The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-03-01
Free Passes.

haSI w SuuGSudE the mousse udu
under consideration the bill to pre-
vent public officers of the state rid
ing on railroads on free passes, Sen
ator Edmundson said:
Mr.. Speaker-When l first heard
this bill read, when introduced, l
was inclined to think it was joke
Of the author, but when heard his
learned, well-prepared and exhaus-
tive argument a few days ago in its
support l found him to be deeply
in earnest. l must say, however,
that nothing has occurred on this
floor during this session that has
surprieed more than that such a
bill should emanate from one so
moderate, conservative and well
balanced as l regard this senator to
be. Enact this bill into a law, then
we must do one of two things-in-
crease the salaries of our judicial
officers, which are already down to
minimum, or prepare to have many
Of them superseded by incompetent
lawyers who are unable to get bust
ness in their profession as such and
will take the judicial position be-
cause they will then get something.
the author of this bill seems to
fear that judicial officers, if allowed
to continue to have passes on these
roads,w will unconsciously be more or
less biased in their rulings in their
favor, when made parties before
them. Now it is no new thing for
and judges to travel
free over the roads of this state, and
who has ever heard of one single in
stance where parties having suits
against the railroads have not re-
ceived justice, because of PARTIAL
ty shown by either the court or ju-
ry in favor of the railroad? 1t is
well known that where a corpora
ton, whether railroad, bank or in
surance company, is a party to a
suit against an individual, it is the
and not the individual,
that fails, if either party does, to
get justice, unless the court by a
of the law rule or
charge to the prejudice of the indi-
yidual, though Internationally. Be-
cause of the kindness and liberality
)f railroads in furnishing gratui-
5ous transportation to judicial Off
GERS of our state, many of them
have been enabled to remain on the
bench, otherwise they would have
oeen under the necessity Of surren-
iering their commissions and re-
to their practice. The
-ailroads years ago got into the
practice of giving passes to mauy
IF the officials and now they don't
snow how to get out of it. The bill,
lowever, of the honorable senator
rom Gibson comes to their relief,
md / have no doubt he will receive
he plaudits and gratitude of the
Dads for this kindness to them. 1t
will, if it become the law, put into
heir Golfers thousands of dollars
ach year, that would not otherwise
.et there. The granting of passes
IN injure no one but the roads
Themselves.
The honorable senator, am sure,
lss unnecessary apprehensions on
his score. No official, in my opin
on, will be influenced to do wrong
y virtue of having such pass. 1t
5 n serious reflection upon the Of
Icials of Tennessee. Very rarely in
ny life, although 1 have travelled
argely on railroads, have 1 been IA
-ored by a pass. Don't expect to
,e. sOutside of the objections given,
have constitutional grounds for
lot favoring it. 1 regard it as a
lass legislation, which is repugnant
10 the constitution. How can we
egislate here especially to the det-
,iment of officials? Make it apply
20 all classes alike, and then it
night be entitled to favorable con-
sideration. Even then, l don't
think 1 am prepared to come
to the aid so materially of
5he roads unasked. There is al
'eady. existing statute covering the
r hole ground of this bill. The |
statute referred to is 4S77, which 1 |
lsk the privilege of now reading. |
The section was here read. 1t has
difference to giving and accepting
oribes.l