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Show Uncle Ted's Bedtime Stories ritni: iimns ox vxcm: sam i "I don't believe It," Bald Ruth as Jack started out tho floor looking for Uncle Ted. "Well," returned Jack, "I toll you It's ho. Hilly Jones showed me the pieces of printed cardboard and said that whenever his father and mother wanted to rldo on tho trains tlwy Just show thoso cards to tho conductor and they don't havo to pay anything at all." "Sow what's up?" It was Uncte Ted Just coming up Ihe steps. "What arc my little kiddles talking about tonight?" Jack explained It nil to Undo Ted and they all BAt down after our horu had promised to tell all about how many people aro ildlng on trains without paying. "Two weeks ago," began Undo Ted, "I told you all abouttho railroads rail-roads and what tho men want to do who run tho Ualns. Befoie tho government gov-ernment Htnrtcn running tho railroads rail-roads of tho country they wero run by'prlvnte companies. The heads of tho many lines throughout the Unit-, c'd States mado arrangements so that they and membcts of their families cohld get what aro called passes and ride on the trains without charge. When the government took charge of tho 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 o space on nil trains was needed to transport soldiers ani food. When people wanted to rldo on the trains they not only had to pay the usual price for riding and tho usual price for a place to sleep, In what are called Pullman cars, but they also had to pay an extra amount am-ount of money called a tax. That Is still true today. If I want to go to another city I buy my ticket nnd pay 2 cents for every mile I travel, In nddltlon I pay a tax o( 8 per nont on that sum. If I must travel at night I must pay another sum of money for riding on a sleeping car, and another tax of 8 per cent of that sum In nddltlon. So you Bee, children, It costs a lot or inoney tb travel now." "But how about pcoplo llko Billy Joncs'a father and mother who havo passes?" askd Jack. "When William Glbbs McAdo-j was director general of tho railroads land also secretary of the treasury he said he Intended to cut down tho number of free rides on trains to a very few, But It now seems that he did not cut the number of passes down but must havo allowed n great 'number to be given out. If It had not been for Senator Truman H. New--1 berry of Michigan we might never have known of tills; matter. Senator Newberry was traveling on a train 'not long ngo, having paid hU fare and war tax, when ho noticed a traveling travel-ing companion who had a pass good over all the railroads In the states. Tho senator didn't llko this, for tho railroads aro still bolng run by the govenment, nnd tho peopfb, paylnq .the 'axes, nrc helping to run them. When ho got back to Washington ho I told the Sunnto about It and a large number of the senators ngreed with him. Mr. Walker D. Hlnes Is now director di-rector general of railroads, Mr. Mc-Adoo Mc-Adoo having quit to become a lawyer for a company of moving picture ' stars, including Chardllo Chaplin nnd Mary PIckford. Tho senators told Mr. nines to send them a report of nil tho passes Issued by tho railroad administration," "Can funny Charllo Chaplin rldo for, nothing?" asked Ruth. "No," realled Undo Ted, "he cannot can-not ride for nothing eo far as Mr. Hlnes' report shows but It was discovered dis-covered that Mr, McAdoo who no longer has any" more to do with the rallrads than. I havo has a pass good on every road In tho country. Mrs. McAdoo who Is a daughter of President Presi-dent Wilson. Robert H, McAdoo, a son and Miss S, McAdoo a daughter of William O. McAdoo, also ham passes for all lines? They are also able to rldo on sleeping cars for nothing." "Yftiy should they all ride for noth Ing when wo hnve to pay our fare and tax besides?" asked Jack. "They shouldn't," said his Uncle, "and I will tell you why in a minute. min-ute. Now Mr. Hlnes report showed also that 4,200 passes good on all lines have been given by tho rail road administration and' up to tho first of last July only 118 had been taken back which shows that 4,081 pcoplo aro still riding on trains wlth- Iout paying any money. This number does not lucludo passes given to men actually working for the railroads, and It docs not includo passes, given 4 I for single trlpsi It docs not Includo n ,1,590 wives, daughters, sons, other ,jl 'relatives and jiear relatives of rail- rig 1 road heads and- offlclals In tho rail- jjl road administration who ride for f nothing, and 1.00G of tho same kind . of people riding free on sleeping cars. All this may not seem important to some people but here Is why It Is , wrong. Thero Is a lot of talk about i having tho government not only keep on running tho railroads, but take r; charge of them altogether and never turn them back to tho private com- 'V panics. If this wore done many of y$f thoso In government positions who could do It would offer passes like these In exchange for souio favor to help keep them in their public Jobs. What would be tho result? People llko myself who aro not able to help 'men to bo elected to big positions In the government would have to ( shoulder the but den of paying tho taxes to make It possible for other 1 people more fortunate to rldo for f fl nothing. Just as It is now. Whllo I , Sk am paying 3 cents a mile nnd a war tax of 8 per cent on that sum every tlmo I go anywhere, llllliam Olbbs ' McAdoo and more than 4,000 others can go anywhero In the United States 1 without paying a cent toward tho J high wages thoy have given to rail- way workmen and the Increased cost , of running tho roads for which they f aro largely responsible j "So you see, Jack, If In tho short . tlmo the government has been run- . nlng the rnllroadB It has been pos- jj siblo for Buch a thing as this to hap- t,J pen what might happen If tho govern- ' Q ment took control of tho roads for 4 all time? Mr. Hlnes or whoever j would be at the head of the railroad ,j administration and everyone appoint- ri cd to work with them would get tho J; passes for themselves and their wholo j families while tho rest of tho people '. j of the country wculd not only pay i j their fares but In addition pay Faxes to make the passes possible." , "Then I don't think the govern ment should run tho railroads,". saldA & -Jack. i j "Tho government should not "run ! the roads Jack. This pass business S and many other things have shown f n that It will not work." - |