Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-19

d hat a public official elected by the grace of
a railroad manager is but too apt to become
" tool in his hands needs no proof. Both
gratitude and fear tie the average politician
to the powerful forces which can control his
political destiny.
The railroad manager, on the other hand,
always kindly remembers his oficc-holding
friends as long as they are loyal and in a
position TO serve him. Before the enact
ment of the interstate act there
was every year a wholesale distribution of
railroad passes among public Office holders
and other prominent politicians. The pass
was the token of the continued good will of
the railroad dignitaries, as the withholding
of the courtesy" was a certain indication of
their displeasure. IL the Office holder had
personal or political friends whom he desired
to nave recognized an intimation of this de-
sire was generally sufficient to have the pass
privilege even extended to them. And yet
these favorS were not bestowed indiScrim-
inately. Thus the pass credit of a county
official was more limited than that OF an
officer of the state, and the latter class were
again rated according TO their influence and
rank. Furthermore, while annual passes
were thus freely distributed among one class
of officials, Others could obtain them only by
making special application for them. Mem
bers of the legislature would not unfre-
quently receive their supply Of railroad
passes before their certificates Of election
were issued, but legislative committee clerks
and employees In the various departments of
| inc StlIe government were required TO SAT-
| isfy the railroad authorities that they were
in n position to aid or to injure the railroad
cause before their names were placed on the
list Of persons entitled to the courtesy"
Corrupting the Courts.
OF course the judiciary, as a coordinate
branch of the government, could not well be
sighted, Indeed, previous to the enactment
of the interstate commerce law a/judge
would have regarded it as an affront If he
had not been furnished with passes by the
various companies operating roads in his
district. 1t appears that the law has not
entirely corrected this abuse, for only about
two years ago the Chicago News made the
discovery that nearly every judge in the
city of Chicago travelled on passes. III is
strange to what extent the pass often de-
based the judiciary. 1t was not unfrequent
for judges to solicit passes for families and
friends, and instances might be named
where they demanded them in q wholesale
way.
The impudent demands were usually hon
ored by the railroad authorities, who rea-
soned that they could better AFFORD to bear
the shameless affrontery of the ermined ex-
tortioner than the damage which might re-.
suit to them from adverse decisions.
A railroad pass, when presented by q pub
lie Official or even by any public man, Is now,
in nine cases out OF ten, n certificate of dis
honor and q token Of servility. and is sc
recognized by railroad officials. What equiva'
lent railroad companies expect for the pass
courtesy Is we'll illustrated " INC expert
encc of an. Iowa judge. This gentleman, who
had been on the bench for years and always
had been favored with passes by the various
companies operating lines in his district, a.
the beginning of a new year failed TO receive
tho customary pass from a leading road
Meeting its chief attorney he took occasion
TO call his attention TO what he supposed Il
have been an oversight on the part of the
officer charged with the distribution o
passes. The attorney seemed to take in TIT
situation at once. 'Judge," said he, "dit
you not recently decide an important cas-
against our companyln "And was my de
i cision, ~ replied the judge, mot in accordanc'
1 with law as well as with iusticel' The al
) torney did not answer this question, but il
: the course of a few days the Judge receives
; the desired pass. A few months later i
again became the judges unpleasant duty l.
/. render a decision adverse 10 the same CON
pany. This second act Of judicial independ
) ence was not forgiven, and the next time n
presented his pass IL was unceremoniousl
taken up by the conductor in the presence Q
: a large number OF passengers, and he wa
0 required to pay his fare.
Plucking the Cash Traveller.
Q Employees while engaged IN the legitimat
business of their companies should, {
S course, be transported free, but a grea
i, many persons receive passes and are classe
q as employees who never render any legit
S mate seryics for the company giving III
o pass, aud by far the greater portion
the passes are not granted from pure m
J tiyesi but are given for the purpose OF CO