The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-12-17
FREE PASSES A THING OF TEE PAST.

FREE PASSES A TH1NG OF 7HE PAST.
Senator Woodward, OF Fairfield, intro
duced bill in the Senate, which passed
chat body and was sent to the House,
forbidding the using of Sree passes over
railroads by any member of the Senate
or Honse, State or National, or State or
County official, or Judge Of any Court Of
Record in the State. The penalty provi-
ded Is fine of five hundred dollars or
six months imprisonment for violation
of the Statute, and the same penalty is
provided for any railroad Official Offering
such pass.
1t will be remem bered that Gov. Till
man accepted free pass within few
weeks after coming into Office, notwith-
standing that the Capt. Tillman of a few
months before had so bitterly and out
rageously denounced State officers for
accepting and using passes.
When the Bill went to the House the
Railroad Committee reported on it adj
versely, and when 1t came up for discus
sion an attempt was made to kill it, but
the stinging speech Of Col. John G. Has,
kell, reported below, was irresistible, and
the Bill passed by u vote Of Is yeas to II
nays.
The writhing Of the free-passers dur
ing the delivery OF FIaskell's speech
must have been pitiful to witness, and
the force Of his well-timed rebukes must
have cut to the heart. We take the fol-
lowing account Of tie discussion from
the State
Col. Haskell's speech was the sensation
of the day. It was scathing excori-
alton Of the politicians who so fippantly
denounced others for taking railroad
passes and then, when they came in
passes, express franks, etc. He spoke as
follows 3.
IT hope the enacting words will not be
stricken from this bill. During the cam
vass which resulted in the election of the
present Legislature, Of Governor Tillman
and his followers, there was no one thing
more bitterly denounced than the .accep-
tance by the Legislators and State officials
Of complimentary passes from the rail-
roads. Of all the many slanders that the
present Governor 80 vigorously and per-
sistently uttered against the good name
and fame of the State none was more
persistently pressed than this-that they
accepted free passes as bribes from the
railroads. On every hustirgs he and his
satellites denounced the practice, claim
ing that no honest man would accept
pass, and that any man that did accept a
pass took it as bribe or in payment of
services rendered. Their followers
among the people applauded to the echo
whenever this charge was made and these
principles were laid down.
son this, as their battle cry, they won,
but were scarcely in their seats before we
find that having bitterly denounced the
practice as we'll as the eprinciple, the passes
that were first issued by the great railroad
systems were issued to them. Pass No.
is held by one of them and closely fol-
almost consecutiyely tho first numbers on
the free lists.
siNot only did the railroads issue these
passes, but we find that the express COM
panies responded to the invitation, and
that they, too, were lavish to the execu-
tive. to his cabinet and to his representa-
tives on the floor of the General Assem-
bly. in issuing franks with which, il is
said, that their farm produce goes to Au-
custa and other markets free, and all that
thew need ia brought from the uttermost
parts of the earth where express compa-
MES go, absolutely free of cost.
ssWhat in the former administration, in
an infinitely smaller degree, was proof
positive of bribes taken, they took ten
fold. Some felt scruples at taking passes
which had their names written on them.
They had to be showed to conductors;
there was danger that they might be pub
lished as travelling on annua!s. For
their benefit thousand-mile books were
sent down in patches, which any inquis-
tive party seeing, would suppose were
bought.
"i have been in the South Carolina
Legislature for twelve years. Until JAM
uaTy. 1890, I was attorney for the largest
railroad system in this State. Wherever
it issued passes I knew of them. say
here, and 1 will, if the matter is question
ed, prove it, that this present Reform ad-
ministration has received more FREQ
passes in one year than were issued al
together in ten years preceding it, to the
unregeneratc and sinful government
which it displaced.
"I challenge them 10 publish their pro-
test"
Mr.. John Gary Evans "Where is your
proof?'
Mr.. Haskell: II can furnish 1t, but i
do not propose to furnish the names of
men who took free passes unless they
deny it. Whoever is not guilty of this
practice among you let him rise here and
say So"
Mr.. Patterson, of Barnwell: I have no
free pass.
bat> >pone. 4~don't know that any was
offered you.
Col. Haskell then advanced to the mid
die aisle, and the interest grew very great
as he did so.
"Now," he continued, "that>Yhich the
chosen leaders of tho reform movement
denounced as bribery and corruption, on
the part Of their political antagonists,
should be stamped out by those who are
here to carry out the policy OF their lead
err. -,
:sIfit strikes his head then let it fall
where it belongs.
"If the cap fits him and his satellites,
well, then, let them wear 1t.