The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-01-17
Senator Burkitt's Bill Against Free
Passes.

While Mr.. Walkers amendment to the
bill to prevent the taking of passes was be-
fore the Senate on Tuesday. quite lively
debate sprang up, and Senators discussed
the whole subject pro and con.
Mr.. Reynolds was the first speaker. He
opposed the measure outright. He said
that no friead of the bill had charged that
the practice had so far worked corruption.
and until that could be shown there was no
reason to pass the proposed measure. He
said that to pass this measure would be
reflection upon the honor of the Legisla-
ture, and indeed upon that of the whole
State, since the fact that they were chosen
as representatives was evidence that they
were considered among her best citizens.
If any Senator had been guilty of corrup-
ton or of conduct unworthy of the high
character that this body should sustain let
Senators speak out anu expose such often
der, and if the charges against him were
made good, he, for one, would move and
vote to expel such member. That all leg
islation should be predicated upon an evil
which was known TO exist, and that moth
ing not a crime per Sc, should be declared so
till some evil was shown TO flow from it.
He thought il no discredit that he was the
attorney of a railroad, but rather consider
ed it tribute to his ability. ThaS1tor his
pass, he gave quid pro quo,
and no man had a right to regulate
the pay he was to receive for his services.
That the bill, so far as it included other
State and county or municipal officers
who have no power to shape legislation,
was entirely unnecessary and without
shadow of reason. In making the party
accepting the pass amenable to justice of
the peace, while it would not affect the i'm
putation of corruption as TO the members
of the Legislature, would render it's power
over them nugatory, rs no court could ex-
pei member from this body but the SEN
ate itself; that it gave a jurisdiction over
judges which now the Senate alone in its
aggregate capacity is considered worthy or
competent to exercise.
Mr.. Sykes, of Lowndes, followed in n
speech endorsing, in the main, what Mr..
| Reynolds had said, and stated that he would
vote against the bill in its present form,
for the reason that it was unconstitutional,
giving to justices of the peace the p over to
remove State officers, whereas, tie constr
tuition says that they shall be impeached by
| the House of Representatives and tried by
the Senate. That he had no objection to
voting for bill like the present one, which
included everybody, if one should be pre-
pared which was constitutional. That he
felt he had a right to receive pass as part
pay for legitimate services rendered, but
was willing to forego and extinguish that
right, provided editors and others who were
similarly situated were made to do likewise
Mr.. Burl1itt stated that the people were
of the opinion that the legislation of the
State was being controlled too much by
monopolies and their agents and attorneys
He wanted no better proof or stronger ar
gument that the people had well founded
convictions on this subject than the scent
lust exhibited on this floor. That he was
in favor of the bill and wished to stand o.
fall with his constituency by the course HI
took in reference to it.
Mr.. Hyer said that though he had pro
posed several amendments to the bill, HI
had not before indicated how he would vote
That when he heard the eloquent allusioni
to the honor of the members of the Legis
llature and that of the State made by thu
} gentlemen from the 18th (Mr.Reynolds) ant
the 18th (Mr. Sykes no had thought that
would touch the heart of every one present
but that the Senator from the 18th MI
Burlitt) seemed to be oblivious TO the ap
peals of these gentlemen. He then ridl
culed the effect that the scene just exhibit
ed before the Senate should be such as Il
strengthen the gentleman that the peopl
, were right in their conviction. 1t con
. WINGED him that there was no need for tn
bill. That he was unwilling TO make b.
: implication charge which he was no
4 willing or ready to make directly.
Mr.. Jeffords stated that as a representa-
tive of the minority in the Senate, he wa
glad to be able to lift this question out o
party politics, and that though he lived il
a section which had unfortunately been u
to this time deprived of railroad facilities
and he had therefore not been the recipien
e of either compliments or favors of raj
road corporations, he should vote agains
the bill. His sympathies were, howeve
u ordinarily enlisted with the people
f struggles between them and powerful col
= porations, but that he saw no merit in tn
q bill; that things not crimes per SC could nj
=, | properly be so declared until some evil ha
y been shown to flow from them. That
S passes were offered him, he would not hes
e tate to accept them, and would have vei
!, little respect for the opinion of those wi
: should think that they would or could il
u fuence his motives or his actions. He WI
# willing to respect healthy public sent
q ment, but was not willing to bow to a LOT
!. cIamor without merit of argument or re
son. He did not believe that there was
II member of the Legislature that could
bribed or corrupted he knew that MOI
could be bought with the tritling conside
alton of a pass.
Mr.. Wilson, of Chickasaw, spoke in fav
of the bill. He said public sentiment W
q so strong in favor of it that Senators {
Q the other side dare not make the speech
It before the people, at least in his sectio
e that they had uttered here to-day. Flu
d thermore, the holding of free passes ma
1t it easier for members to go to their HON
l. and elsewhere, and increased the absenc
s. from the Legislature.
10 Mr.. Luse, of Yazoo, made few remar
n setting forth his position and indulging
70 little humor at the expense of some
a the other speakers.
\ The gentleman from the Thirteenth h
- said in the course of his remarks that
=, Legislature should be like Caesars wi