The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-08-29
ANYTHING FOR A PASS.
STORIES ILLUSTRATIVE OF A WIDESPREAD D
HUMAN WEAKNESS.

Several Washington officials who
chanoed to meet the other evening
were lamenting the present scarcity Of
railroad passes, which deplorable state
of affairs was brought about by the
passage of the Interstate commerce
bill several years ago. Before that
time passes were plenty, and nearly
every man holding an important Office,
with any patronage attached thereto,
could display pocket-book well-lined
with the festive "trip and "annualr. 4"
Many of these fortunate pass holders
were generous in loaning them to their
friends, and numerous amusi g as well
as sorrowful incidents there were that
often befell the borrowers, as two or
three of the above gentlemen were
well aware, judging from the personal
experiences they related. One of
these gentlemen, who holds high po-
sition in government services in this
city, told the following adventure
which befell him while riding on an
other mans pass. SAID he;
ga number of years ago was about
to leave the western part of Pennsyl-
vania on trip to Washington when
| met friend, one Mr.. E, who was
then member Of the Leg stature of
that State. On learning of my pro-
posed trip he kindly offered to chalk
my hat as we called it in those days,
or, in other words, he rendered me the
use of his annual pass over the North
ern Central Railroad. Having been as.
sured by my friend that could easily
assume the role of a member of the
Pennsylvania Legislature pro tempore,
at any rate, accepted the offer and
went on my way rejoicing.
81 had been in the car only a few
minutes when my attention was called
to the apparent nervousness of seedy-
looking individu who sat near the
fro 1T of the CIR. AS the conductor ap-
preached, the seedy passengers unessi-
ness increased. But when the ticket-tak-
er finally reached him, the former drew
himself together, assumed as bold
front as his appearance would permit
and handed the conductor an annual
pass. The ticket-puncher scanned the
pass, brought his lantern square
around so its light glared full in the
face of the pass bearer and asked: you
are Mr.-are you' Are you member
of the Pennsylvania Legislaturef The
man, who looked more like a hungry
tramp than like a statesman, replied
that he was Mr.. -. A searching,
professionally doubling expression
came into the conductors face, which
seemed to say: 4 know you are lying,
but l cant very we'll prove it just now,
80 I'll have to let you ride. At any
rate he returned the pass, and re.
sumed his work of punching and tax
ing up tickets.
"You can perhaps imagine that the
interval between the conversation,
every word of which / overheard, and
the time the brass. buttoned railroad
official reached me was not the most
pleasant period in my life. Bot l was
determined not to back out, for l had
sufficient confidence in myself to think
that if that fellow in the front of the
car could work through on a pass not
his own, certainly had an equal
chance for doing the same. There
fore, l handed out my friends pass
with all the assurance l could muster,
and as the conductor took it and read
the name, he exclaimed: Il am very
glad to meet you, Mr. E., for you can
help me out of difficulty. Up ahead
of you few seats is a fellow who
claims to be Mr.. =, a member of the
Legislature. He offered me the lat
ter's pass, but have spotted him as a
dead beat You, however, can tell me
whether or not ain correct in SO
thinking
"This was getting interesting for
me. In order to gain time | asked
TITO which gentleman do you referI'
"The conductor turned around To
point out TO me the alleged imposter,
and after looking in all directions, ex,
exclaimed; why, the - scoundrel
has sneaked out
81 am a firm believer in specia
providences and | consider this escape
of mine from what might have been q
most embarrassing predicament as a
marked corroboration of my belief.
might add that this was the first and
last time l ever travelled on a pass not
made out in my own nsme."-Fron
the Washington Post.