have
cen given by the railroad admins
alton and up to the first of last Juy
My 119 had been taken back, which
lows that 4,0S1 people are still rid
g on trains without paying any mon
2. This number does not include
asses given to men actually working
r the railroads, and it does not in
ude passes given for single trips.
does not include 1880 wives, daugh-
RS, sons, other relatives and near
latives of railroad heads and officials
the railroad administration who
de for nothing, and 1,096 OF the same
nd of people riding free on sleeping
RS. All this may not seem import
1t to some people, but here is why it
fc lot of % a
wing the government not only keep
running the railroads bu, take
arge of them altogether and never
IN them back to the private COM
mics If this were done many of
ose in government positions who
uld do it would offer passes like
ese in exchange for some favor to
Up keep them in their public jobs.
nat would be the result? People
,e myself who are not able to help
en- to be elected to big positions in
government would have TO shOul-
r the burden of paying the taxes to
IKE 1t possible for the other people
're fortunate to ride for nothing,
81 as it is now. While I am paying
cents mile and a war tax of per
~ on that sum every time l go any
iere William Gibbs McAdoo and
VO others can go anywhere in the
lted States without paying a cent
yard the high wages they have given
railway workmen and the increased
81 Of running the roads for which
y are largely responsible.
so you see, Jack, if in the short
le the government has been rum
lg the railroads it has been possible
such thing as this to hSppen
a. i. might happen if the governnend