The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-13
JUDGES And PASSES.
Another Upright Kansas Judge
is Discovered
Who Doesn't Ride on Free Rail-
road Passes.
HE is A DEMOCRAT.
His Name is John T. Burris,
Tenth District.
Senator Martin Interviewed on
the Pass Question.

Another member Of the Kansas judi
ciary has been discovered who does not
accept railroad passes, and who does not
propose 70 allow even the suspicion of
being Influenced by corporate power to
rest upon his official acts.
Judge John T. BnEfis OF Olathc, John
son county, a Democrat, rafuseAto accept
free transportation from the railroads
and pays his fare like other passengers
when he rides on the 4carss~
The Western Spirit, Barney Sherf-
dams paper, published at Paola, says:
sJudQe John 4. Burris of this the
Tenth Judicial district, was up for re-
electIon in 1898 as Democfatic nomi-
nee and the Populists tried every wayto
beat him. They supported old Gill who
had not practiced law for eleven years,
and who, though admitted to the bar
long ago, never really was lawyer. And
yet it was we'll known that Judge Burris,
who went upon the bench here IN Janu-
ary. 1890, returned all the passes sent
him by the railroads and has ia every in
stance paid his fare.''
There may be a few other judges in
the state who don't ride on railroad
passes, and if there are they should come
out frankly and say so. As it now stands
just three Kansas judg ges-Justice Allen
OF the supreme court. Populist: Judge
z. Z. Hazen Of the Shawnee county dis
tricl court. Republican. and Judge John
Il. Burris of the Tenth judicial district,
Democrat, are known TO be worthy Of
having their names inscribed upon the
roll of honor as the judges who want
their records to be above sus picion.
a Santa Fe official who has something
to do with the giving out OF passes, in
conversation with STATE JOURNAL re-
porter on this subject, said: s.Ihe JOUR-
NAL is attracting considerable attention
by its fight on the use of passes by judges
and state officers. You people must
be having lots of fun, but you max
ia u lot OF fellows uneasy. The pass
business can't be changed, however; it
has become one of the settled customs Of
the nation aud its continuation is as GER
tain as the continuation of the govern
ment. All the judges in Kansas use
passes and why shouldn't they, but the
men who make the most use of their
passes are the sheriffs of some Of the
western counties who ride on passes and
charge their railroad fare up to the coun-
~ at regular rates. When they take
prisoners to the penitentiary they ride on
passes and the county foots the bill just
the same as if they didn't have FREQ trans
portation. This is the principal income
of some of the county officials of west
ern Kansas and they would kick in great
shape If the pass business should be
done away with. But it wont; it may he
lots of fun making the fight but it can't
amount to anything"
United States Senator John Martin
rides on railroad passes aud says he al
ways expects to.
A JOURNAL reporter who talked with
him on his return from Washington call
ed his attention to the question of rail
road passes by judges and other public
officials.
senator, do you ride on railroad
passe 81" asked the reporter.
The senator paused moment and then
said: "Yes, of course / do; l have passes
on all the railroads in Kansas and have
had for twenty years and / ride on my
passes whenever l have occasion to-
Every judge aud every state official in
Kansas has and always has had passes
on the railroads aud they use them too
and have no patience with this dema-
goguery. l have always had railroad
passes and / always expect to have
had passes when I was in the legislature
and l voted against the railroads. too.
All the passes / have ever had never in
huenced my vote in the least and | don't
believe other pass holders are influenced
in that way"
sDo you ride on Pullman pass sena-
torg''
mo, do not; I must say that have
never been honored with Pullman pass,
but if l had one | would most surely use
it. It costs me about $26. l pay the Pull
man company that much money for
sleeper and meals every time 1 20 TO
Washington and back and a pass would
be a very acceptable saving. / don't
know personally of any senators who
have Pullman passes. and I don't believe
there are a half dozen who hold that
kind of transportation. The Pullman
company is not as free with its passes as
the railroads are.
~ liked Senator Sherman's resolution
and would like to vote for it. / hope that
matter will be pushed"