Connecticut western news., 1882-03-29
THE RAILROAD DEADHEADS.
The Whole State of Iowa Showeret
 with Free Railroad Passes.

In the speech of the Hon. Charles Aldrich in the Iowa House of Representatives, the deadheads of the State were classed as follows:--The great danger which arises from this American system of official deadheading comes from its alarming extent. Every Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States is an official deadhead. And not only are the Supreme Judges and all other Federal Judges official deadheads, but "the courtesy" takes in their relatives and personal friends. Then the Cabinet officers are also bright and shining examples of this American system, with only here and there an old fogy who don't believe in it. Most of the United States Senators and members of the House of Representa- tives sail in the same boat, with goodly accompaniment of relatives, friends, dependents, and hangers on. Then, go through the departments and you will find hundreds, most likely thousands, of people who have no trouble in securing free railroad transportation to their homes and re- turn, no matter how distant they may be. Especially is this true with regard to those officials who have something to do with the railroad land grants. The entire public service of the general Government is rife with this abuse, which railroad attorney of this city told me not long ago was ia simple courtesy duo to position 1" Whenever a man gets into responsible office, where he has relations with the people on one hand and with corporations on the other, it is "due to his position " that he shall have favors.
 The oil of official deadheadism greases the wheels of all our State courts. Our State Supreme Judges draw their passes upon the hapless conductors with all the facility of practiced hands. Some times when going to court in body, they fire by platoonsl Our District and Circuit Judges, with only one excep- tion, are the happy recipients of all these courtesies due to position. !" Neither the Attorney. General nor the District Attorneys are left out in the cold. The wise old professional bailiff, especially he who has become wrinkled and scraggy, and moke-dried in the at- mosphere of courts, occupies no mean or insignificant place as an official dead head. Everybody, seemingly, has a pass except the poor client. His share is to pay the costs, and as he has nc position he gets no 'courtesies.
 Every State officer, and every clerk ID every State office, has or may have his name placed on the roll of official dead heads. Your Board of Railroad Com. missioners are also deadheads of the first water. Within the State by law, and out of it by ''the courtesy due to position," they may travel free with their families.
 Then the State Senators and Repre- sentatives, the law makers, though to 8 more limited extent, come III for these "courtesies due to position" If the officers of the State Senate and House do not have the same favors they are themselves to blame. At the opening of this session an unsuccessful candl- date for Clerk of the Railroad Commit tee, I am told, exhibited pile of passes considerably thicker than pack oi playing cards. Then there are many county and municipal officers whose hats are also ''chalked." Ido not know how extensive this may be, but it includes in many instances Sheriffs, County Su pervisors, the city Councils, and Boards of Aldermen.
 The line of deadheadism-"the cour tesy due to position "-ends, believe with township assessors. l am unable to trace it any further down, but tho
 trustees of townships and the sub.di
 reotors of school districts may live il
 hope. If they can only manage to holt
 their offices few years longer, the ever
 widening circles of free passism may ye
 take them in. When heard tLat tn
 list of official deadheads included town
 ship assessors l could hardly credit it
 But I think that any patient investigate
 in that direction would be rewarde'
 with discoveries which would astoun
 him. I do not believe that the gene1 ality of these officers have free passes
 but on some of the roads where the col porations have laid out towns, and ow lands and lots, passes have been issue to assessors. Not only do all the officer ] I have named receive these courtesie
 due to position" but the list include ) many of their friends.
 In almost any county seat you wi find men who are influential enough obtain these favors year after year. one has case ID court agalnst railroa F company, of course the attorney again' , you will have command of these instrl , mentalities to any extent he please ] and the instinct to use them in pavin his own way to professional success fe l men have the power to withstand. , you could look into the pockets of u 8 jurors you might possibly find that the f were likewise supplied with the'
 "courtesies due to position" I'll
 chances would be that your own alto
 ney-especially if he had position ar
 ability-would be also on the free lis d This picture of the extent of this sy r tenn is not exaggerated or overdraw e It affords topic for study and refe I tion worthy of the mightiest consider T tion.