The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-08

as useful members of society as a irst-class
railroad engineer-must be eternally OH the
make" the "knock-down."
To the discredit of many of the roads it
must be admitted that the opportunities OF
this class of beggars are not denied; on the
contrary, as if for Interior purposes, they are
frequently willingly met. On the line of one
of the leading indianapolis roads, the judge
before whom are heard such cases in which
the road is concerned as county courts take
cOgnizance Of not only has an annual pass,
but boasts OF the numerous opportunities
shown him by the astute president for profit
able stock operations. Doubtless there are
many similar instances. Legislatures have
of late years assumed a mission to regu-
late railroads in some way, but seem
to have failed to find out exactly in
what direction the regulating should proceed.
They would come near solving the difficult
ty if in the interests of decency and Justice,
at least they should enact a law making it
an offense equally for a railroad official to
either offer voluntarily or TO issue in re-
Spouse to solicitation pass to any one con-
Eected in any manner with the courts or the
public service-any one, in short, in a posi-
ton to influence the processes of law-and
for su CHI functionary to accepta pass,
Another class of beggers-shippers and
receivers of goods, merchants, manufacturers
and their relatives, their clerks and en-
ployes and their relatives. And why, you
say. Just ask this man who, after exhaus
tive efforts to squeeze rates down to n mini
mum, feels satisfied that he has reached the
lowest notch, and suggests, matter of
course, passes for himself, and his partner
with an occasional one for clerk. "Why?
Because we propose to ship 100 or / 900 cars
year over the road" And this one: why!
Well its no use talking about freights unless
you give us passes when we want them,
We don't ship over any road that don't give
us passes-that's all. Your trains run any
way, and it don't cost you anything
AS though should say to you, "Mr. Jour
nal, pay 81 per month for your paper; will
you please put in this little advertisement
free-or, if you DON'T l won't take your
paper-it costs you no more than set
ting up that much reading matter, any
way" Or, 1 should say to my grocer, II
buy regularly from you; I want your buggy,
which passes my house every morning, to
bring me down town."
The cheek, the ineffable cheek of these
beggars Newspaper reporters, Mr.. Editor,
commonly set up as monumental emblems
of cool effroDtery, are to us railroad men
modesty in a most refreshing and concen-
trated form by the side of these cormorants.
And the humiliation of It'll To listen to men
honored and esteemed, men who would be
insulted if you offered gift of money-any-
thing less than S5-as they beg, wheedle,
threaten, all for $3.50 pass, and buster if
they don't get it, and brag if they do
And is it TO be supposed that railroad Off
Gals don't remember-dont spot" these
beggars! If any one doubts that they do let
him observe the genial glow overspreading
the official countenance as the gentleman
whose name is not down on his mental black
list, enters to discuss rates with the agent or
as, on the other hand-well, let him cut this
out and hand it in with the next request for a
pass and see if "thems my sentiments" isn't
written all over the AGENTS. face
A short time since, conversing with a
prominent officer. 1 mentioned the death of
a gentleman well known TO both, an extern
sive shipper and popular with all with whom
he had business relations. After moment
of silence my friend said, II never ask
for passes"-the tone conveying a whole en-
encyclopedia of eulogium. I am sure that if on
the monument concentrating the virtues
of some departed legislator or merchant the
words were carved, He nsver asked for a
pass" railroad men from every sec
ton, visiting the city of the
dead and seeing the legend, would
bow with uncovered heads, in reverent admir-
alton over the mortal remains of one who had
been so unique an example. Not much
chance for Indianapolis to furnish the exam
pie. RAILRoADER.