The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-19
Blaines Railroad Passes

The Philadelphia Record has Just made
public an interesting little episode in MIR
Blaine's history while he was Speaker of
the House of Representatives which not
only shows that at that time he was
dead headed" by the railroads, but that
he abused the courtesy" by lending his
pass to others Not only this, but it
seems that when the pass was taken up
by the company which Is an invariable
rule, it was threatened with his displeasure
and opposition unless it was returned.
The company, rather than have its inter
ests jeopardized by BlaiDe's power on the
Speakers chair and influence on the floor,
was forced to return the pass.
According to the Record during the
service of James G. Blaine as Speaker of
the House of Representatives among the
passes which he held over different lines
of railroad was one over the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad
COmpany's lines. This pass was renewed
every year, and the printed conditions
upon its back contained the statement in
bold letters that if it were transferred it
would be forfeited Mr. Blaine rode ups
on his PASS so often that the conductors
became very familiar with his face.
There was no trouble with the pass
until 1870 Mr.. Blame was then in the
very plenitude Of his political, power his
influence was at its zenith, and when a
stranger appeared on train of the Phila-
delphia Wilmington and Baltimore Rail
road with the pass of Speaker Blaine in
his possession he was informed that the
pass would be taken up and he must pay
his fare or get off the train. He preferred
to pay his fare and continue the ride.
A few days after this the President 9;
the company was IN receipt of p .ette1
from Mr. Blaine stating that he was sOr
ry if he had violated any rule of the COM
pany, but that he had loaned his pass to
his secretary without knowledge that il
was mot transferable" The pass was
forwarded to MIR. Blaine again, and he
was told that the company always took
up passes when they were rendered by
any one but the person in whose name they
were made out, and that he should reaC
the conditions under which it was issued
1t was not very great while after this
1ho1 VIC pass was Sdin pltsenteu ny tut
secretary of Mr.. Blaine, and, as before, il
was taken up and turned into the Office
of the company. Not many days after
ward the officers of the company received
a letter from Washington from frienC
of Mr.. Blaine, stating that he was sorry
that the pass had been taken up, but tina
Mr.. Blaine desired its return. By thi
time the president of the company hat
not only lost patience in the matter, bu
was surprised that person of Mr. Blaine
intelligence should have treated the pas
as he had done. He also wrote to Wash
ington expressing his feelings stating tina
he felt hurt, and intimating that Their,
would be no chance for repetition o
the offence.
This was the beginning of correspon
dence, and among this correspondence
were letters from several persons actin,
in the interest of Mr. Blaine and author
lied to speak for him. They stated tina
the railroad company was pursuing yer,
foolish course. and intimated in term
which were unmistakable that if it desiret
the aid of Mr. Blaine, instead of his op