The Russellville Democrat., 1882-03-16

posed to treat this as a mere derellc- tion of duty without any intention, but that in the face of this constitu- tional provision and after repeated i efforts to pass law in furtherance of same, followed with repeated defeat, every officer in the state almost without exception, is flying up and down the railroads with free passes in their pockets. Thus every officer in the state, Legislative, Executive and Judicial is brought moro or less under the influence of these morop- olies, not only under theIr influence, but put under actual obligation to them. These passes are very yalua ble, will carry the holder to any point in the state, and even beyond the limits of the state if the line of the road extends beyond. These passes are good during the full term of of flee, or friendly relations to railroad interests, by which is meant to pro- mote and favor railroad schemes, or at least not to throw any obstaces in the way.
 Having accepted these passes, which are things of great value, the holder is in honor bound, if not an active prom oter, to be at least pass i've whenever railroad interests is in yolved. This is tue condition an nexed to the tenure, any breach of which would be cause for immediate revocation. The railroads give these free passes out for the purpose of in gratiating themselves in favor with the officers of state, to bring them under their influence and make them subservient to the advancement of their own selfish interest. This is not denied by the railroads. The officers with full knowledge of the object of the gifts accept them.
 A bribe is consideration or shing of value offered to corruptly influence the conduct of another.
 A gift made to influence the con duet to unworthy ends, and with q full knowledge of the object of the gift it is accepted, is very close akin to a bribery. If not bribe it savers of it and is the next of kin to bribe, and at the death of BRIBERY will bc entitled to distribution of all its properties. Some officers are heard to say yes! oh yes! l will accept their flee passes, but it shall in no wise influence my conduct, when the time comes they wlll find me q bold antagonist. But the time never comes, or if it does come this charac ter is not there; he is sick or some member of the family is sick, which renders his presence impossible, or l if by accident he is bound to act, he beats around on the wind, makes a l loud noise and ostensibe show, at 1 the same time manages to destroy the effect of what is appearantly an earnest effort.
 Now this character is moro to be censured than the man who accepts the precious offering and remains passive, for he adds treachery to dis reputable motives. We started out with the proposition that the patri ots who framed the constitution in corporated the foregoing provision in l it because they foresaw the giving out free passes by these monopohes would be an avenue through winch they could reach the officers of state and secure favored legislation to the detriment of the people and finally exempt themselves from the law
 Now let us take survey of the times, and we shall view with shame that very order of things winch was feared by the convention and which the constitution intended by the fore, going provision to prevent.
 In 1879 the legislature passed an act eXempting railroads from taxa tion except upon their net income. 1 This act is in contraventinn to tue constitution and void. No lawyer of respectable ability in his profession l (rai!road lawyers eXcepted) believes the act constitutional, but universal ly concur Tn the opinion that it is 9 gross, palpahle violation of the con sttution. Of course every member of the legislature had free pass from every railroad in the state at the time he voted for the bill, and was wined and dined to iutoxlcation and glntton-sold for mess of pot age.
 Article l6, sec ], of the consLitu. tion provides that "all property sub ject to taxation shall be taxed ac cording to .he value" The lcgisIa ture has engralted an exception upon the rule prescribed by the con sttution in favor of railroads, by providing that railroads shall be taxed on their net income only. The laboring man who tolls out his living by hard and honest licks must pay taxes on his property as prescribed ny the constitution, upon it's actual value. 1t is not this that we are complaining of, but it is the excep tion made in favor of railroads, while we pay at actual value basis why | should not railroads. Who is it that believes this determination in favor Of capital would have been made by the legislature but for the corrupting influence of railroads over our law makers. A free pass bought most of them. This act of the legislature can hardly be treated in snirit of mod