The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-13
LEGISLATORS AND PASSES.

The question of legislators asking for
or accepting railroad passes came up
before the state senate yesterday in
very peculiar manner, nor can it be
said that the action of the senate was
such as comported with its dignity.
The question came up through one
of the senators practically asserting
that the agent of one Of the railroads
had intimated to him that members of
the legislature could be Influenced with
passes. The occasion that called forth
the controversy between the senator
and the railroad agent was the request
of the senator for transportation for
some relative or friend to some point
on the line of the Denver & Rio Grande
Western Railway. It was refused. 1t
appears the senator intimated that the
refusal was because of his attitude on
what is known as the fellow servant
bill. Following this came, it is alleged,
the remark of the agent about the
power of a pass to influence legisla-
tors. The senator brought the matter
to the attention of the senate and the
agent was summoned before its bar to
answer for discourtesy. He came and
the senate seemed rather non-plussed
over his appearance. He was an ele-
plant upon the senate's hands, but
someone's quick wit suggested that the
senate go into executive session. The
quick wit, like the Ancient Mariner,
had his way. Now the state constitu-
ton says the senate shall only go into
executive session for the transaction
of executive business. What executive
business could be transacted so far as
the railroad agent was concerned, I'M
less it was to execute him, it is hard
TO see. The railroad agent came out
of that executive session as unscathed
as little Daniel came out of the lions
den. Upon his brow should be placed
the laurel wreath. SO proud was the
senate of its proceeding that it en-
whole affair from the records. This is
the only wise thing in the entire pro-
ceeding.
The pass business, when favors are
accepted by legislators from railroads,
is always a matter for criticism and
is apt to give rise to scandal at any
time. 1t came near doing so yester
day. Legislators should not accept
passes from railroads. 1t usually lays
them liable to censure, often to sus-
picion. The railroads DO not give
passes because of their great respect
for legislators. They bestow them for
the modifying effect they are supposed
to have. They do not give them as
brides nor are they accepted with any
SUCH thought in the minds of the re-
cipients of them, but they have their
influence. The compliment of the pass
itself is an influence, and there are
few men who are not Influenced by
marked compliment. A legislator
should be as absolutely free from all
influences in matters where it may be-
come his duty to act as a juror who
has to hear a case and decide it. 1t
would be best from every point of view
if legislators could not accept passes
from railroads, but such a condition
does not exist. But when they accept
the courtesy of a personal pass it is
as far as they should ever permit them
selves to go. These are always sent
members of the legislature, but when
they go further and request passes and
receive them. they use their office to
save their pockets, and thereby place
themselves under obligations they
should not incur.
The incident in the senate yesterday
shows how delicate subject this ques-
ton of legislators requesting passes is.