St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-12

is the amendment of which Mr.. Plumb
some time since gave notice prohibiting
members of congress, officials of the gov
eminent and their families from
ACCEPTING FREE PASSES
and prohibiting railroad companies from
| giving them such passes or reduced rates.
To this Mr.. Teller offered an amendment
prohibiting any of the subsidized railroads
from giving free passes. Mr.. Teller
doubted the propriety of putting this class
of legislation in this bill. He would be
willing at any time to vote for general
bill on the subject. Mr.. Edmunds said if
Mr.. Teller would extend the provisions of
his amendment so as to cover not only sub
sidy roads but all roads coming within the
purview of the act, he (Mr. Edmunds)
would favor it. Mr.. Teller modified his
amendment accordingly. Mr.. Logan said
the proposition about free passes was max
ing this bill ridiculous. They were dealing
with this matter in way to induce the
country to believe that members of the
United States congress were afraid of them
selveS-afraid to trust their own honesty.
Congress had been in hurry to deny its
own members the franking privilege while
allowing every clerk in the departments to
use penalty envelopes. In his state the
legislature had prohibited its members from
1NSNt'ih7 1olllOdO pdSoCSs w HG! UECduS0
the members wanted the people to think
they were
MORE HONEST THAN OTHERS.
Yet he noticed the members travelled ND
and down the railroads just the same. 1t
could not be stopped. 1t was this kind Of
weakness i'll legislation that caused the
country to think legislators were dishonest.
He (Mr. Logan did not propose to tell his
constituents that he could be bought with
railroad pass. They did not believe he
could. 1t was about time for men to act
like honest men. Mr.. Edmunds said he
had regarded the franking privilege as one
involving the matter Of public communica-
ton with the people by their representa-
tives, and so had voted against its removal.
but the principle of keeping members of
congress free from bias had existed in our
statutes long time. These members were
prohibited from having interests in govern
ment contracts or claims. All that the
senator from Illinois (AIr. Logan had said
about leading the people to think congress
men were corrupt would if correct, apply
to the laws Mr. Edmunds had indicated.
Yet the laws were declared wise and nobody
had thought OF repeating them. Railroad
passes rested on the same principle
Mr.. ingalls, said he was personally OBJ
posed to the proposed amendment, though
it had been his duty, acting for Mr.. Plumb,
and at his request to present it. He was
sorry his colleague was unable to be present
to support it. He ridiculed the proposition
covered by the proposed amendment, and
on motion of Mr.. Logan it was
LAID ON THE TABLE.
Some discussion arose as to the effect of
the bill on clergymen, and to avoid doubt
MIR. Brown secured an amendment provid-
ing that the restrictions of the bill as to re-
duced fares should not apply to ministers
of religion. Mir. Edmunds secured a SIM
liar amendment as to agricultural conven-
lions and army society meetings. Mr..
Brown moved to make the bill applicable to
river rates as well as to railroads. saving
that the Mississippi river steamboats, prae-'
| ticed all the worst determinations COM
planned of as against the railroads, and he
saw no reason why the boats engaged on
that river should be exempt from the re-
strictions attempted to be put on railroads.
The amendment was rejected. An amend
ment offered by Mr.. Spooner was agreed to
applying the word ''unlawfulo to the dis
ordinations contained by the bill so as to
bring breaches of its provisions within the
| technical meaning of the penal clause. A
modification of the long and short haul
clause was suggested by Mr.. Edmunds.
The modification was to restore to the
clause the words land from the same point
of departure, which had been struck cut
by the adoption of Mr.. Camdens amehd-
ment, and to add Immediately afterwards
''or to the same point of arrival" The bill
was finally ordered reprinted as amendeds
and the senate adjourned. me- OF,