The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-02
WHY THIS RULE?
A Golf Bag Must BE Sent as Baggage
on the Long Island.

| To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str! On
Lincoln's Birthday decided to take ad-
vantage of the holiday by playing a
game OF golf. the first since my dis
charge from the army. As 1 approached
the gate in the Pennsylvania Station
with a small bag OF clubs over my
shoulder was stopped by the gateman
and told that a new rule OF the railroad
prohibited golf bags in passenger
coaches and that would have to check
mine in tho baggage room.
| Much incensed. but seeing no use in
arguing. went to the baggage room.
where the baggage man told me that an
extra charge OF rs cents must be paid
for checking the clubs in spite OF the
fact that my ticket entitled me to check
$50 pounds of baggage free. He also
told me that tho clubs could not be put
on tho train I intended to take, but
would have to go on the next one. How
ever after I had given him a substan-
tial tip ne decided that there would be
no difficulty about getting my bag on
the train. and as It turned out there
wasn't.
| On my trip home I had to check my
bag again and pay another quarter. On
/
I had the choice OF waiting nearly half
an hour for my clubs. or even longer II
they were not transferred promptly at
Jamaica, or else paying so cents to an
| expresHnan to bring them up to my
house.
Perhaps some of your readers can
tell me the why's and whereforeS' Of
this new regulation and who Is to benefit
2xNFA a. ~
tanned other than to discourage healthful
exercise in the country on the one day
a week that most of us have for recrea-
tion. Lots OF men would rather stay in
the city than go to the country and feel
that perhaps their clubs would not come
through in time and they would have
to spend several hours waiting at the
railroad station for them.
None of us objects to paying out
money when we feel that It is going to
do some good or that we get at least
some value for what We pay. We have
all bought Liberty bonds and War Saw
ings Stamps. subscribed to the Red Cross,
economized on food. put up with bad
railroad service to save coal. and many
of US have been privileged to serve In
the army. All this we have done will
ingly and uncomplainingly. but I GER
tainly think It Is time to raise howl
when the Long Island Railroad not only
finds that It can't run its trains without
collecting a quarter from golfers. but
also says that golfers cannot pay the
quarter and carry their clubs themselves
as heretofore, but must check them and
tip the baggage man to put them on the
train, and even then run a chance that
their clubs will not arrive and their day
be spoiled.
Where will the railroad officials draw
the line? Suppose have one golf stick,
must I check that, and II so, why not
make the lady check her umbrella and
the old gentleman his cane? Must re-
sort to camoufage, tying my golf bag
up In paper and string and passing IT
Off as a folding perambulator? Or. on
the other hand, must I have COM
plete set OF clubs at each OF the several
courses on which play, or must I pur-
chase an automobile?
When the spring comes and the Sun
day golfers come out In force every pos
sible subterfuge will be tried to dodge
the rule. 1t isn't that they will mind
paying the quarter. even though It Is
an imposition. What they will object
to ia being separated from their beloved
golf sticks and take the chance of either
losing them entirely or having their
come so late that the days outing will
be spoiled. The railroad will collect
very few quarters IN comparison to the
Inconvenience and annoyance 1t vii
cause the golAng public.
I sincerely hope that these words will
be read by some railroad man who lives
In New York and is golf enthusiast
Perhaps he will be moved to take some
steps TO have the regulation changed, or
at least modified. II necessary make
us buy half ticket for our bag Of clubs
but let us take them with us In the pas
senger coach. G. 7. DEN.
NEW YORK, March l.