The Washington times., 1921-04-24
BILL
. SURE TOPASS
Strong Influences Back Kahn
Measure for 5,000-MiIe Tick
cts on Railroads.

Supported by the members Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
many railroad executives and the
100000 members Of the Commercial
Travellers Associations Of America,
Congressman Kahn's bill providing
for the resumption Of the issuing Of
railroad mileage books il expected to
pass both houses Of Congress with
practically no opposition.
PROVIDES 5000 MILE TICKETS.
The bill. which is expected to be
favorably reported by the Commit
tee on Interstate and Foreign Com
merce within the next few days. pro-
vides that "all common carriers by
raiload or partly by water. within
Issue interchangeable. non-transfer-
able 6.000-mile tickets. including the
privilege of carrying baggage. to be
sold at the rate Of IN cents a mile
for the transfer of persons on any
lines of such carriers, without regard
to whether the points OF origin and
destination for any single journey are
within the same State"
Under the terms OF the hill. the
Interstate Commerce Commission
would be empowered to modify the
rate of az cents a mile whenever in
its opinion a substantial alteration
in the average rate level justified a
modification. Any ticket unused in
whole or in part 1t the time of such
modification would be redeemed at
the same rate per mile as that for
which 1t was purchased.
L. C.. c, FAyORS TT.
The Interstate Commerce Commlc-
sion some weeks ago passed favor
ably upon the application of the COM
mercial travellers for the restoration
of the mileage books, and referred II
to q committee of railroad executives
who were also impressed with the
justice OF the demand. Action mas
been withheld. 1t 10 understood, peu J.
ing an adjustment of railroad work
ers' wages.
In the brief filed with the commits
sion, counsel for the Commercial
Travellers pointed out many advan-
tages to the railroads, the travelling
public and the country's business
prosperity as a whole. The Actors
Equity League and the Farmers
Grange have united with the travel
ers in their demand for the mileage
book
The brief filed with the commits
sion recites that "a great benefit In
the railroads would lie in the fact
that at least 400, 900 such mileage
books would Immediately be pur-
chased, which would mean $50, 000. 900
Immediately available. and II is pos
sible that this amount might reaca
800. 900, 900. Books would also DE
purchased by employers who would
buy them for the use OF their sales
men in cases where the expenses are
advanced and paid by the employer.
ADVANTAGE TO ROADS.
"A further advantage to the rail-
roads would lie in the fact that cleri-
cal help would be saved because the
book would be good on all roads and
could be used for checking and pay
ing for excess baggage, thereby saw
ing the expense entailed in the is
suance OF the numerous books,
tickets and checks necessitated at the
present time. Also in the books lost
and unredeemed, which the railroad
records show amount to several mil
lion dollars, would mean money in the
companies Golfers.
Tho present rates are almost pro-
hibitive and will result IL continued.
in a reduction of 90 per cent OF the
commercial travellers on the road, and
naturally will retard and interfere
seriously with the prosperity and
business development of the country.
More than go per cent OF the COM
mercial travellers have been held from
their activities awaiting the issuance
Of the mileage book& and in con-
sequence. the passenger and freight
incomes Of all the railroads have been
decreased"