Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-03-01
FREE PASSES.

| In the House of Delegates on Saturday
the bill prohibiting members of the General
Assembly and officers of the Government
from receiving free passes came up as a
special order.
Mr.. Mallory, of Brunswick, said that the
measure smacked of demagogery, and he
stood ready to vote against it.
Mr.. Hay, of Madison, thought the people
demanded that some action should be taken
in regard to this free pass question. 1t was
right that some such measure should pass
in order to meet that distrust which was in
the peoples minds, when they were inform
ed that the judges who tried the cases be-
tween the railroads and the people had
these passes in their pockets. He did not
mean for moment to intimate that any
Judge or any legislator was influenced in
his action by these passes, but the judicial
ry and law makers of this State should be
above suspicion.
Mr.. Buchanan, the patron of the bill, said
he was as little in the habit of bringing out
demagogery bills as any man on the floor of
the house, and that there were people all
over the Commonwealth who thought the
measure good one. He referred to the
fact that certain railroad companies were
unable to pay dividends or the wages Of
employees, and yet they would give away
free passes by the dozen. He stated that
since he introduced the bill he had received
letters from railroad companies and persons
in different parts of the State requesting
him to press the matter, rs it was the very
thing that was needed. He said there was
time in Eogland when Lord Chancellor
Bacon received gifts from both sides, and to
this day there is stain upon his name that
will last for all time to come.
Mr.. Wise asked Mr.. Buchanan if it was
not antagonistic to the Bill of Rights.
Mr. Buchanan, replying, said that the
State elected her officers, and had the pow.
er and right to say that they could not re-
ceive free passes.
Mr.. Munlord, of Pittsylvania, said
the bill is designed to prevent the officials
who assessed the railroads of this Common
wealth, the judges who pass upon grave
questions between citizeus and these corpo-
.rations in their courts, and the members OF
this General Assembly, who have TO legis-
late upon questions involving the interests
Of these roads, from accepting free passes
over railroads and placing themselves under
pecnniary obligations to these corporations.
Mr.. Downing, of Clarke and Warren, re-
filted the charge that the measure was dem
agogical. II, said he, represent upon this
floor the view of my constituents OF the
counties of Clarke and Warren, then | may
be called demagogue. The idea ajudge
sitting upon the bench with free pass in
his pocket was horrible to him.
Mr.. Wise asked Mr.. Downing if he had
ever used free pass since he was mem
Der of the Legislature. He replied that he
had not.
Mr. Wise next asked: Has the gentleman
from Warren been home this session?
Mr.. Downing replied have, sir, and
have paid my way every time.
Mr. Wise; Then l think the gentleman
ought TO have monument. Laughter.
Mr.. Downing: would rather have
monument with the inscription, mo Free
Passes" than one that would sui. the gen.
tleman from Williamsburg. with the inscrip-
ton, Free Passes"
Mr.. Downing, continuing, said: II am
here to represent the views of the people nf
the counties of Clarke and Warren. which |;
are adverse to members of the Legislature :