Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-26
II BKON N BILL,

Inc Dill ny CeudboF G'
E. Brown, prohibiting the acceptance
of passes by public officials in the
safe of Nebraska, and which has been
read twice, sent to the Judiciary com
mittee and reported to pass, reads as
follows:
Be it enacted by the Legislature Ct the
ate of Nebraska:
SECTION l. That it shall be unlaw.
full for any person holding any %tfi,e,
appointment, or position under the
laws Of this state, or under the laws
Of the United Stateg, and doing bust.
ness in this state, including person.
chosen or drawn as jurors, and for
delegates to any convention called for
the purpose of placing in nomination
persons to be voted tor at any cleo.
ton, to accept or travel upon any
pass, or resort to, or participate In
any scheme or device whereby he is or
may be transported over any railroad,
or any part thereof, either free or at
rates of fare reduced below those give2
to the general puolic. Any persons
violating the provisions Of this act
shall be guilty of a misdemesnor, and
on conviction thereof shall be fined
for the first offsnse not les, than
twenty. five dollars nor moro than one
hundred dollars, and for the second
offeuse he thall be fined not less than
fifty nor more than five hundred dol
lars, and shall be forever disqualified
from holding any Office, appointment,
or position, either of trust or prof
under the laws CT this state.
SEC. 2. That it shall be unlawful
for any railroad company or corpora
ton, operating the whole or any por
ton of a line of railroad within THE
state, to give or offer to any person
holding any Office, appointment or pc.
~sition, either of trust or profit, under
the laws of this state, or under the
lawa OF the United States, and doing
business within this state, including
persons chosen or drawn RI jurors,
and delegates to any convention
called for the purpose of placing in
nomination persons to DO voted for a.
any election, or by any scheme or de,
vice whatever to transport over the
line Of railrosd it is operating, or any
part thereof, free or at rates Ct fare
reduced below thoae given to the gen
eral public. Any railroad company
or corporation violating any Of tn,
provisions Of this act shall forfei-
and pay to the state for the use and
benefit of the school fund the sum c:
two hundred dollars for each offense
to be collected by action against sale
company or corporation by any either
| of this state.
,. THE BEE is heartily in favor of thi
measure, and its passage will bs gen
orally Endorsed by the people of tn
state. A pass is always given eithe
for services rendered or with a livel,
expectancy of favors to come. Pasae
represent value, and corporations d.
not donate money oil it's eauivalen
without expecting q full return in tn
near future. Every member of tn
legislature knows that a pass givel
him by a railroad corporation is not
moro courtesy. How many of tn
farmers, lawyers and merchants VIII
compose our present legislature wer
offered these courtesies before thei
election to q seat in the capital a
Lincolnl And how many of thos
who fail to obtain elections to tho mex
legislature will bs favored with o sim
liar exhibition Of the gentleman
friendship of the corporations2
The fact cannot be concealed tina
. every pass offered to apubllc official
In the nature of a bribs. 1t is give
"to conoiliato the granger vote" an
0 to dispose favorsbly the minds
Legislators towards the corporation
No man can with any self respect /,
. q law maker accept these favors an
n carry out his sworn duty under IL
@ constitution. They are a constsr
clog on effort, aud a drawback
energetic work where the interests
the people clash with those of Il
~monopolies, and on this account the
ought to be prohibited by the leeisl
ture.