The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-23
The GOVERNORS PASSES
A WEAK AND LAME ATTEMPT Al Ut-
TENSE OR EXCUSE.
He Say, That if Simonton Will Quit Hiding on
Passes, He VIII Quit Would Have Been
Better for the Governor if He Had
Said Nothing.
Said Nothing.


The news that the Southern and Sea-
board railroads had been presented by the
Wake county grand jury for issuing
nasse. to public officials, printed exclu-
siyely in the News and Observer some
time ago, created some sensation. Ii
got ont that the Governor was one of
those presented, and in this weeks eau
casian. Governor Russell attempts to ex-
plain why he rides on passes. He says:
.Yes, 1t is true that have been rid
ing ON free passes. After my election
as Governor all the railroads in the
State and many OF them out of 1t, sent
me free passes. ! declared that l would
aot take passes from any Of them. In
two months time l yielded to their pres
sure and not only took their passes, but
took a train of cars, of the best hnlSh
and elegance, furnished free, to bring
up party of invited friends to my In
auguration. They urged that j should
accept what they called their "courte-
sizes" They said that l should do as
all other Governors had done and that
they were not extending these "courte-
sizes" with any purpose of Influencing
my official action, and all the State
l1nowe THAT they have not influenced me-
Indeed, they put me where to. refuse
passes would seem discourteous, If not
insulting, to them. So | took them and
have rot a pocket full of them now. If
they or any OF them, want to revoke
their "politeness" they have only to
intimate as much and they will get it re-
turned ON quick time and any railroad
that does SO intimate will be treated by
t,x~ Co r1x Il hod re-
for a life time, signed, sealed and de-
iivered.
"But ] have concluded that just as
long as they send around their passes
TO officials and favorites, l will take
them, when they offer them. As long
as they offer me their passes, along with
those Federal Judges who stand in with
the monopoly crowd, just SO long will
take them. / will refuse my passes. If
Judge Simonton will refuse his pass
and palace car. If he will quit, / will
quit; but if he keeps on, will keep on.
Perhaps he will keep On the longer; at
any rate, his superior claim is not de-
MED.
"In accepting deadheads I am not yio-
lating the law-neither are Judge Simon
ton and the rest Of them. The law
prohibits the railroads from giving the
pass-not the donee from accepting
Whether one should accept such a gift
Is a question of ethics which seems to
have been determined by custom in ia
vor of every mans taking whatever is
offered.
'It is not yet settled whether the law
can be enforced and this free pass bust
ness abolished, but / shall do all that
/ can to get the law executed and put
an end to free passes, except such as
are authorized by the statute.
"The deadheads are mostly ANIMALS
They expire with the year. Let the
railroads refuse to renew any of them
except those allowed by law; or rather
by the Railroad Commission under the
law. One thing is dead sure; il they
continue to defy the law by issuing
them next year / will do all that can
to pnt the extreme penalty on them in
every case"