Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-03-14

=
to know. and of which every member
ought to be, as NO doubt not many OF
them are, heartily ashamed. We do
! not blame any person. for requesting or
! accepting railroad pass. As long as
passes are issued, one person is as good
as another, and as muck entitled to
ride free. The whole thing is wrong
at tho fountain. Passes ought not to
be issued to any person except for
legitimate service rendered. Every
person that rides on roailroad cars
ought to pay the usual fare. But as
long as it is the custom to issue passes
anybody may be excused for both ask
ing and receiving them. 1t is on that
theory that we do not object to mem-
bers of the legislature accepting passes
for themselves; but we do object to
their asking passes for their friends
We may be answered that it is a
private matter and is therefore none of
our business. But it is not private
matter; and this is not written as a
grievance OF a private individual.
Every right and privilege which a
railroad company has is received from
the people; a railroad is a public high
way belonging absolutely to the people.
the company being simply permitted to
occupy and use it for the public con-
venience. A railroad company has no
authority and mo right to discriminate
in favor Of orIagainst anybody. 1t has
no authority tr right to carry one per-
son free while it requires payment from
another. 1t is all wrong, wholly wrong,
wrong in principle, unjust and corrupt
ing in practice Men and women came
up from different parts of the state,
travelling on passes procured for them
by members of the legislature. And
this was not limited to families of the
members; it applies to other persons as
well. They not only came from their
homes and returm I'd on such passes, but
there were instain ,es of two such trips
being made during the session. And
there were pleasure trips to other parts
of the state made in like manner. And
what is worse, u possible, some Of
these favored pc rsons were drawing
pay at the rate Of s3 per day from the
state as clerks VI ller the control Of the
legislature. It is well known here by
all persons who noted the proceedings,
fhat uooot of tho - ~r~o;%<oo oyo.l-, OIL
all the enrolling Gle rks had nothing to
do until the last few days of the session.
Speaking on some n natter pertinent to
this, Senator Rush, in his proper place
in the senate, the after part of last
week, stated that NOT one committee
clerk, except those of the Commttee
on Ways and Means and judiciary, had
done thirty-six hours work until the
present week. More than forty enroll
ing clerks were absolutely with0t
work nes.rly if not q, ute six weeks of
the session. This wi aole proceeding is
scandaious. Every :andidate for the
legislature in 1890 on ght to pledge him
self in favor of the pa ssage of a law to
prohibit the issuance Of free railroad
passes, and the adoption of rule:pro-
hibiting the employment of any clerks
for any purpose until their services are
needed, to be paid only for the time
employed.
Another matter: The House report
says:
There was u warm discussion over
the item allowing miVoago in various
sums to members of tue house who had
been appointed on committees to visit
state institutions and enduct investi-
cations. MIR. Jones cls Imed these gen.
tlemen travelled on rail road passes and
were not entitled. Mr.. Jones demand
ed the yeas and nays on his motion to
strike out the item.
The motion was lost.
A member of the Legislature is al
lowed fixed salary-$3 Fer day and
mileage (15 cents mile) coming and
going. WhensMembers ar sent away
from the state capital, ch arged with
official duties, they are enl tiled to be
reimbursed their actual ira yelling ex-
penses, and also all extraon iinaIy ex-
penses which were necesssl y. But to
allow them Is cents mile f0 distance
travelled when it did not cuat them a
cent, cannot be excused on aEy reason
able ground. We und eTstand what it
IS to have an appropriation Hn N hand
when votes are needed to carry 1T, and
tnat does not make it right.