The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-05-04
THE RAILWAY LOBBY.

ItS Investigation 1naugurated In the LoNoH
House OF the Legislsture-State Ofheiais
and Legislators Who Travel On Passes
to Be Given an Opportunity to Ease Their
Conscience.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, April 27.-The
lower house of the Missouri legislature
has passed resolutions to investigate
the railway lobby. The speaker APP
pointed as a committee under the reso-
buttons Messrs. Hammond, Sartin,
Grubb, Armstrong and Rothwell, of
Randolph. The first three named are
republicans and the latter two demo-
Gratis.
The following r the resolutions
under which the committee will work:
WHEREAS, The governor of the state. in his
proclamation calling the general assembly to
meet in special session charges that legislation
in this general assembly has been practically
controlled by the influences OF an active and
arrogant lobby; and,
WHEREAS, This charge has been taken ur
and magnifed. and widely published by GER
tain newspapers in the state; and,
WHEREAS, A representative Of the house has
brought forward a resolution, and asked its
adoption in the house, in which 1t IS recited
that members Of the house are accused OF re-
ceiving railroad passes, in violation OF law and
OF their oath Of office; and,
WHEREAS, All these charges and accusa-
lions are made in such vague and general
terms as to put a stigma on the entire men,
bership Of the assembly, and to tend to bring
into disrepute the legislative branch OF our
government; and,
WHEREAS, The constitution prohibits state
officials and Legislators from accepting trans
portation; be it
Resolved, That it is the Judgment of this
house that an opportunity should be given for
the proper investigation OF such charges and
accusation, and that all who make charges Of
reflection on the integrity OF members OF this
house shall be asked to make sCch charges
specifically. and to furnish proper evidence to
sustain the charges.
Resoired, That L committee OF five be APP
pointed by. the speaker to hear and investigate
all the charges and accusations that may be
made before them against any member Of this
house on account Of any alleged bribery or re-
ceipt OF railroad passes or tickets, or OF any
act that shows any undue Illegal influences
that may have enabled any lobbyist TO control
or influence any member of the house.
ResOired, That such committee shall have
power, also, to investigate any charges that
may be made before them in relation 10 the re-
ceipt Of railroad passes or tickets by any of
the state officials, or by members Of their fami-
lies or friends at their instance.
Resolred, That the be given power
to employ a stenographlc clerk, and is hereby
authorized to summon witnesses and to send
for persons and papers during the progress OF
such investigation, and to enforce obedience
thereto, as the committee deems proper to
make.
Resolred, That the governor of the state, the
reporters and editors OF newspapers, the au-
thors of the resolution, and all other persons,
are hereby invited to appear before such COM
mittee, and to aid in such investigation by
making specific charges and Offering all avail
able evidence in support thereof.
col. PHELPS.
The committee held a meeting soon
after the adjournment of the house,
but only to organize. Col. W.. II. Phelps,
of the Missouri Pacific law department,
who is accused of handling railroad
passes, appeared before the committee.
He said lie was DESTROYS of leaving the.
city for a time, and az ke had been in
formed the committee desired his evil
dence, he was ready to be examined.
After a brief consultation the commit
tee concluded to postpone the investi-
cation until next week, and Col. Phelps
was informed that he would be mott
fed should his testimony be desired.
TO a group of reporters Col. Phelps
said he would respond to a
from the committee at any time or any
place. The house, he said, could OF
have lone less than to adopt the reso-
luton, because to have defeated it
would rave been accepted as an admis-
sion of guilt.
GOV TON
Interview in St Louis Globe Democratl
''Nill you be a witness before the,
pass investigating committee??'
Il nave not peer summoned as such"
Ibid you ever travelon a railway pass
since your election as GOVERNOR
In very emphatic tones, accompanied
by expressive gestures, Gov. Stone.
said:
You have asked the question direct,
and l answer it direct-no. / have
never received, accepted or made use
of a pass of any railway in the state of
Missouri or out of it. My wife and
children have never received, accepted
or made use of a pass on any railway
this or any other state. Friends
have often come to me and requested
me to ask transportation for them.
almost every case / refused. No
less than 500 parties have urged
me to recommend them for passes dur
ing the last two years. In a dozen
cases or so l needed the request,
and wrote to personal friends of mine,
who were managers of railways, ask
them to interest themselves in be-
half of my friends on purely personal
grounds; for, mind you, / have many
warm personal friends who are man
ayers and chiefs of departments in the
of railway corporations. l
generally refu sc to write letters for
my friends, because l did not
to make myself a nuisance
with my other friends in con
with the railroads, and did not
wish to become involved in such mat
tiers. If there is any improperly in
such a request to oblige a
why, then, l I'M guilty of an
But in ny own behalf
or that of my family no request has
ever been made, no pass received, none
and yOu can put that down for
good and all"
The poet dare help himself wher-
ever he lists-whereyer he finds ma