The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1882-05-06
Cce Pledge necessary.

As SoHN-tSeN N f~sA ~ t~~N- s
forms, and quietly ignored in party
discussions; among such princi-
pies directly affecting The conn
mon prosperity of this community,
OF this part Of Oregon are, 6rst tho
necessity Of such legislation "a will
make railroad corporations ioTsake
ths dog-inthe-manger policy that they
pursue whenever allowed to DO so,
and, second, the necessary Of requiring
from all candidates for legislative hon
ors Il pledge that they viii not accept
any free passes from transportation
companies. We believe that this is
simple justice. Oar people il this
part of the STATE have considerable
political influence. Let it not he
thrown away. Demand of the man who
asks you to send him to Salem that he
will pay his way and viii accept no ia
vors from any corporation that would
be proiIcred him by virtue Of his posi-
ton. There ia no halfway house IN
this business. A public man whether
Judge or legislator thar will take
pass from railroad com
pany is not dealing fairly with the
people who elect him. John Smith,
30 long az he is private citizen John
Smith pays three cents mile Tor his
railroad rides, OF is thrown of the
train. Bat let him, by the vote Of his
fellow citizens, become Judge John
Smith or Hon. John Smith, member
from Ciatsop, Hnd he pays nothing.
Every Time h. enters ear OF boat
he, in effect, receives thrce cents u
mile for the trip, Is thr cp'npany's
addition To his salary. The people
give him 50 many dpiiars 4 day for
baing their representative, aaa the
company gives him 50 many centa a
mile ior being y. lie Is thus in the
pay Of the people and in the pay of
the transportation c"iGptuirs. This
people pay him ior ms services tt
them The company pay hin ~ his
services ia nhonl That IS ihe
question
Let ia no. be understood as etinc
ing any hostility 10 corporations g
ANY kind. Tney osc god .when no'
allowed naiimitod pawar--and rh'
county needs snch combination d
capital to hep develop It's resource
and bring poople haro "a iii uP. N
one admires more than ge the enter
prise that places us ii. almost semi
weekly communication with Sal
Francisco, or more fully appreciate
the conyenience of rapid conmunica
ltion with points tp :hc east. But
docs not follow that public servant
should bc carried free. Of course
will be said that is nnt the bnsines
of q newspaper; ii TIE railroad com
pauy wants to give jones or Brown
free ride, that ali right. Il IS n
al! right, and it is newspapers bnsi
ness to say just what i, thinks on a
public ques:ions. We can write Wit
} perfect consistency. Whenever w
travel we put up the coin for onr ticl
ct, and can gFumble at the accomm,
dations or praise them just as wc I'm
them.
The charity oi railroad eunpau
is as carefully calculated as p set
, Insurance tables. 1t. ia founded d
the old doctrine OF thc elect l. n
; gins precisely where the interest {
the railroad begins. aud it ends ther'
Free passes are gwen 10 those. an
only those, who ar, in pisitions :
do the roads good or Ia do the
c harm.
o A free pass is not given as Z saa,
Of regard; j. is a sort of tacI, retalni'
=, fee and SOILS the HAND OF HIM WI
TAKES II, il he hold an Office to whit
q he was elected by the people.
It For this we say that whatever tic
u ct mans name may be on, We thiI
that in the interest of Ciatsop count
" by reason Of the neglect or refusal
- the corporation holding the Aston
land grant 10 comply with the teri
~ Of the agreement, he should give
,e full and unequivocsl pledge that
" elected he will accept no favors as
., legislator that would not be extend
- lin, rs q r,,x-aia ,;tiyar