Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-12-02

first creator of well grounded "preju-
dice" against the unjust and corrupt
management of our American rail-
ways. l can state from personal OBJ
servation that the Santa Fe manage
ment has not at all times been free
from this guilty and unwise practice,
but have not heard that President
Ripley has been in print against it, as
he now is in this comparatively inno-
cent discussion, against lesser evils.
The query arises as TO whether the
President of the Santa Fe road is not
''straining at gnat and swallowing a
camel?"
Mr. SticlSney further discusses the
passsystem, and SAYS:
SIN the beginning passes were rec
ognized as favors for which the recip-
tents were bound to make a suitable
return. But it was not long before the
recipients come to regard the pass
they were accustomed to receive as a
right, and then began to ask as favor
that the members of their families and
friends might also ride free. This
favor being granted the natural Sc
garded as something to which the pc
titioners were entitled and the free
privileges would then be asked as a
favor to some new class. AS those
who had passes Travelled often and
those who paid their fare travelled but
seldom, it soon happened that, while
the number of persons who rode free
were but u fraction of the whole popu-
lation, nearly half the mileage of local
passengers was free. This became a
source of great irritation to the public
mind. A citizen who paid his fare was
bound to sit in close proximity to n
neighbor who paid no fare. The wife
and daughters of q village family who
could go to the city only occasionally,
on account of tho cost, naturally be-
came envious of their neighbors who
could go as often as they desired with
out cost. The small suffer
who had an action pending against the
company for the value of calf, before
a justice of the peace, regarded his
case as likely to be prejudiced by rea-
son of the justice carrying a free pass.
In the nature of things constables aud
even sheriffs, were supposed to be
more or less subservient on account of
such favors, Even the higher judicial
and executive officers could not be held
to be entirely impartial, while the in
huence of the pass upon the legislative
mind was marked" railway Prob
lem, page IA
OF course the railway companies
never expect to buy officials outright
with free passes, yet, evidently, the
policy is adopted as winning card
and a modifying influence, with the
old Ara bian proberb in mind, "He that
partaketh of my salt will not lift up
his heel against me-"
But in winning The quiescence and
temporary good will of certain minori-
ty classes, the companies incur the
lasting enmity of the majority who
must be taxed to make up the deficient
revenues. If the public must be taxed
three cents a mile that certain indi-
viduals may ride free, it will certainly
be regarded as an unjust burden;
whereas, if all alike paid two cents n
mile, the grievance would not exist,
nor would the railway revenues suffer
If President Ripley desires to prevent
prejudice against railway management,
here is fino rich field for his most
earnest effortS
Mr.. stickney further illustrates the
subject as follows:
"All these influences have a distinct
effect upon the public mine. To charge
one PerIon two prices for The sake 81