The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-03
1gLTON AND HIS PASS
- ~ Mileage Commissieaer
Fell Into . Trap.
A11w oEngpo ~ tn CuuO . NM
-Oa0 yorcsd Oh, - H.
paysrs Nsss ~ D1la.

- u1nkG6 at the smuggling o. co0GH1e
~ eeeton through the line. and inc1dau-
~ MED on Q substantial prof.. the Of.
-. from the standpoint Of . moenliss
= e.xnaysr, was no worse than when =
--efv o63cial rides on . railroad 300 ana
~. attempts to collect mileage a. tho
~ 4 u cents . mile. That such IN Of.
- sgainst the constitution Of Wash.
- has been committed In King county
- = no longer any room for doubt: noe
q = 4 natter of much surprise that o. q
~ arneut board Of county commtaafonsrp
ss.n = open 10 such an eccunaslon. In
~ avs Of the board. crouching In the
sse1ev Il star CHAMBER sessions. are DART
~ Ievious and full of mystsry-and eon.
s.eneotly not above suspicjon-
- the assaults on the county's easrs-
Il fercs have become the order Of tho
-. tbsee has been . little story goin9
~ rounds of the north district In refer.
- % mileage" Heaton, - tbs Populist
49, Of the board has como 70 BE- known
~ bis persistent efforts to collect nile.
- During the political Canvas nearly
~ ysars ago Heaton was oxtremely &C.
~ a. the stump. and the most vocffsrouo
r ~ promises was that not only would be
-. think Of charging mileage, but he
I'D eschew railroad passes and every.
shIne that smacked Of thoss bugbsa0 e
pupuiipm, the corporations. A eoon e
1eston had been seated In his once he u
- 70 have undergone the change % oftsn
sse,osable in the loud-mouthsd and pro-
1nuting ''watchdoxs Of the treasury" and
sruard.ans' OF the dear people. The on
ssrtunity to ride on pass came (whethsP
knson solicited II Is not entirely clsar1
"a - vas unable to Withstand the temp
1n11on. At any rate he smothersd the voice
= IN accusing conscience, and h oaid to
No rode up and down the Seattle. Lake
noee Eastern railway without - much
= pa1iug . nickel. There were aome OF
~ oenstituents TO whom this conduct was
- surprise. for had they not heard the
pu0uiist declare as soon AZ the election
~ svss that he intended to make out a
~ eflce all there was In Il?
When disregard OF the obligations Of the
gDosholder under the constitution and of
- promises made upon the stump had
hooons open and fragrant. there was an
u11srcurrent of gossip In the north dis
~; but still the taxpayers did not know
Ut Heaton intended to charge mileage
~ the ground gone over by means Of the
- There were three or four taxpayers.
hevever, who resolved to sec that pass,
- they arranged for II 20 that they could
- - disappointed. One day there was .
GuD1-natured party on the Lake Shore
0Iala and In tho center Of the 5ovial group
X he Populist commissioner. Presently
~ 0nAuctor came along.
sziekets." he said.
Eaton had travelled the line before.
~ hs did not anticipate any exposure.
y at quietly In his seat. looked know
NV 1t the conductor and awaited the
pu1uk eonfidentiy.
'1ieksts." again said the conductor.
7pAge" HNtcn waved his hand on
NJ. and expectantly waited for the con-
1uctor 10 pass on But such was not TO bA
~ ~ third time the demand came. ana
~ eoms urging In voice that betrayed
1npAtience.
'csns now. no foolishnssA I want
M Ticket
fAs bead-like eyes Of Mileage Heaton
~ . quick glance upward. and he saw
lheFe was no escape Reluctantly he
peAched into his inside pocket. pulled out
- pass. showed II to the conductor. and
~ relieved from further embarrassment
\ that particular time by the railroad
An walking into the next car. The spec-
lstors Of the little scene were immensely
dckled especially one. to whom Mileage
- said that he abominated Q pass above
y eeher loathsome things OF corpora
licus
These same taxpayers have been watch
- carefully the proceedings Of the county
eoamissioners. echoine with the efforts
4 Mileage" 10 keep down expenses
Y ehopping clerks out OF their situations.
Ihey have also heard OF the test mileage
nsA which Mileage hopes TO fight to a
1uccessfuI end In the supreme court and
ooliect 10 cents for every mile covered
nncs he has entered the Office.
The pass evil has been considered by
very legislature since Washington was
admisted as state. but up TO the present
ume there has been no legislation on tho
1uolect A number of bills have been In
uceoosd. With the object OF making tho
euonse misdemeanor. and punishable
y me but none OF them has been carried
= mai passage The constitutional pro-
uasa stands therefore without q statute
= eAek Il up, and II imperative. II Is to
. found In section % Of article II. and h
y follows:
~ shall be unlawful for any person
eosoing public Office IN this state TO accept
use . pass or to purchase Transports
ucn nom any railroad or other corpora
uon other than as the same may be pur-
sased BY the general public: and the leg
.Ature shall pass laws TO enforce this
Drcvbion."
!. VI course there Is no penalty to be en-
sosced against Mileage" Hsaton, and no
prosecution can result: but 81 the
4. - ume the public Is beginning TO laugh
y me 'cisinterestcd" efforts OF the Popu-
Dsnses.
nay Be- Improper to call Heaton .
sVunst He himself. although elected on
uskst OF that party. has had so much
y Ss~e IN trying TO cut down the force
y treasurer Maple. as a Popul,ss. that
.sns 800 declared he had forcsworn his CID
su faith; and q large number Of
~. Pcpulists are not unwilling
ne should herd by himself. for they
10 y no, faithful to his party.