The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-28
PASSES FOR PUBLIC OfFIClALS--S0Me
EXPLANATIONS.


presented the Southern Railway and
Seaboard Air Line Railroad for giving
i free passes to public officials, and Justice
Beaver. of Ashevi;lr. has issred war
rants against the Southern Railway for
issuing passes 70 Judge Ewart and So
llicitor Mccall the law regulating the
matter of free passes has been freely dis
cussed in the stare.
The law is so plain that he who runs
may read, and YET it Is probably true
that there are officials who have vio'
lated it without reflection, and II may be
in some instances without knowledge
of the law forbldding the granting ~
passes to officials. At eny rate, the law
has been violated systematically. Cover
nor Carr went to The Chicago Exposition
IN a special car as the guest OF the
Southern Railway, and travelled Cd pass
es. Governor Russell went to the Nash
vile Exposition m n special car, fur
nished by the Seaboard Air Line, Rail
road. and rides on free passes. 1t may
be that their predecessors did the same,
and it is certain that nearly NIL the
leading officials Of the State have imi-
tated the chief magistrates in accepting
passes in violation Of Jaw.
Governor Russell gave out 4 silly and
-. sx.A1 - -
accepting passes. 1t contained as many
illogical propositions rs were ever be-
fore crowded into half a column space.
We thought it impossible for any official
to make himself more ridiculous, but, it
possible, Judge Ewart has sue ;eeded, in
| his charge to the grand jury of the
Criminal court Of Buncombe county. of
surprising the Governor. By his con-
duct in political campaigns aud .ther
acts unbecoming in a judici2: officer,
Judge Ewart long ago gained the appel
lat:on of ''the ermlne trailer" He seems
now to be in the race with the Governor
| to see which can he the silliest. Having
| printed Governor Russelps remarkable
| interview, we make room elsewhere for
Judge Ewart's celebrated charge to the
grand jury.
Among other statements Nr Ewart
says that the Southern Railway is liable
to fine of $4,000 for transporting Hon.
William J. Bryan on its system. In this
,- tal-
the occasion of Mr.. Bryan's visit to
North Carolina, there was a tender of
courtesies by some of the railroads. 1.
was respectfully declined, and Mr..
Bryans friends throughout the State
paid in good silver dollars the bill for the
special train that carried him through
the State. 1t pains us thus 10 destroy
Mr.. Ewart's hope of being named III the
same class as the distinguished Nebras-
kan, but the truth must be tod.
The law with reference to giving trans
portation TO public officers has been
knowingly violated by the railroads, AMI
there ought to be no delay abou. imrJs-
ing the penalty in one case against each
road. Passes are not given to public Of
fic;als as a pure courtesy, though we
know that in many instances, 1t may be
in most instances, they have that and
nothing more The railroads give them
because by long experience they have
found that two-thirds OF the men who
take them can be relied upon in matters
that concern the road to take their part
or to remain silent. In order to ge. the
active help of most of the recipients OF
these so-called "courtesies," they are
willing to run the risk Of having one
third take their passes and oppose
them. However, when one Of them does
come out in opposition, you are sure to
hear the railroad magnates cry:
"You drink my coffee and drink my tea
And then run about town and talk
about me-"
So far as our observation has gone
the recipient of passes, when influenced
at all, is not bought, his good offices are
not secured, but he is silenced. He re-
fuses to become partisan OF the rail-
road for the pass, but he abstains from
having opinions upon public questions af-
fecting the railroad whose pass he car
ries in his pocket. Those railroads that
have political schemes to carry feel that
they have won half the battle il they
can induce all the public officials either
to help them actively or to remain pas
sve. That so many become deaf and
dumb whenever railroad Entertainments
are under discussion, is the best argu-
ment that the law is a good one and that
| it ought to be enforced.
The Asheville Citizen, commenting on
Judge Ewart's charge, happily says:
"We may venture, however, to add
| that the popular judgment, while it
may be wrong, everywhere seems to