The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-28
SHAMELESS.
This Legislature Has Demanded
and Received
Five Thousand Passes From the
Santa Fe Road.
ATALK WITH MR.H HURD
He Tells How He Has Been
Besieged.
Hundreds of Trip Passes For
Friends and Relatives.
KANSAS Is DISGRACED
Indeed, By Such a Set Of
"Redeemers,"
Who Grab Passes and Kill All
Railroad Bills.
THEGARDENHIREBILL
Which Seeks to Bring About a
Little Decency
In the Pass Business Gets
Through the Senate.
Four Republicans For 1t, Six
THEGARDENHIREBILL
Which Seeks to Bring About a
Little Decency
In the Pass Business Gets
Through the Senate.
Four Republicans For 1t, Six
Against, Others Dodge.

81 have just written the 4999th pass
since this legislature convened" said
General Attorney A. A. Hurd, of the
Santa Fe, last evening, as he wearily
stretched his legs under his desk and
yawned dismally. 1t is Mr. Hurd who
issues nearly all the passes ION account
of legislation" and he sees that each
member of the legislature is provided
with pasteboard which allows him to
ride free on all Santa Fe lines during the
session. The members are also given
trip passes for their friends when they
wish to travel to or from Topeka purely
for "legislative purposes"
Mr. Hurd was in happy mood. 1t was
probably because the legislature is SO
nearly ended. 1T is strange. very
strange" said he, ''what excuses mem
bers do make to get passes. 1 am salts
fed that they often lie to me to
secure trip passes for their friends.
Often when a pass is applied for and it
is not definite for what purpose it is re-
quested, l write to the member and ask
him what it is for and he will an
swer Legislative purposes" Some
have asked for passes from
Kansas City to the west line OF the state,
and all on account of the Legislative busi-
ness. I was asked for passes for party
of men to Kansas City and return a day
or two ago, and when | asked what par
ticular legislation called them to Kansas
City, they answered the irrigation BILL
! told them that Kansas City was
mighty good place. to irrigate, but l
would have to refuse the passes just the
same
"a member of the senate wanted
pass from some western town to Topeka
and nd ruhn I oolx0d h.
it WAS for, he said that it was for his
stenographer's husband, who wanted to
come TO Topeka to visit his wife. The
stenOgrapher didn't get to see her hus-
band or if she did, he paid his fare to
Topeka
Il have just heard that some of the
passes have issued are being offered
for sale on the streets. They use these
trip passes which are given on account
of Legislative business AS much as we
try to accommodate these fellows you see
how the favOrs are abused and how we
are robbed
ut may seem that | have issued a
great many passes. but two years ago
there were at least twice as many given.
We have been more strict this year"
''Do the Populists apply for as many
passes as the Republicans?" asked the
reporter.
NJ bA0y OO uots DuL all the mem D0rS
alike have the legislative passes.
Next year when the legislature meets
lam preparing a surprise. 1 have had
talk with the Representatives, of
the other lines and we have
agreed to issue no trip passes whatever
for Legislative purposes The member
will receive pass for himself and fam
lily but they will end there aud his
friends will have to pay their fare or
stay at home. l think that the number
of people who come to Topeka will not
be quite so large"
Mr.. Hurd doesn't like the new appel.
late court bill. "Kansas never learns bv
the experience of Others" said he. "She
has to try for herself what others tried
and discarded long ago. If the Garden
hire pass bill becomes a law you will
not find lawyer in Kansas who could
afford to have one of the judgeships He
would have to pay more than his salary
in hotel and travelling expenses running
around the state to hold court"