Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-07-05
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING. !rII 5. 1919.
THOSE RAILROAD PASSES.

THOSE RAILROAD PASSES.
The Beacon sheds Slimmor Of light
upon the subject of free passes to men,
hers of the Legislature and county Off
Gals. 1t refers to the tender of these
passes as a social courtesy" extended
mostly to pioneer settlers, who, it af-
firms, have scarcely ever had a chance
to see a railroad much less an oppor-
tunity to ride upon one. Professional
pride, it affirms, prompted the company
to introduce the line to the community
by inviting leading citizens to take
ride, just as Bonner and Vanderbilt
have invited the President, as an equine
amateur to ride with them" We would
like very much to be convinced that the
passes were rendered purely as a compli-
mcM to those who have endured the rig
or and hardships of pioneer life, but
the facts will not justify such belief.
Very few of the members of the Assem-
bly,, or the county commissioners, the
two classes selected for these special ia
vors, are pioneers, and the road was
introduced to the public" as its pa
irons know to their cost, long before
these complimentary bits of paste-board
were distributed to those having it in
their power to reciprocate the favor in
their official capacity.
1t must be remembered that we have
not charged, nor do we believe, that a
single member of the Assembly can be
bought to do the bidding of the compa-
ny by this or any other consideration
within its gift; but that this was the in
tent might lie inferred from the Beacon's
own language which speaks in all cases
the will Of its owners. 1t says the OBJ
ject is to " introduce to and interest in
the coming railroad system which is cen.
tering in this Territory in connection
with the Northern Pacific line" those to
whom the courtesies are extended.
In commenting upon this subject, we
have no desire to misrepresent the COM
pany nor any of the facts in the case.
1t is not intended to place forced con-
struction upon the circumstances, or
one not entertained by several members
of the Assembly and reel pients of free
passes con account of Territorial Leg
lslature." If the railroad company
really possess so much love for the peo-
pie as the Beacon represents, why is it
that they adopted policy that has made
them its enemies instead of its friends
Why is it that the company insist upon
an assessed valuation of one-tenth the
cost of the road, while every settler
pays upon the full value of his property,
whether productive or not? Why is it
that the hardy pioneer is not employed
atremunerative wages to open the route,
clear the land and build the road in
q country that his enterprise and daring
has held from Entertainments of foreign
powers, amid the severest hardships and
the most appalling dangers? Why is
it that his produce does not find ready
purchaser by the company in preference
to supplies from Oregon, if it loves him
so we'll and desire so much to d" make
known its facilities to the whole com.
munity?"
I'm our previous article we attributed
no improper motives to the railroad
company, but the Beacon infers that We
have, and places itself in the unenvi.
able attitude of man kicking at his
own shadow, or of warding off before O
blow is aimed at him, either of which
actions pre-supposes neces sity for pu.
gilistic display. What we intended to
intimate then, and what We say now,
Is that it would have been in bette,
taste for the company to have "intro-
duced" their road by some other means
than by combining their favors merely
to such officials as can render favors in
return by virtue of thex holding such
positions. We heartily commended
the expressed determination of several
OF these gentleman of returning thei,
"passes," to the company, as the cas-
lest and best means of avoiding even
the appearance of evil, and the CON-
nants of the Beacon only strengthens
the belief that our position upon the
subject was a correct one.
HE "GLoMoUs FOURTH. NO gen.