Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-09-11
FREE RIDES ARE
ON UNCLE SAM
UNCLE TED COMES TO RESCUE
OF RUTH AND JACK ON
THE RAILWAY PROBLEM

II don't believe it," said Ruth as
Jack started out the door looking
for Uncle Ted.
WELL" returned Jack, II tell
you 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 just show these cards to
the conductor and they don't have
to pay anything at ALL"
"Now what's up?" 1t was Uncle
Ted and they all sat down after our
hero had promised to tell all about
how many peopel are riding on the
trains without paying.
Ted, II told you all about the rail-
roads 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 companies.
The heads of enc many lines
throughout the United States made
arrangements SO that they, and
members of their families could get
what are called passes and ride on
the trains without charge. When
the government took charge of the
railroads it meant that every man.
woman and child in the United
States had an interest 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. When
people wanted to ride on the trains
they not only had to pay the usual
price for riding and the usual price
for a place to sleep in what are
called Pullman cars but they also
had to pay an extra amount OF
money called a tax. That is still
true today. If | want to go to an
other city l buy my ticket and pay
three cents for every mile l travel,
and in addition l pay tax of eight
percent on that sum. If l must
travel at night / must pay another
sum of money for riding on a
sleeping car, and another tax of
eight percent of that sum in addi-
ton. 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 director general of the rail-
roads and also secretary of the
treasury he said he intended to cut
down the number of free rides on
free rides in trains to a very few.
But it now seems that he did not
cut the number of passes down but
must have allowed great number
to be given out. If it had not
been for Senator Truman H. New
berry of Michigan, we might never
have known of this matter. Senat-
or Newberrv was travelling on a
train not long ago having paid his
fare and war tax, when he noticed
travelling companion who had a
pass good over all the railroads in
the states. The senator didn't
like this, for the railroads are still
being run by the government, and
the people by paying taxes, are
helping to run them When he
got back to Washington he told
the senate about it and a large
| number of the senators agreed with
| him. Mr.. Walker ID. Hines is now
director general OF railroads Mr.
| McAdoo having quit to become a
lawyer for a company of moving
picture stars including Charlie
Chaplin and Mary Pickford. The
senators told Mr.. Hines to send
them a report of all the passes is
sued by the railroad administration
Can funny Charlie Chaplin ride
( for nothing?" asked Ruth
mo f." replied Uncle Ted, 'he
cannot ride for nothing so fal
as Mr.. Hines report shows but il
was discovered that Mr.. McAdoo
/ who no longer has any more to dc
with the railroads than ! have has
a pass good on every road in the
! country Mrs. McAdoo. who is a
! daughter of President Wilson, Robt
| Fl. McAdoo a son and Miss S. Nc
/ Adoo, a daughter of William G
McAdoo also have passes for all the
| lines. They are also able to ride
on sleeping cars for nothing
"Why should they all ride for
| nothing when We have to pay our
fare and tax besides?" asked Jack.