The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-04

-
all grades and Of all Varieties Of ser
vice In these last cases the pass
system was particularly obnoxious
and baneful for if any return was to
he made or was expected of pubhc
officers, it was of something which
was not theirs to give. but which be-
Ionged to the public or to constitu-
ents.
y ticket emitting one to free pass
age by rail was often more effective
% enlisting the assistance and s1p-
port Of the holder than its value in
money would have been, aud in a
great many cases it would be receiv-
ed and availed of when the offer OF
money, made to accomplish the same
end, would have been spurned as
Urlbe. Much suspicion of public
men resulted, which was sometimes
jIst, but aleO sometimes uOiust and
cruel; and some deterioration Of the
moral sense of the community, trace
able TO this cause, was unavoidable
while the abuse continued, The
parties most frequently and most
largely favored were those possess
ing large means and having large
business interests.
The general fact came to be that
IN proportion to the distance they
we're carried those able to pay the
most paid the least.
One without means had seldom
any ground on which to demand free
transportation, while With wealth he
was likely to have macy grounds on
which he could make it for the in
terest Of the railroad company to
favor him, and he was sometimes
favored with free transportation not
only for himself and his family but
for business agCn:3 also, and even
sometimes for his customers. The
demand for free transportation was
often in the nature of fblackmaiI, and
was yielded to unWillngly and
through fear Of damaling cOnse-
Quences from q refusal. But the
evils we're present as much when 1t
wa extortcd as when it was freely
eiYnn.
~.op, reader! 60 back to the be-
glunlng Of this article, and read 1T
over again and then again; for 2I-
most every sentence deserves to be
undcrscored and particularly in2-
pressed 1pOn ycur memory. Re>
member that the interstate commerce
commits sion is composed Of learned ,
patriotic and able men of national
r'putat.on that these gentlemen ::
Thomas NJ, Cooley William r.
Morrison, Augustus Suhoonmaker ,
Aldace f. Walker and Walter L.
Bragg, all men Of integrity and abil
ity and SO regarded by all men, have
thoroughly investigated this subject
and know whereof they speak. See
what they say of the free pass sys-
tenn: "particularly obaoxlous and
baneful - "a ticket emitting one to
free passage by rail was often more
effective in enlisting the assistance
and support of the holder than its
value in money would have been, and
in a great many cases it would be
received aud avalIed of when the
offer Of money, made to accomplish
the s}me end would have been
spurned as a bribe.' For what pur
pose do tue railroad mana Jers issue
free passes to our congressman, our
| legislators, our J1dges, our Solicitors
/ and our State officers? Is it because
/ these parsons are any more entitled
to free transportation than tie hum
blest and poorest citIzea who helps
TO pay taxes to support the convicts
thai build and repair these railroads?
! Don't you know, my reader. that
these passes are given TO these pub
lie officers for the purpose Of obtains
ing their assistance in the perform
ance of their official duties? Doy
suppose, or are you so blind as t.
/ believe that these passes are glyer
. because. of anJ personal regard.
just ask yourself the question, every
day fer a week, ana ak every mar
YOU met dDrng tIat time, and if at
the end Of the week you still believ,
these passes are given for no sinister
Purpose, then poor simple creature
i am sorry for you. ask every
person who reads this article, every
evening after supper, as he sits. OF
the porch enjoying hunseIf with his
family and his good neI eI9hbors VIII,
! have dropped in for a social chat Il
discuss this que@-on: " ny is 1t tt&
0,- C+,Fo Caioorg Our ;,,50oS On