The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-17
WAR ON PASSES.
New YOrk's Constitutional Con-
venti0n Decides
That State Officers Can Not
Accept Them.
SET THEM BY THE EARS
The Pass Discussion Stirs Up
the Convention.

ALBANY, Sept. 1.-THE amendment to
the constitution forbidding state and ju-
dicial officials from riding on passes has
been adopted by the constitutional con-
ventiOn by a vote of 90 to A
When Mr.. E. r. Browns amendment
to prevent the acceptance of railroad
passes by public officials was taken up,
sir. Choate thought that it would be we'll
10 make the amendment say that railroad
officials should be compelled to give the
names of all people who accept or ask
for pass. The members Of the cOnven-
ton seemed to be disposed to treat the
matter loosely. Mr.. Cassidy offered an
amendment to make the penalty impris-
onment for life, and Mr.. Kellogg offered
one to compel the acceptOr of a pass to
walk for the remainder of his natural
life. Both amendments were defeated
Mr.. Powell said the convention was
working away below its dignity and its
members were not honest, for they had,
all of them, passes in their pockets now
when he had offered resolution to pro-
hibit the mem bers of the convention from
using any passes and it had been laid on
the table.
Mr.. c. B. Mclaughlin and MIR. Nicoll
were against Mr.. Choate's amendment
Mr. Root said it would be a blot on the
fair name of the convention to reject
this amendment The giving of passes
in his opinion came dangerously near
being bribery, and it should be Iegis-
lated against in the constitution.
Mr.. Green denied that the ac ceptance
of a pass was in any way to be consider
ed as bride. He desired the members
who had passes in their pockets to join
him in declaring that the record would
show that their passes did not affect their
votes. Mr. GriswoId said that the rail-
roads should be made to grant transpor-
tation to all state officers. John Bige-
I0U of Nav York 0ifu fhnntrhf ho
amendment should be more general It
practically said that state officers might
be corrupted in any other way than by
passes. Delaney Nicoll Dem of New
York city said that the analogy Of the
bribery act should be followed and
the offense be placed upon the
public officers, whore it belongs,
and the companies kept as witnesses.
After comforting with Mr Nicoll Presi-
dent ChOate withdrew AN amendent pro-
posed by him and offered the following
as a substitute: mo person or officer or
agent of a corporation giving such free
pass, free transportation or Thanking priv
ilege or discrimination hereby prohibited
shall be privileged from testifying in re-
lation thereto, aud ne shall not be liable
to civil criminal prosecution therefor
if he shall testify to the giving Of the
same"
The discussion over the free pass
am endment was continued at the after
noon session. Mr. Nicoii offered the fol-
lowing amendment: "Any corporation
or officer or agent thereof who shall offer
Or promise to a public officer or person
elected or appointed to a public office
any such free pass, free transportation,
ranking privilege or discrimination shall
also be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
md liable to punishment except as herein
provided"
All the amendments except those of
President Choate and Mr.. n icoll were
yoted down, and the original amendment
Is amended was passed by u vote of 90
q ID