Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-09-25

instead OF confinement in she asylum a
scholarship in the University should be
given US, where. presumably, We would
lsarn that the bribery of Legislators by
railroad companies was common thing
with which no fault could Justly be
found. We never learned the lesson,
though, but on the contrary, have ham
inered away at the free pass system un.
oeasingly from that time TO this, until
our blows have visibIy begun to count,
and We intend to keep on hammer
ing until the giving and receiving of
such bribes are made crimes by the law
of the Territory. Among those who
we're particularly forward in the Legis
lature OF 1881 upon this question was
our own townsman, A. 5. Miller. He
was not assailed personally by as, but
he at once took up the fight as though
he were. Among other foolish things
done by him at this time, be wrote let
ter to the Chronicle, of this city, of
which the following il an extract
80 far as free passes are concerned,
will say that the members are very
thankful to the railroad company for
snern, myself in particular. |, as a mem
ber of the Council from King county,
came here for no ether purpose than TO
work Tor my constituents, not to put up
jobs, or to be bought by railroad passes,
as the editor says, and | can also say
the same for the other members from
King county. and, in fact, the entire
body Of both Hou 3es of the Assembly.
All have to say in conclusion Is hope
the editor will keep himself posted in
tae laws governing thus matter, and |
simply ask him TO mind his own bust
ness"
The independents of King county
have nominated MIR. Miller for theLeeis-
latuTe again. and the Democrats. fusing
with the independents, have accepted
him. In the present state of public
feeling on the free pass question, aud
in view of their own declarations of
principles, IL oan only DO supposed they
were not aware, or had forgotten. the
offensive record OF Mr.. Mil.
Ter on this point.
One plank in the independent plat
form reads as follows:
Resolved, That we believe thst il is
to the best interests of
good government for officials To be al
lowed to travel upon any railroad with
"A free pass. or To send messages over
the telegraph lines free of charge.
The Democracy are even more pro
nounced. Their Territorial platform
declares
We favor the enactment Of laws.im-
posing severe fines and penalties upon
any railroad company or its agents that
shall give or offer to give, directly or
indirectly, any passes, tickets or other
TO any member of the
Legislature or any officer thereof, or to
any delegate to any political conven.
tIon.
We leave to Mr.. Miller the reconcilia-
tlon Of his own personal principles with
shose OF the parties which he is sup
posed to represent.
The record Of Mr.. A. S. Miller in the
fight OF the people against great, hos
tile and dishonest railroad corporation
is no better than his record On the ques
ton of free passes. He Is for the rail-
road all the time, for the reason that
the railroad has free passes and other
favors TO bestow. and which he can east
ly obtain by standing in" with IL in
auy contest with the people.
While in Minneapolis last May, Mr..
Miller was interviewed by reporter of
the Tribune. The newspaper man said !;
''lt has been said that your people
were working 90 secure the forfeiture of
the Northern Pacific land grant. Is that
truey'
Mr.. Miller replied: sit il not. Some
time ago representative convention of
citizens and business men adopted reso
lutions asking the department at WASH
inston TO do nothing to impair the
Northern Pacific grant. Afterwsrd.
understand. few ssreheads got 10
gether aud passed set of resolutions
calling for the forfeiture of the grant,
and they have sent a man with them 20
Washington; bat | want you to under
stand that .he latter z therinR was not
one of our business men. bat of those
who have little OF no influence in the
community"
In publishing the above, las, May, we
commented as follows:
We suppose Mr.. Miller is correctly
reported. IL sounds like him, anyhow.
Mr., Miller does not correctly represent
this community. Ia fact. be misrepre-
sented Il when be made the statement
foregoing, and he knew il. So positively
does he know this that be would not
have dared give expression 20 such an
uttarance at home; aud. IL IL Is possible
for him TO he ashamed. he will hang his
head low when he returns. Mr.. Miller
is one Of the "free pas" gentry. and u
IA probable that in consideration of
favor of this sort be spoke a. reported.
He has been under transportation ooli-
cations 60 the Northern Pacific Com
many, before. and didn't know enough
10 keep quiet about 10. The company
have long had a correct estimate OF Mr..
A. s. Miller, aud when they want to use
hjrs they well know how - call and get
him. The people of Ssattle gill never
again require Mr.. Miller a. representa-
tive or spokesman. and unless be wants
10 be heavily sat down upon be viii Ia
future refrain from attempting TO put
himself In those roles.
IL now seems as il the oomrsny again
want the services Of Mr.. Miller. and.
o,>as;arslx ma comes forward A candi-
date for the Legislature.
How do the four thousand forfeiture
meu Of King County like TO be spoken
Of by an applicant for favors at their
hands as "a few soreheads' "of little
or no influence in the community 2
Won't they be likely in November next
to bury iuexpressibly deep the man Who
so sIishsinsly and insaitinely described
,hem'i
N. Mstisr "a certainly Eot IN accord