The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-03
BLAINE'S RAILROAD PASSES.
He Loans One Of Them to His Secre.
tary.
The Railroad Company Takes IL Away
From Him, But 1t is Returned to
Avoid His Opposition.
Philadelphia Record Ind I

lPhllacelphla Record (lnd)
During the service of James G. Blame as
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
among the passes which he held over differ
ent lines of railroads was one over the Phlla-
delphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Rail-
road Company's lines. This pass was re-
newed every year, and the printed condi-
tons upon its back contained the statement
in bold letters that if it were transferred it
would be forfeited. Mr.. Blaine rode upon
this pass so often that the conductors on the
road became very familiar with his face.
There was no trouble with the pass until
1870. Mr.. Blaine was then in the very
plenitude Of his political power his influ-
ence was at its zenith, and when a stranger
appeared on a train OF the Philadelphia
Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad with
the pass of Speaker Blaine in his possession
he was informed that the pass would be taken
Up and that he must pay his fare or get off
the train. He preferred to pay his fare and
continue the ride.
few days after this the President of the
company was in receipt of letter from Mr..
Blaine stating that he was sorry if he had
violated any rule of the company but that
he had loaned his pass to his secretary with
out knowledge of the fact that it was mot
transferable" The pass was forwarded to
Mr.. Blaine again, and he was told that the
were rendered by any one but the person in
whose name they were made out, and that
he should read the conditions under which
it was issued.
1t was not very great while after this
that the pass was again presented by the
Secretary of Mr.. Blaine, and, as before it
was taken up and turned into the Office of
the company. Not many days afterward the
officers OF the company received letter from
Washington from q friend of Mr.. Blaine
stating that he was sorry that the pass had
been taken up, but that Mr.. Blaine desires
its return. By this time the President of the
company had not only lost patience in the
matter, but was surprised that a person of
Mr. Blaine's intelligence should have treated
the pass as be bad done. He also wrote TO
Washington expressing his feelings, stating
that he felt hurt end intimating that there
would be no chance for a repetition of the
ofeuse.
This was the beginning of a correspond
ence, and among this correspondence we're
letters from several persons acting in the in.
terest of Mr.. Blaine and authorized to speak
for him. They stated that the railroad CON-
pany was pursuing very foolish policy,
and intimated in terms which were unmis
taxable that If it desired the aid of Mr..
Blaine, instead Of his opposition, it would
be well to comply with the request for a re-
turn of the pass.
An officer of the company, who furnishes
the information, stated in relating the cir
cumstances to a reporter of the Record that
it was at time when the company had large
interests before Congress 1t was interested
in the mail service bills. and also in the pro-
posed National Line of railway from Wash
ington TO Philadelphia, New York, Boston,
and other points. The success of the latter
scheme would have been largely prejudicial
to the welfare of both the Philadelphia, Will
miDgton and Baltimore and the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Companies. Both of these
companies at the time OF the correspond
ence with Mr.. Blame and his friends, were
using their utmost efforts to defeat the
scheme of the National Line of railroad es-
pecially.
I'VE certainly did not desire the opposi-
tion OF the Speaker OF the House, with all
of his influence" said the officer of the COM
paDy. He then continued: II conferred
with the Baltimore and Ohio people, and
told them that our road was certainly enti-
tied to some respect but after measuring
our strength found that we could not afford
to incur any opposition. On the 9th of July.
1870, reluctantly complied with the request
of Mr.. Blaine. and forwarded him his pass
through Hon. G.. TWichell, of Massachusetts,.
We retained Mr.. Blaine's friendship, but at
a cost more bitter than ones honor and dig
nifty like to pay very Often"