The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-01
JUDGES AND PASSES.
Literature of This Now Most In
teresting Subject
RAILROAD GAZETTE on THE NATTER.

Pablo
The Railroad Gazette has been allowed
to Peruse the applications for passes re-
ceived by railroad company not named
Here are a few specimens, the Mr.. X re-
ferred to being the superintendent Of the
road in question.
A legal officer Of the railroad says that
when AZ was arranging for certain case
TO come before a certain Judge or the
nirenis court, the judge asked if he would
not get pass, which he (the judge held,
changed to include his wife. The lawyer
says, II could not do less than say
would make the request, az we have
another case to be brought before
him next Wednesday" So the
judges pass was sent to Mr. Y
"without expressing my opinion OF the
man" We regret that that Judge never
had a chance to know what the lawyers
aud Mr Y thought of him The judges
are perhaps not The worst offenders, but
Il seems 20 US particularly odious that
they should ask for passes One who
has lost his annual. writes for trip pass
a wo others, district judges, ask the local
agent 70 procure trip passes for them
Another one circuit judge, asks the
United States deputy marshal 10 do this
business for him.
or course, public officers OF high and
low degree, appear increasingly IN this
batch Of letters. governors Of states and
men. county clerks and zheriffs appear
In the melancholy monotony. It would
take too much room and be too tiresOme
10 brief the letters from members Of the
houses Of Representatives aud senares
of the states. but these gentlemen ask
with serene confidence for passes and
something for strangers within their
gates. One letter is from a prosecuting
attorney In a western state. tie says that
he had asked for a pass a couple Of
blank saying "tnat in accordance with
the policy Of the company it could not
be granted or something like that
Concerning this he says. NO doubt
you are greatly troubled for passes. but
to send me a letter like that, with addi
tional words that you would like nv CO.
operation in carrying out this much
needed reform, and refusing to grant me
the pass, is rather prezum ptuOus. for
have daily to grant favOrs Of the law Of
a great state for your railroad. Your
men are all liable TO state prosecution for
running trains on Sundays. also for
letting trains stop across public streets in
towns and cities, and in other ways. You
give passes to judges whose salaries are
much larger than mine, and nv pay de-
ponds on the number of successful prose-
tions that 4 procure, as it consists mostly
in fees" and more to the same effect
This impudent letter is endorsed
declined, We are glad 70 see.
We fear that few railroad super
intendents would have had enough back
bone to refuse the request Of the roRuish
prosecuting attorney The deputy at
torney general Of a western state, who Is
going 70 get married, would like a pass
fer himself and wife, and adds that he
Will feel under many obligations. This
request was declined
A former speaker Of the national
house Of representatives, asks for passes
Tor his wife, his Wife's sister and her
cousin The Lieutenant governor of a
state asks for an annual and SAYS: I'm
appointing my committees have IA
vOred the railroads, believing that the
Interests Of the state demanded it,
Probably they did demand il, but what a
commentary on the sense Of public duty
In high Office this Lieutenant governors
request is. 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 various rail
roads have given passes to his illegal
orothers as attorneys, 50 he seems to
think that the law can be neatly evaded
and the petty fraud committed upon his
constituents, and he keep out OF jail.
A particularly persistent fellow is the
speaker OF the house Of Representatives
IF a western state. He has received the
uperintendent's letter saying that he is
not authorized 70 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 aud
therefore expects and receives special
privileges, aud has in fact received an
nual passes from all the other railroads
from which he has asked them. We do
not know what lis luck was, but know
ing our friend we suspect that the per
sistent speaker had to pay his own fare
during the vacation.
The chairman of a state political cam
paiEn committee mOdestly asks passes
for period covering the campaign fer
@l persons, In order that they may make
a 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 20 Go you some substantial
favors-" A man writes from the hall OF
representatives of the state aud saws
that he has done much to de-
feat bills affecting the road and
would like annual. a. member
Of the house, writing concerning this
man. says that he is not member, but q
Lobbyist. and that he knows of his hav-
ing done nothing whatever of any value
for the road in question. An official OF
a states prison expresses obligation for
the uperintendsnt's unexampled vener-
osity IN complying with his request for a
halt-fare pass, and adds. should il ever
fall Ia my way to do you a favor. ] shall
certainly improve the opportunity" Mr..
x. attaches 70 this letter an elegant wood
cut Of the prison itself. which doubtless
suggests the sort of favor that he might
expect or course, the chief of police
asks for q pass. and SO does the fire mar
shall for himself. and from time TO time
for variOns men in the fire department
Why = railroad company should not get
police and IRE protection without being
laid under kDecial tri butte we do nof -,,ff1