The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-16

Why did not Representative Whately IN
troduce his bill making it unlawful Tor
members of the legislature. judges and rail-
road commissioners to accept free passel
earlier in the ssssion? The session is 50 near
its end and there is so much other important
business that must be ATTENDED to that there
is not much probability that 1t Will receive
attention. 1t is a very good bill, however,
and it should become law. 1t IS rather
remar kable that the alliance has not recon-
mended legislation to remedy the free pass
| evil. The only reason why it has not that
suggests itself is that perhaps alliance offi-
cials travel over the state free of charge
1t has bsen frequently stated, and not de-
MED that prominent eIliancemsn are given
free passes whenever they ask for them.
It will hardly be denied that the custom
Of giving members of the legislature free
passes costs the state many times more than
the amount which the members. by means
of the custom, put into their pockets. Be-
ing able to 60 to their homes and return to
the capitol whenever they want to, free OF
charge, they neglect their public duties.
Very often during this session there has
been no quorum in either thu House or the
Senate, and no important business could be
transacted. The absent members
were at their homes attending
to their private affairs. But they
would not have been if it had not
been for the fact that it cost them nothing
to travel. The free passes, therefore. have
prolonged the session and increased the bur-
dens of the Taxpayers many thousands OF
| 70 L. AL,oe
were protesting against the free passes to
legislators. They ara about as great suffer
ers as the railroads
The railroads are not to be blamed for
issuing free passes to members of the legis-
lature. 1t is true they get nothing in re-
turn for them, as they do. for instance, from
the newspaper, but they are afraid to
withhold them. They feel that if they were
not liberal with free passes they would be
made the subjects of legislation that would
damage them to an amount far greater than
the value Of the free passes. To save them
selves from possible harm, therefore, they
give legislators the freedom of their lines.
They do not, Of course, issue free passes as
brides, but what right have legislators to
accept theml Taey get mileage from the
state. How can they conscientiousy vote
themselves mileage when the railroads
charges them nothing for transportation
And it is question whether the railroads
are not heavy losers by the free pass sys-
tenn. A legislator who accepts favors from
the railroads very naturally wants TO make
it appear that he is not influenced by the
favors, and is therefore apt to allow him
self to take stand against railroads even
when there is no justice in his doing So
The truth is free passes unfit legislators
judges and commissioners from dsa ling
justly with railroads. Conscious that they
are under obligations to the roads
it is impossible for them to act i'm
partially upon questions affecting rail-
road interests. however hard they
may try. Although their intentions
may be honest the effect of free passes is tc
prevent them from reaching the conclu-
sions they otherwise would. The passage
of Mr.. Whately's bill, therefore, would be 6
: long step in the direction OF reform.