The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-25
The Railroad Pass in the Present Not What
1t Was In the Past-Governor Tillman
Aptly Comprehends the Intent and
Purposes OF the "Co urtesy."
GSpecial to Charleston World. I

CDpClul " Nutll IeSloll fNNA4N.
COLUMB1A, June efficiently a
good deal has been said by the press
about the acceptance Of railroad
passes by Governor Tillman and his
''official family" To ascertain from
Headquarters what there was in it, a
World.Budget representative asked
Governor Tlllman to-day whether there
was any truth in the statement that he
had pass; if 50, what he had to say
about it?
When the reporter asked thequestion
point blank about the pass, the COVER
nor laughed and said:
II notice some editorial brethren,
who habitually use these little pieces
of paste board, very much disturbed of
late about my accepting like courtesy
from the railroad authQritfes. Without
solicitation or intitnation on my part
that I should like such a thing, the
managers of the Richmond and Dan
Vile and South Carolina railways sent
me passes sometime in January. To
show how they were received you can
get the official copy book and print my
letter to Col: McBee."
The official copy book being produced,
the following letter was found bearing
on the subject:
COLUMBIA, Jan. q, 1881.
V. E. McBee, Asheville: Sir-Some lime
since received a complimentary pass over
the Richmond and Danville system in South
Carolina, accompanied by your cared. Ny first
Impulse was to return 1t, with thankS, be-
cause Ihave in the past criticised the Legis-
lature and other officers, an1 do not clre to
be placed in false position. But AFTER thlnk.
ing the matter over, have decided to accept
your courtesy in the spirit in which am
sure you offered 1T. You know me too well to
think for an instant can be Influenced by
SO small thing and don't want aIi to appear oa,
pliment for bribe. will therefore keep the
pass, and use it when occasion offers.
Thanking You kindly, am very truly, etc.,
E. B. R. TILLMAN,
Governor Of South Carolina.
In the same connection it is not out
of place to state that the governor has
a 2,OOO-mile book, purchased by him,
before he had ever received the courtesy:
of pass.
1t is also learned that other state Off
cials have passes, but in all cases they
have them- bY-the- usual courtesy Of
railroads.
TIE DISCUSSION "VERY CONTEMPT
BLE," SAYS GOVERNOR TILLMAN.
The following is what the Columbia
correspondent of the News and Courier
says of this free pass business under
same date as above.
"An amusing inquiry is being con-
Quoted to-day by an enterprising cor
respondent to ascertain whether the
State officials have free passes on all, OF
some, or none of the railroads. Some
of the officials have passes, and
some have passes and 1000 mile tickets,
and some buy tickets when they leave
their passes home. One of the officials
has pass No. on the Richmond and
Danville Railroad and Others have
higher tickets numerically speaking.
All Of the officials who spoke on the
subject to-day said that the passes were
rendered and were accepted under such
explicit conditions that the railroads
offering the same could be in no doubt
as to the effect or result Of the tender
Of the courtesies. In fact, it is said that
when the first pass was rendered a
meeting of the officials was held to
discuss the situation.
"Governor Tillman was asked If he
had anything special or general to say
on the free pass emeute. He said that
the agitation of the thing was very con-
temptible, but his views could be found
in his official letter book, part of the
public records"