The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-14
SOME ODD FREE PASS NOTES.
From a Railroad Mans Experience,
showing the Extent of the Evil.

From a Railroad Mans Experience.
Showing the Extent of the Evil.
The Railroad Gazette prints an inter
esting batch of notes from the chief exec
utive officer of one of the principal trunk
lines of the country, who is called MIR. X,
touc hing upon the free pass question
They give US a striking picture of the
ram ificatiOns of this abuse, and inciden-
tally bring into view some of the weak
nesses of the average human being.
The case of the judge is worth mention
ing, says these notes of Mr.. X A legal
officer of the railroad says that when he
was arranging for certain case to come
before this Judge in the circuit court the
nudge asked if he would not get a pass,
which he the judge held, changed to in
clude his wife. The lawyer says, Il could
not do less than say that I would make
the request, as we have another case to
be brought before him next Wednesday"
So the judges pass was sent to Mr.. X,
swithout expressing my opinion of the
man" We regret that that Judge never
had chance to know what the lawyer
and Mr. X thought of him. The Judges
are perhaps not the worst offenders, but
il seems to US particularly odious that
they should ask for passes. One who has
lost his annual writes for trip pass.
Two others, district judges, ask the local
agent to procure trip passes for them.
Another one, a circuit judge, asks the
deputy United States marshal to do this
business for him.
The clergy is not so largely represented
In this batch of letters as in some others
that we have seen, but there are some
fragrant cases. One reverend gentleman
returns a half-fare pass and says: ALLOW
me to thank you for and to return the
1ly (which hind to
send me. l do not intend using it. but
rather to throw my little influence on the
other (rivaD road as a matter of greater
convenience and advantage" A clergy
man and editor of religious paper says
that he is touring through the Atlantic
cities and writing up localities and
routes - and asks for pass over the road
in question, saying that he will, of course,
take pleasure in complimenting it as a
return.
OF course, public officers of high and
low degree appear increasingly in this
batch of letters These men ask with
serene confidence for passes for them
selves, their wives, their children ana
sometimes for strangers within their
gates One letter is from a prosecuting
attorney in a western state. He says
that he had asked for pass a couple of
months before and had received a printed
blank saying that in accordance with
the policy of the. company it could
not be granted" or something like
that. Concerning this he says: mo
doubt you are greatly troubled for
passes. but to send me letter like that,
with additional words that you would
like my cooperation in carrying out this
much needed reform, and refusing to
grant me the pass, is rather presumptu-
Gus, for have daily to grant favors of
law of a great state for your railroad.
You give passes to judges whOses salaries
are much larger than mine" and more to
the same effect The deputy attorney
general Of a western state, who is going
is get married, would like pass for him
self and wife, and adds that he will feel
under many obligations, This request
was declined.
One of the most impudent letters from
state official, almost as impudent in fact
as that of the prosecuting attorney, is
from an inspector of illuminating oils He
wants pass for himself, and he incloses
also list of his deputies, limiting mildly
that IL might be worth while to have them
in mind. He is persistent fellow, his
letters turning up in successive years, and
when his request is declined he asks for
a reconsideration becad use very large
quantities of oil are shipped over the road
into the state of which he is an officer,and
he will have good deal to do in the way
of establishing depots of inspection, and
so influencing the direction of trade. Of
course this man only wants the opportu-
nifty to become a rogue and indeed is
counting that opportunity.
A former speaker of the national House
of Representatives asks for passes for his
wife, his wife's sister and her cousin.
The Northumberland of a state asks
for an annual and says: 'In appointing
my committees | have favored the rail
roads, believing that the interests of the
state demanded it." A member of the
House of Representatives of another state
asks for an annual, saying that he is
aware that the constitution of the state
interdicts the granting of passes, but va
riOus railroads have given passes to his
illegal brothers. as attorneys, so he seems
to think that the law can be neatly
evaded and the petty fraud committed
upon his cons tituents, and he keep out of
Jail.
A particularly persistent fellow is the
speaker of the House of Representatives
of western state He has received the
superintendent letter saying that he is
not authorized to grant passes to mem
bers of the legislature, except while the
legislature is in session, but he explains
that he is the speaker of the House, and
therefore expects and receives special
privileges, and has in fact received an
nual passes from all the other railroads
from WhlCh ne mas asked them.
The chairman of a state political cam.
paign committee modestly asks passes for
period covering the campaign for TWEEN
ty-one persons, in order that they may
make thorough canvass of the state.
he says: Although the ideas of our
party may not fully accord with your
own, 1t is very certain that in the event
OF success we may be able to do you
some substantial favors.n A man writes
from the hall of representatives of the
state and says that he has done much to
defeat bills affecting the road and would
like an annual. An official of state
prison expresses obligation for the SUI
perlntendent,s uneXampled generosity in
complying with his request for half
fare pass, and adds should it ever fall in
my way to do you favor, shall GER
talnly improve the opportunity"
one obnoxious letter is from the editor
OF the agricultural columns of an impor-
tant provincial paper. He has received
printed circular, replying to his re-
quest for a trip pass, and regret
tlng that the pass cannot be sent He
mas Tor great many years been con
nleoted with the agricultural press, and
done more than any one man to increase
agricultural production, by which rail-
roads live, and now this Insignificant re-
quest for trip pass for 200miles and re-
turn is declined. VERY well; the day is
past whan railroads pha11 frllp thu world