The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-14
A SECRET OUT.
Members of the State Board Of
Railroad Assessors
Have Annual Pullman Passes in
Their Pockets.
THEY BOLDLY SAY so
To a Estate Journal" Reporter
When Questioned.
Attorney General Little Rides
on His Continually.
so DOES MIR. BIDDLE.
The State Treasurer Got His
Without Solicitation.
Does This Account For Lower
Taxes on Pullman Cars?
To Estate Journal Reporter
When Questioned.
Attorney General Little Rides
on His Continually.
so DOES MR.. BlDDLE.
The State Treasurer Got His
Without Solicitation.


The State JOURNAL is today able to
give its readers the first plausible reason
for the reduction of the Pullman taxes
in Kansas, which was made this year by
the state board Of railroad assessors.
The members of the state board of rail
road assessors all ride on Pullman
passes.
Two members of the board are not in
the city, out majority, or d controlling
number Of the members of the board of
assessors are here, and in an interview
with a STATE Journal reporter. frankly
admit that they not only have railroad
passes. but they ride on Pullman cars
free Of charge
1t now appears that the men, who only
a few months ago were trying to make
political capital out of the Pullman
strike by pretending to be enemies of
that corporation and the friends of the
A. r. T., had Pullman passes in their
pockets at the time
Attorney General John T. Little, one of
the members Of the board of railroad as
SCISSORS, rides on Pullman pass, and
when STATE Journal reporter asked
him about it. he said: Yes. 1 have a
Pullman pass, and il is an annual"
"How about your railroad passes, Gen
eral?"
''Oh, l have passes over all the Kansas
roads. They are annual passes, good in
the state only, and make good use OF
them. One thing about nv passes,
though; you must remember they save
the state considerable money. as l don't
charge my mileage up to the state
when 1 ride on my passes. Ny salary is
$3.50 a year and aside from that l have
a contingent fund to draw on for extra
expenses When l go out in the western
part Of the state to have receiver APP
pointed OF on some other official business,
my salary goes right on and I am en-
titled to have my expenses paid out of
the contingent fund. Nv expense in
cludes my travelling and hotel bills, tele-
graphing and other such items. By using
my passes the state is saved the largest
part of the expense; my use of passes,
IS simply a saving 10 the state"
state Treasurer FsfddIe Also.
State Treasurer w. IL Biddle also
rides railroad passes and he is the
possessor Of little piece of paste board
which says PASS" on all the Pullman
company cars
Mr. Biddle did not like to talk about
the matter and did not volunteer any in-
formation on the subject but when
STATE Journal reporter called at his
private office and asked about his passes
he talked frankly.
The reporter asked: "Afr BiddIe do
you ride on railroad passes2v
eye and inquired "DO l have to telI?"
lou most assuredly do or say you
won't answer" replied the newspaper
man.
We'll. do ride on a pass then; 1 have
a railroad pass"
sHave YOU a Santa Fe annualgD
Yes; have pass on the Santa Fe
and on several other railroads"
Lave you passes on the Rock Island
and Missouri PacifcT"
Yes 1 have passes on those roads"
Now Mr. Biddle have you a Pullman
passt" queried the reporter.
Ar. Bddle began to look a little
alarmed but he IS one state official who
won't tell fb and he replied; ~Yes. I
have Pullman pass, but 1 want To say
that haven't used it but once and that
was on my vife's account
"Well what do you think of the pass
Dir. Biddles"
Il think It is all wrong and am op-
posed to it bat it is universal custom
and where the passes come unsouxht as
they have with us / can see no particular
harm ln using them, but If / am here |
shall use my influence with the next
legislature 80 have law passed forbid
ding the use Of passes"
Auditor Van Prather.
Auditor of State Van b. Prather is
sick and not able to be at his Office in the
state house, but JOURNAL reporter
CaiLsu At MS home on Tenth street and
Ionno MIN aole 70 sit up and ready to
talk about business matters.
es, nave railroad passes and ride
on them, he said in reply TO a question
from the reporter.
Continuing, he said: "AIl the railroads
IN the state sent me passes over their
Kansas lines, when they sent ont their
other passes the hrst of the year. l think
4 have passes over all the roads in Kan
sas except the M. X. & T., which doesn't
issue passes to anybody The railroads
don't want to send me passes if they don't
want me to use them"
Have you Pullman pass, Mr. Prath-
err" asked the reporter.
mo; I haven'to
"4ou haven'tf"
Mr. Prathcr continued: 81 haven't a
ullInah annual, but when l went east
AAaL AL had a Trim rnnss 1870. ~. -.